Ann has a fascination with World War I, and this is the first in a series of articles looking at different aspects of the war, and the soldiers who fought in it.
"Going over the top 02" by Castle William Ivor (Lieutenant), Canadian official photographer. Post-Work: User:W.wolny - This is photograph CO 876 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. 2600-03) . Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
"It will be all over by Christmas".
That's what all the Boys thought - as we all know, that wasn't to be.
Of course, most young men in the early part of 20th century, hadn't travelled at all, some not even out of their villages or towns. There were farm workers, factory workers and it was thought that it would be "a bit -of-a lark". When War was declared, there was a rush to sign up, because they thought if they left it too late, they would miss the whole 'shebang'; therefore there was an influx of volunteers. Factories, towns, villages, all decided they would volunteer as a group, so was born the many Pals Companies. Of course, that was such a tragic decision ultimately, because there were whole Pals Companies just wiped out, and left towns, factories, even streets without any men coming home.
There was very little training, and then they were shipped off to France and Belgium. Here are the first of many statistics - between 1914 and 1918 there were 60 million European Military mobilised, 10 million killed, 7 million permanently disabled. I had to check on those figures, because I just can't get my head around these figures.
That's what all the Boys thought - as we all know, that wasn't to be.
Of course, most young men in the early part of 20th century, hadn't travelled at all, some not even out of their villages or towns. There were farm workers, factory workers and it was thought that it would be "a bit -of-a lark". When War was declared, there was a rush to sign up, because they thought if they left it too late, they would miss the whole 'shebang'; therefore there was an influx of volunteers. Factories, towns, villages, all decided they would volunteer as a group, so was born the many Pals Companies. Of course, that was such a tragic decision ultimately, because there were whole Pals Companies just wiped out, and left towns, factories, even streets without any men coming home.
There was very little training, and then they were shipped off to France and Belgium. Here are the first of many statistics - between 1914 and 1918 there were 60 million European Military mobilised, 10 million killed, 7 million permanently disabled. I had to check on those figures, because I just can't get my head around these figures.
"SoldiersWWI" by Royal Engineers No 1 Printing Company - This is a small clip from the full image held by the IWM. This is photograph Q 1 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. Originally uploaded to En Wikipedia.. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Life in the Trench for the Tommies: Tommy Atkins was the name given to the ordinary British soldier, this dates back to 1743. Historian Richard Holmes states the reason for this is that in "1815 a War Office publication showing how the Soldier's Pocket Book should be filled out gave as its example one Private Thomas Atkins, No. 6 Troop, 6th Dragoons. Atkins became a sergeant in the 1837 version, and was now able to sign his name rather than merely make his mark."
Well, where shall we start; the winters each year (1914-18) were the coldest and wettest since records began. So began the mud and horror of Trench Warfare, something the boys had never had to deal with; even the Farm lads. This was the first thing to overcome, but of course it wouldn't be long before all the rest of this War would turn into an absolute nightmare.
Well, where shall we start; the winters each year (1914-18) were the coldest and wettest since records began. So began the mud and horror of Trench Warfare, something the boys had never had to deal with; even the Farm lads. This was the first thing to overcome, but of course it wouldn't be long before all the rest of this War would turn into an absolute nightmare.
"Worcester Regiment sentry in trench Ovillers 1916 IWM Q 4100" by John Warwick Brooke - This is photograph Q 4100 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. . Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Most people didn't really know what 'this was all about'. Yes, The Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated (this was successful after six attempts), but why did the Kaiser get Germany involved? Depending on whose account you read, everything seems complicated but really I think the World Powers were all 'up for it'. There was Nationalism, and Military strength of each of the combative Countries. Of course, there was the British Empire, which was just right to 'knock down a peg or two', besides which Germany especially thought they were just as deserving of an 'Empire'; after all they, Germany especially, had very many Colonies already.
I shall be talking mainly about the Western Front - the Eastern Front was equally as terrible but perhaps I'd like to debate it next time.
How can I begin to comprehend the awfulness of these Trenches. There were mud, lice, fleas, rats ("as big as yer 'at"). Nowhere to rest, nowhere to wash the filth off except perhaps an empty can that the dry milk used to come in; that held very little water as you can imagine.
On top of all this, the Boys (because that was what most of them were) were being shot at, bombed, and then of course there was the order to go Over the Top....of course, in the early part of the war Germany was militarily better equipped than us. But we did have The Tanks! This was hopefully going to 'put paid' to those 'bloody Hun'.
I shall be talking mainly about the Western Front - the Eastern Front was equally as terrible but perhaps I'd like to debate it next time.
How can I begin to comprehend the awfulness of these Trenches. There were mud, lice, fleas, rats ("as big as yer 'at"). Nowhere to rest, nowhere to wash the filth off except perhaps an empty can that the dry milk used to come in; that held very little water as you can imagine.
On top of all this, the Boys (because that was what most of them were) were being shot at, bombed, and then of course there was the order to go Over the Top....of course, in the early part of the war Germany was militarily better equipped than us. But we did have The Tanks! This was hopefully going to 'put paid' to those 'bloody Hun'.
Well, the first outing was at Cambrai, and seemed to be quite successful until the dreadful weather conditions, mud and rain, plus previous bombing made enormous craters, but more about the tanks later. We were lucky enough to visit a lot of the sites and cemeteries as well as Ypres. Again, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.
Later the Germans devised the Gasses, Chlorine, Mustard and Phosgene (it is interesting to know that the French, early in the War, used a type of Tear Gas on the Germans), but the Germans got to work and 'improved' the Tear Gas! We, the Allies, soon followed. One of my heroes Mr. Harry Patch described the Mustard Gas as a rolling, low to the ground, muddy yellow colour. They were issued with Masks but they were pretty awkward to wear constantly, and had to be worn properly so that not even a puff could get in. Death was slow and so terrible it's hard to imagine. Harry was the last veteran of WW1 and died peacefully on the 29th July, 2009, he was 111yrs old. R.I.P.
Later the Germans devised the Gasses, Chlorine, Mustard and Phosgene (it is interesting to know that the French, early in the War, used a type of Tear Gas on the Germans), but the Germans got to work and 'improved' the Tear Gas! We, the Allies, soon followed. One of my heroes Mr. Harry Patch described the Mustard Gas as a rolling, low to the ground, muddy yellow colour. They were issued with Masks but they were pretty awkward to wear constantly, and had to be worn properly so that not even a puff could get in. Death was slow and so terrible it's hard to imagine. Harry was the last veteran of WW1 and died peacefully on the 29th July, 2009, he was 111yrs old. R.I.P.
_25-06-1918.jpg#mediaviewer/File:12th_Royal_Scots_Lewis_gunners_in_gas_masks_%28detail%29_25-06-1918.jpg)
"12th Royal Scots Lewis gunners in gas masks (detail) 25-06-1918" by John Warwick Brooke - This is photograph Q 6776 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. 1900-13) . Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Many soldiers suffered badly from Shell Shock, although the 'Donkeys' (i.e. the Generals etc.) thought, for a long time, this was just cowardice, and some were even shot, a fact that didn't come out until the doctors and nurses in the Aid Posts saw so many Boys with almost the same symptoms, and then and only then, were infirmaries opened in Britain just to look after these poor devils.
Of course I began this piece about the Volunteers, I omitted to say that these men volunteered from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and even some from America (before they too were embroiled in WW1).
Referring back to the early Tanks, if you ever get a chance to visit the British War Museum, they have a WW1 tank on show and you would be shocked, as I was, at how very small and cramped it was inside. There was also on show some of the equipment given to them to wear whilst in the Tank. One of the things that completely amazed me was a type of Medieval veil, about the size of a handkerchief, made from steel which attached to their helmets and was meant to stop them being shot in the face, but unfortunately as the bullets hit the Tank, they turned into molten lead and were practically worse than useless. But of course it was a learning curve.
Next time I would like to continue with the long, long days and nights those Soldiers had to endure in the Trenches and perhaps talk more about the Battle of the Somme and the three Battles of Ypres.
Ann
Of course I began this piece about the Volunteers, I omitted to say that these men volunteered from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and even some from America (before they too were embroiled in WW1).
Referring back to the early Tanks, if you ever get a chance to visit the British War Museum, they have a WW1 tank on show and you would be shocked, as I was, at how very small and cramped it was inside. There was also on show some of the equipment given to them to wear whilst in the Tank. One of the things that completely amazed me was a type of Medieval veil, about the size of a handkerchief, made from steel which attached to their helmets and was meant to stop them being shot in the face, but unfortunately as the bullets hit the Tank, they turned into molten lead and were practically worse than useless. But of course it was a learning curve.
Next time I would like to continue with the long, long days and nights those Soldiers had to endure in the Trenches and perhaps talk more about the Battle of the Somme and the three Battles of Ypres.
Ann
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