Why Should We Respect Professional Soldiers?

I’ve never understood the exaggerated public respect that is accorded to professional soldiers. Most recently in the UK we’ve witnessed the spectacle of the Prime Minister effectively being emotionally blackmailed into phoning the mother of a...

History of Veterans Day, Armistice Day, November 11

World War I Meuse-Argonne Offensive, possibly the bloodiest battle in U.S. history. World War I, the "War to End All Wars" or "The Great War", included three major armistices (cessation of fighting prior to peace negotiations). The...

World One War: Winchester's 1897 'Trench Gun'

Winchester 1897 'Trench Gun' Slide-open action of the 1897 'Trench Gun' Bayonet Lug on the 1897 'Trench Gun' for the M1917 Bayonet 1897 'Trench Gun' with attached M1917 Bayonet In-game character from Call of...

World One War: 'Chauchat', France's Machine Gun Failure

French 'Chauchat' 1915 Machine Gun Soldiers of the American 308th and 166th Infantry Regiments liberate a French town in 1918. The soldier on the left is carrying a Chauchat slung over his shoulder Schematic...

World One War: Quick Firing 18 Pounder

18 Pounder Australian gun crew in action in the Ypres sector, 28 September 1917 Mk II gun barrel with hydro pneumatic recuperator extension above it Australian gunners in action on M'Cay's Hill, Gallipoli 19...

World One War: Puttees and How to Wrap Them

woolwrap puttees Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa, showing soliders wearing Puttees 'Tommys' distinctly wearing puttees, photographed 1917 First Stage of fitting Puttees Second Stage of Fitting Puttees Third Stage of Fitting Puttees Fourth Stage of...

The Silent Heroes Project-Australian Customs Officers WW1 - Eric Benjafield

The National Archives of Australia (www.naa.gov.au) did a great service to Australians by digitising all available service records of those men and women who served during the 1st World War. The project...

World One War: Formidable's Guns

BL 12 inch naval gun Mk VIII of HMS Ocean (Canopus Class) Right elevation of 12-inch gun turret and ammunition hoists of Canopus Class Battle Cruisers The battleship HMS Illustrious (Majestic Class...

World One War: The Murdering 'White' Russian

World One War: 'Yellow Canaries'

Munition Recruitment Poster 1914-1918 Munition Workers, Glasgow 1914 Munitions Propaganda Poster of World War One Workers amongst Shells, 1915 During the First World War, women played an active and crucial...