World War 1 | War History

49 Men Would Receive the Victoria Cross During the Battle of Somme Including These 9 on the First Day

Jeff Edwards

In the 70 years following World War II only 15 men have been awarded the Commonwealth’s highest military honor. And yet during one five-month long…

Warfare Under the Waves – Submarines in the First World War

Submarines were among the important new technologies that came to the fore during WWI. Although work on submarines had been underway for decades, it was…

The Infamous Battle of the Somme – One of the Worst Battles in History

Sarah Cooper

The Battle of the Somme was originally meant to be predominantly a French offensive. The Battle of the Somme was first planned in late 1915,…

An Island Country Goes to War – The Irish at the Somme

Damien Peters

The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 had an unusual effect in Ireland. In a place where there had already been conflict and…

Hiding Ships In Plain Sight: How Dazzle Camouflage Is Used To Confuse The Enemy

Dazzle camouflage was the brainchild of British artist Norman Wilkinson. It was put forward as a solution to the problem that ships could not be…

Marie Marvingt – An Incredible Overachiever in World War One and Beyond

Some people lead such incredible lives; they are almost unbelievable. This lady was definitely one of them. Marie Félicie Elisabeth Marvingt was born on February 20,…

The Assault On Messines Ridge – Flanders, 1917

During the First World War, Flanders became some of the most hotly contested ground in military history. Thousands upon thousands of men died in trench…

“Walking Veteran of WWI” – The WWI Veteran Who Hiked to Monthly Veterans Meetings in Jefferson City

War History online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Jeremy P. Ämick, who is a military historian and writes on behalf of the Silver Star…

Charles Whittlesey, the Commander of the Lost Battalion

Colin Fraser

Colonel Charles White Whittlesey earned his fame when he was a major in World War I with the American Expeditionary Force. He led a battalion…

How Gallipoli And The ANZAC Memorial Parade Inspired A Classic WW2 Song

Elly Farelly

In 1971 the Scottish-born folk singer Eric Bogle entered a songwriting competition in Brisbane, Australia. The prize was a valuable Ovation Guitar. The song he…

Frank Luke, Medal of Honor Recipient – The “Arizona Balloon Buster”

Jeff Edwards

People might not think shooting a balloon out of the sky is a substantial feat for a fighter pilot. But surround that balloon with enemy…

The Youngest (Confirmed) British Soldier of World War One

In 1998 Richard van Emden’s book, Veterans: the Last Survivors of the Great War was published. Later it became the basis of a 2009 television documentary.…