Inspiring Officers of the First World War – A Time of Great Bravery, Great Horror, and Great Sacrifice
Thousands of men served as officers in the British army during the First World War. Many of them lost their lives, and the survivors were…
The Letter That Forced America Into WWI
When the war in Europe was declared, America was determined to stay neutral until a letter forced its hand. It was rather complicated, but Japan,…
General Jan Smuts: Fighting Snobbery and Germany in East Africa in WWI
As a South African officer in the British Army of World War One, General Jan Smuts struggled against prejudice as much as he did against…
Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, Legendary German WWI Commander Who Triumphed Against All The Odds
Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck faced the most challenging task of any German commander in the First World War. In Europe, the Germans were confident of…
Lawrence of Arabia – one of the most mythologised officers in modern military history
Thomas Edward Lawrence is one of the most mythologised officers in modern history. A biography by a journalist, his own writings, and a film about…
Forces of Nature – Dealing with Weather in the Trenches of WW1
One of the most important battlegrounds of WW1 was the battle in the trenches. It was gruesome, for many reasons. At times the soldiers would be…
The Battle Of The Somme Was One Of The Bloodiest Battles In Human History
The Battle of the Somme is one of the bloodiest battles in human history. Lasting three and a half months, it was one of the…
The Gallipoli Landings: A New Kind of War
On April 25, 1915, the ground campaign on the Gallipoli Peninsula began. Forces from Australia, Britain, Ceylon, France, India, New Zealand and Senegal landed on…
The Naval Action at Gallipoli: So Little Achieved at So Much Cost
The Gallipoli Campaign is remembered mostly for the disastrous failure of the infantry landings. Huge numbers of British and colonial troops were lost in a…
“Allies Are a Tiresome Lot: The British Army in Italy in the First World War” – Review by Chris Buckham
As part of their Wolverhampton Military Studies program, Helion has published this interesting study of the experiences and undertakings of the British Army deployed to…
Shell Shock: A Horrifying Side-Effect of the First World War
Shell shock was one of the major side effects of WWI. Many soldiers suffered from it, as it was caused by the heavy explosions and constant…
Captain Albert Jacka – The First Australian VC In World War One
By Guest Blogger James Maloney Albert Jacka was the first Australian soldier to receive the Victoria Cross during the First World War. As a result he…