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Tag: first world war
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On the Record: Lawrence and Bell
The exploits of T.E. Lawrence are legendary. Thanks to the famous film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, millions around the world know about his time spying an... read more
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‘Cama’: a play about a female Indian revolutionary at the time of the First World War
In a trench in Marseille the loyalty of three Indian soldiers is tested when the legendary Madame Cama asks them to surrender for the good of the motherland. Wi... read more
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Bombs, bulls and civilian bravery
In this podcast The National Archives’ Principal Military Specialist reveals some of his favourite stories about civilian gallantry from the First and... read more
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‘A Bit of a Scratch’, a radio drama about the battle against Venereal Disease during the First World War
‘A Bit of a Scratch’ explores the first recorded prosecution under the Venereal Diseases Act 1917. The legislation was introduced due to the large n... read more
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Somme Tales
Funded by the Friends of The National Archives, Somme Tales is a creative project that took place at the archives from 1-5 August 2016 in partnership with profe... read more
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Changing the Landscape: In conversation with Sarah Kogan
Artist and curator Sarah Kogan in conversation with our Records Knowledge Manager Kate Wheeler, discussing her multimedia Battle of the Somme arts project Chang... read more
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For king and another country: Indian soldiers on the Western Front
Over a million Indian soldiers fought in the First World War, many travelling from remote villages in India to the muddy trenches of France and Flanders. In her... read more
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‘Over the top: a foul a blurry foul’ – the first football charge of the First World War
Our collection of First World War records is one of the largest in the world. It includes, among many other documents, service records, letters, diaries, maps a... read more
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War Girls – poetry and prose by women in the First World War
Ruth Sillers talks about, and performs extracts, from her audio book compilation, War Girls. The study is a commemoration of the remarkable and largely unsung e... read more
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Big Ideas: The women’s war in the Middle East – women’s First World War service in Egypt, Gallipoli, Mesopotamia and Palestine
Nadia Atia is Lecturer in World Literature at Queen Mary, University of London. Her research examines the literature and cultural history of the First World War... read more
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‘The Germans are here!’ London’s first Zeppelin raid
Ten months into the First World War and the feared onslaught on London by Germany’s fleet of airships – Zeppelins – had failed to materialise. The... read more
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Webinar: Tracing your ancestors – women in the military services during the First World War
Emily Stidston hosts this webinar which introduces women’s service and other records from 1914 to 1918 and beyond. These records include Army, Royal Navy,... read more
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One in six: the South Asian contribution to the First World War
One hundred years ago, undivided India provided Britain with a massive volunteer army in its hour of need. From 1914-1918 close to 1.5 million Indians served, f... read more
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India in the First World War
The National Archives’ principal military specialist William Spencer is joined by Brigadier Brian McCall, defence advisor in the British High Commission i... read more
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The huns have got my gramophone: advertisements from the Great War
In the nineteenth century, Britain led the world in the production of illustrated books and magazines. By the 1890s, commercial artists often drew for both maga... read more
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Black Poppies: Britain’s black community and the Great War
Stephen Bourne talks about his latest book, Black Poppies, published by The History Press to coincide with the centenary of the First World War. Black Poppies e... read more
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A game for Christmas: Football on the Western Front, December 1914?
Any mention of football and the First World War will evoke the Christmas Truce of 1914 and the football match played in No Man’s Land. At the time many de... read more
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Putting it all together: using archives to discover your community’s involvement in the First World War
The names of the First World War dead are there for all to see, on war memorials all over the country. Many individuals and groups are researching the stories b... read more
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The civil service in the First World War
The First World War affected every sector of society, as the nation’s resources were harnessed for the war effort. Like other employers, the civil service... read more
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Webinar: Tracing British battalions or regiments during the First World War
Unit war diaries, trench maps and photographs are just some of the sources held in The National Archives. This webinar looks at how to find these records and ho... read more
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War and Peace conference: Closing remarks: the First World War and intelligence
Closing remarks by Gill Bennett, former Chief Historian, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1995-2005. This talk was recorded live at the one-day conference, War... read more
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Peacetime diplomacy and the New European Order
Professor Alan Sharp, of the University of Ulster, examines diplomacy after the Paris Peace Conference. This talk was recorded live at the one-day conference, W... read more
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The road to war: The prelude to war
Dr Stephen Twigge, of The National Archives, outlines the political landscape preceding the First World War – the July Crisis. This talk was recorded live... read more
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Lines in the sand
Dr Juliette Desplat, of The National Archives, gives an overview of the consequences of the First World War for the Middle East. This talk was recorded live at... read more
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Wartime diplomacy: Getting global: American involvement
Dr Richard Dunley, of The National Archives, discusses American involvement in the First World War, particularly the three-way dynamic of British-American-Germa... read more
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The road to war: At home and abroad: propaganda and intelligence
Dr Martin Farr, of Newcastle University, discusses propaganda and intelligence in the lead up to the First World War. This talk was recorded live at the one-day... read more
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Wartime diplomacy: The role of the Empire
Dr Bryan Glass, of Texas State University, examines the role of the Empire during the First World War. This talk was recorded live at the one-day conference, Wa... read more
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The Remembrance Image Project
Simon Gregor talks about some of the images he has taken in the research phase of the Remembrance Image Project and the stories behind them, as well as sharing... read more
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Finding my father in Mesopotamia
Jenny Lewis’s father fought as a young man in the First World War campaign in Mesopotamia – modern day Iraq, Iran and Syria. He joined the South Wal... read more
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Black in the British Frame
Stephen Bourne shares his memories of growing up in Peckham and of his adopted Aunt Esther, a black Londoner born before the First World War and the subject of... read more
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The Journey’s End Battalion: The 9th East Surrey and RC Sherriff in the Great War
Journey’s End is a well-known play about the Great War. The author, RC Sherriff, saw all his front line service with 9th Battalion East Surrey Regiment. T... read more
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UKAD forum 2013: Trenches to Triples: Linked Data markup to archive descriptions relating to the First World War
Lianne Smith talks about using Linked Data markup to archive descriptions relating to the First World War. The UKAD forum is an opportunity for archivists and i... read more
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The Final Whistle: the Great War in 15 players – a London rugby club at war 1914-1918
A missing war memorial first inspired a quest to discover club members who fell in the Great War. 85 names have now been identified. Some remarkable stories pai... read more
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Tracing battalions or regiments of the British Army during the Great War
This podcast gives you an introduction to the various records at The National Archives that can be used to trace the experiences of individual battalions or reg... read more
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Adlestrop: railways, poetry and the myths of 1914
Adlestrop by Edward Thomas is one of the nation’s favourite poems. Written in the heat of battle by an officer who was doomed not to survive the war, Adle... read more
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Marjorie’s War: four families and the Great War
This podcast is based on the recently published book which tells the story of the author’s grandmother and nine young men from the four families. They wer... read more
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The Battle of the Somme: fallen comrades
The clip starts with a title and sequence showing British tommies rescuing a fallen comrade who later died. We then see the famous shot of a soldier carrying hi... read more
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The Battle of the Somme: Battle Police
The film clip starts with Tommies making their way across No Man’s Land and into enemy front line trenches. We then see a title explaining that Battle Pol... read more
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The Battle of the Somme: ammunition dumps
This clip gives us a detailed view of preparations for the attack at the Somme. We see vast ammunition dumps followed by busy scenes of trucks moving shells and... read more
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Women Making Munitions
The film goes straight in to show women using heavy engineering machinery such as belt driven lathes. We see women on the production line assembling shells, whi... read more
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National Service – Women’s Land Army
This short clip consists of a romantic scene in which a noble woman runs a horse drawn plough across the field. It is taken from a recruiting film for more wome... read more
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Women’s Army in France
This clip comes from a compilation film of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in France, 1917-1918. In this segment we see women with their sleeves rolled u... read more
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Women Transport Workers
The film starts with a tram being driven and conducted by women. The journey continues as the women driver prepares the tram and we then see the women conductor... read more
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‘With the North and South Irish At The Front’ Official pictures of the British army in France-Fourth series
The opening titles tell us we are looking at the Ulster Division, probably from 1915-17. We then see huge numbers of soldiers from that division all posing, smi... read more
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Dublin After The Easter Rising
The film opens with titles locating scenes of the fighting in Dublin at Easter 1916. Several different shots follow that focus on the huge amount of damage caus... read more
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Armistice Day Ceremonies
The film starts with titles explaining the Armistice Day ceremony. It then goes on to show the march past the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Context The Great War offic... read more
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US soldiers in a camp in France
This short clip shows a large number of US troops eating their rations. They are wearing their ‘doughboy hats’. Context US troops fought alongside British e... read more
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Inspecting Captured German Defences
In this short sequence we see Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig inspecting the wrecked remains of the Hindenburg Line, Germany’s strongest line of defences.... read more
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For the Empire – Part 2
This clip takes us first through a sequence of ruined cities in Belgium and France and shows scenes of complete devastation. This is contrasted with London̵... read more
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For the Empire – Part 1
At the start of this clip Britannia (representing Britain) points out ‘What others are doing for us’. We then see a young recruit being waved off to war by... read more
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British Soldiers Digging Trenches
This clip shows trainee Tommies digging trenches, probably in England in 1915. The clip closes with instruction on rifles and a machine gun. Context The film sh... read more
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The British Red Cross and its archives
The British Red Cross has long recognised the importance of its history and archive collection, maintaining an archive since the late 1960s. The talk outlines t... read more
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Railways and the mobilisation for war in 1914
The historian AJP Taylor, considering the events of 1914, once argued: ‘The First World War had begun – imposed on the statesmen of Europe by railwa... read more
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Galaxy Zoo and old weather: exploring the potential of citizen science
A team at Oxford University has launched a range of ‘citizen science’ projects, all aimed at delivering real research through the efforts of a large... read more
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Nineteenth century soldiers: getting the most from online resources
This talk aims to explain the intricacies of soldiers’ service records online, in record series WO 97, and how using the records of the First World War is... read more
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Royal Air Force service records
Last year saw the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Royal Air Force. The records of thousands of men (and women) who served in the RAF and its predec... read more
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Merchant Navy operational records
Janet Dempsey examines the wealth of records which deal with the tragedy, terror, heroism and honour of the Merchant Navy in both World Wars.... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: Treaty of Versailles
Extracts from the Treaty of Versailles that ended the war between Germany and the Allied Powers. Original document catalogue reference: FO 93/36/76... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: Chinese celebrations
The announcement of the Armistice in China and details of celebrations and commemorations. Original document catalogue reference: CO 873/547... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: court martial
The proceedings and evidence from the case of a private, shot for desertion and pardoned in 2006. Original document catalogue reference: WO 71/671... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: prisoner of war
Account by Able Seaman C Jones about conditions as a prisoner of war after his capture at Antwerp in 1914. Original document catalogue reference: WO 161/100/576... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: with love from Hetty
A series of love letters found in the service record of William Crawford. Original document catalogue reference: WO 400/289... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: King’s Battalion, Liverpool Regiment in 1918-19
Extracts from the unit war diary during 1918-19. Original document catalogue reference: WO 95/2926... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: King’s Battalion, Liverpool Regiment in 1917
Extracts from the unit war diary during 1917. Original document catalogue reference: WO 95/2926... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: King’s Battalion, Liverpool Regiment in 1916
Extracts from the unit war diary during 1916. Original document catalogue reference: WO 95/2926... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: peace negotiations
An account of the negotiations of the terms of the Armistice which took place between 8 and 11 November 1918. Written by the interpreter, Commander W T Bagot. O... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: Haig’s war diary, 11 November 1918
Final extract from the diary of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, from Armistice day. Original document catalogue reference: WO 256/37... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: Haig’s war diary, 29 October 1918
Third extract from the diary of Field Marshal Douglas Haig. Original document catalogue reference: WO 256/37... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: Haig’s war diary, 19 October 1918
Extract from the diary of Field Marshal Douglas Haig in the final weeks of the war. Original document catalogue reference: WO 256/37... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: Haig’s war diary, 10 October 1918
Extract from the diary of Field Marshal Douglas Haig in the final weeks of the war. Original document catalogue reference: WO 256/37... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: German soldier’s war diary
The translation of a German soldier’s diary from August to September 1916. Original document catalogue reference: CAB 45/166... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: Gas attack!
An account of a gas attack in May 1915. Original document catalogue reference: WO 32/5169... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: letters from the Front, March 1918
Final extract of correspondence from employees of the Great Western Railway on active service. Original document catalogue reference: RAIL 253/516... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: letters from the Front, October 1917
The third extract of correspondence from employees of the Great Western Railway on active service. Original document catalogue reference: RAIL 253/516... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: letters from the Front, March 1916
Further correspondence from employees of the Great Western Railway on active service. Original document catalogue reference: RAIL 253/516... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: letters from the Front, August 1915
Correspondence from employees of the Great Western Railway on active service. Original document catalogue reference: RAIL 253/516... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
Extracts from the war diary, following the battalion from 1915 to setting off for home in 1919. Original document catalogue reference: WO 95/1495... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: the Private’s diary – part 2
More from the diary of Private Pattenden of 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Original document catalogue reference: WO 95/1495... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: the Private’s diary – part 1
The diary of Private Pattenden of 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, dated September 1914. Original document catalogue reference: WO 95/1495... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: Two voices from the Front, part 2
Further extracts from the diaries of Lieutenant Colonel Hicks and Private Pattenden of 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Original document catalogue reference:... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: Two voices from the Front, part 1
Extracts from the diaries of Lieutenant Colonel Hicks and Private Pattenden of 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, August 1914. Original document catalogue refer... read more
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Voices of the Armistice: The first war casualty
The case of John Mills, Quartermaster, who died of pneumonia whilst preparing for mobilisation of troops, in England. After an investigation it was decided he d... read more
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Tracing World War One ancestors
William Spencer takes you through the key records for tracing your World War One ancestors, including records of women who were nurses or in the Women’s A... read more
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World War One Voices of the Armistice
To mark the 90th anniversary of the Armistice, The National Archives has launched a season of podcasts of personal stories from those who served in World War On... read more
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Sources for First World War army ancestry
Mark Dunton focuses on the prime sources at The National Archives for documenting First World War army service, covering both the officers and other ranks of th... read more
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The Great War: Join the Barnsley Pals
In this clip Private Henry Fairhurst describes what motivated him to join up. He talks about the setting up of Pals units. He then comments on how life in a Yor... read more
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The Great War: Will hold up the photograph
Henry explains what to do if your trench is taken and you are taken prisoner. He tells us that it is often not clear that an enemy is surrendering so surrenderi... read more
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The Great War: We was dead keen
Henry tells us about the first major battle he fought in. The plan was to attack a village called Serre that was well defended. He talks about the defences and... read more
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The Great War: And you’re up and you’re over
Henry explains how the order comes and the whistle blows and he has to go over the top. He describes the fear and also the shell and bullet fire coming at the a... read more
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The Great War: Or you’ll get it shot off
This short extract sees Henry explaining that experienced soldiers were very wary of putting their heads, hands or anything else over the top of the trench. He... read more
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The Great War: Gripping his throat
This clip explains the different types of gases used and their effects. He gives a harrowing description of one soldier who was badly burned by gas. Context Thi... read more
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The Great War: Stuff your pockets with lots of grub
Henry explains that the kitchens are about a mile from the front line trenches. He describes how different types of food are carried up to the front. He explain... read more
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The Great War: Comes the order to fix bayonets
Henry opens by explaining how the soldiers often worried about being killed or injured. Soldiers often gambled, partly because death could be sudden and instant... read more
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The Great War: Like a great sea rolling
Henry talks about how his unit’s attack had been stopped and his mates decimated. He then explains how he waited until dark to get back to his lines. He c... read more
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The Great War: The longer the letter the better
Henry explains how important letters were. The post is good on the whole. He explains that soldiers like descriptions of ordinary daily life. He also explains t... read more
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The Great War: Try and get yourself a bit of kip
Soldiering is described as being a bit boring! Henry explains how a lot of time is spent doing little or nothing. He tells us that the main action is at night i... read more
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The Great War: Some of ‘em are as big as kittens
In this clip Henry starts off describing rats and the soldiers’ hatred of them. The rats eat the dead, and Henry explains how bodies can be found everywhere a... read more
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The Great War: A ‘fella’ can drown
Henry describes how trenches are often wet and muddy or even flooded. He describes how shells have churned up the land and that shell holes can fill up with mud... read more
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The Great War: We were still wearing tropical kit
Henry opens by explaining he was first posted to Egypt, but little happened. He then came to France in Spring of 1916. He then explains the value and uses of th... read more
