1914-1918 First World War

The First World War

This section deals with recruitment to the forces, including not just infantry, but sailors, airmen and medical and nursing practitioners. It focuses on British/Irish wartime propaganda and reportage and on anti-conscription sentiments and the huge impact of the war on the home front, economically, culturally and socially. It deals with the material legacy of that war in terms of weapons, uniforms, souvenirs, written documents and medals.

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When the thaw set in on the Somme our artillery ploughed thro' mud and slush to Gemmacourt

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of line of British artillery marching through mud. ‘When the thaw set in on the Somme our artillery ploughed thr...

Royal Irish Fusiliers

These are the khaki trousers beloning to the number two battle dress uniform of the Royal Irish Fusiliers....

SAFETY MATCH CONTAINER

Leather Safety Match Container. Two piece container which has rough striking strip of metal on bottom. The slide on top has two cut away portions to f...

Enlist To-day!

First World War recruitment poster; 'Justify the faith of your fathers, and earn the gratitude of your children. Enlist To-day!'; published by the Par...

Ration card, Ministry of Food

event : World War I;condition : good. issuing authority : Ministry of Food. description : numbered M 263053 ; issued to John A. Holness of Belfast ; l...

'To the women of Britain. Won't you help and send a man to join the army to-day?'

First World War recruitment poster; 'To the women of Britain. Won't you help and send a man to join the army to-day?'; published by the Parliamentary ...

'Royal Marine Labour Corps. Irishmen wanted'

First World War recruitment poster; 'Royal Marine Labour Corps. Irishmen wanted, ‘Royal Marine Labour Corps’ poster seeking men ‘between 42 and 55 yea...

'Every recruit joining the army has the option of becoming attached to Colonel Lynch's purely Irish Brigade'

First World War recruitment poster; ' Every recruit joining the army has the option of becoming attached to Colonel Lynch's purely Irish Brigade' This...

Uniform

American Doughboy uniform as worn during the First World War. Uniform consists of an engineer regiment tunic, gas mask, mountain peak style hat, shove...

Stand not upon the order of your going but go at once

First World War recruitment poster; 'Stand not upon the order of your going but go at once. Enlist now'; Published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Com...

Field Entrenchments: Spadework for Riflemen

Manual written by 'an Engineer Officer', edited by E. John Solano, entitled 'Field Entrenchments' including instructions for trenchs to offer hasty fi...

British War Medal

design : Inscribed to "1823 PTE. H. Timbey, H. IR. H. Ribbon blue, black, silver, gold....

King George and Queen Mary at Government House, Calcutta

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of the Royal Visit to India; King George V and Queen Mary at Government House, Calcutta. The new sovereign and h...

Our troops occupy Houthoulst Forest: combined British-Belgian attack having ousted the enemy

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of soldiers advancing through skeletal trees, with fatality to right. 'Our troops occupy Houthoulst Forest: comb...

Is it a Capitalist War?

National War Aims Committee pamphlet 'Is it a Capitalist War?' by William Stephen Sanders. No. 19 in the Searchlight Series....

Cautiously working their way across the shell-swept plain of Picardy in great Somme push

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of soldiers elbowing their way acrss ground with shells bursting in front of them. ‘Cautiously working their way...

'The kitchen is the key to victory. Eat less bread'

First World War recruitment poster; 'The kitchen is the key to victory. Eat less bread'; Poster no. 22. This poster signifies the war time need for wo...

Postcard

Embroidered First World War Royal Engineers postcard, unused...

'Colonel Lynch's Irish Brigade. Young Men of Ireland, the men of your race from America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, are calling to you from the Western Front.'

First World War recruitment poster; 'Colonel Lynch's Irish Brigade. Young Men of Ireland, the men of your race from America, Canada, Australia and New...

Christmas card

36th Ulster Division British Expeditionary Force 1916 Christmas Card...

Join the Brave Throng that goes Marching Along

Parliamentary Recruiting Committe poster No.118 'Join the brave throng that goes marching along'; Original artwork by Gerald Wood. The poster shows a...

Do your bit. Save food

First World War recruitment poster 'Do your bit. Save Food.' A poster featuring the head and shoulders of a uniformed sailor, with a number of dreadno...

London Territorials pass the wrecked Doll's House on the shell-swept La Brassoe road

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of London Territorials marching past wrecked building. ‘London Territorials pass the wrecked Doll's House on the...

Our mine, fired during furious thrusts for St Elay blots out a jerry machine-gun nest, Ypres

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of an explosion. ‘Our mine, fired during furious thrusts for St Klay blots out a jerry machine-gun nest, Ypres’...

'Irish Recruiting Duty of Irishmen'

First World War recruitment poster; 'Irish Recruiting Duty of Irishmen.' A poster in which the four ‘wise men’ of the ‘Irish recruiting Council’ are i...

POSTER; Recruiting poster, Royal North Down Rifles

event : World War I;condition : good ; creased. issuing authority : Royal North Down Rifles. description : printed in red and blue ; crossed union fla...

Kamerad! Dazed Huns pour out of their fortified cellars at Pilken in answer to our bombs

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of German soldiers being arrested at gunpoint by British troops. 'Kamerad! Dazed Huns pour out of their fortifie...

HRH Prince of Wales in the gardens of the Chateau which was his headquarters in France

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of the Prince of Wales in uniform and gaiters posinig at garden bench. ‘HRH Prince of Wales in the gardens of th...

England Expects

World War I recruitment poster; '1805 "England Expects" 1915 Are you doing your Duty to-day?' Image featuring Admiral Nelson against a fiery sky. Parl...

Lantern slide

First World War image showing the ruins of town, possibly situated in Ypres....

Matchbox cover

German matchbox holder inscribed on front with a crown surrounded by a laurel wreath border with the words Gott Mit Uns (God With Us). German soldiers...

'Separation Allowances for Soldiers' Families and Dependants.'

First World War recruitment poster; 'Separation Allowances for Soldiers' Families and Dependants.' A poster dealing with separation allowances in a ve...

'Let Irishmen Remember. Ireland has deserted the sons of whom she has the best reason to be proud'

First World War recruitment poster; 'Let Irishmen Remember. Ireland has deserted the sons of whom she has the best reason to be proud...surely they wi...

Uniform: Ammo pouch

German Medic uniform issued during the First World War. Leather ammo pouch....

Lantern slide

First World War cartoon of soldiers following a tank, photographed from the Daily Mail, Thursday January 14, 1917. The tank is followed by cheering Br...

Lantern slide

First World War image of a ruin of shelled town. The image shows a river or canal with an obliterated bridge and ruined buildings, possibly depicted d...

Bag

Canvas Red Cross drawstring bag from the First World War, belonging to Nurse Brolly....

Fete Francaise

Badge with pin fastening. Blue, white and red ribbon, printed in gold, Fete Francaise 5th, 6th & 7th Sept., 1918. Label on back inscribed 'Badge of ev...

At the Bayonet's point our troops surprise a Jerry machine gunner

Stereoscope Photograph shpwing a view of British soldiers arresting a German machine-gunner. Entitled 'At the Bayonet's point our troops surprise a Je...

The sniper finds his mark! Stretcher-bearers remove an officer wounded by an unlucky bullet

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of a sniper. ‘The sniper finds his mark! Stretcher-bearers remove an officer wounded by an unlucky bullet’ Stret...

Lantern slide

First World War image of death on the battlefield, corpses often lay un-gathered after big battles, decomposing, eaten at by rats and finally sinking ...

British Red Cross Society

British Red Cross Ashtray, Order of St. John. Issued during the First World War....

36th Ulster Division Flag

36th Ulster Division Flag. In the centre the Hand of Ulster surmounted by a crown. Above sewn on in orange cloth "36th (ULSTER) DIVISION". Below "BASE...

Zeppelin shot down near Colchester: even with its back broken it towers over nearby farmhouses

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of size of Zeppelin shot down over Colchester. ‘Zeppelin shot down near Colchester: even with its back broken it...

Army Medical Service

Canvas Red Cross armband from the First World War, belonging to Nurse Brolly. Marked with a red cross and stamped Army Medical Service No. 9, dated Se...

Military Compass

First World War Prismatic Military Compass with a pearl dial for low light reading, possibly made by Thomas Armstrong & Brothers, Manchester & Liverpo...

'Colonel Lynch's Brigade. Colonel Lynch does not say 'GO' he says 'COME '

First World War recruitment poster; 'Colonel Lynch's Brigade. Join Colonel Lynch' ‘Colonel Lynch does not say Go he says Come... This is presumably a ...

'Lynch's Brigade. Irishmen your fathers have fought for every cause that is Just. It is yours to carry on these glorious traditions. Join Lynch's Irish Brigade To-day'

First World War recruitment poster; 'Lynch's Brigade. Irishmen your fathers have fought for every cause that is Just. It is yours to carry on these gl...

After attack on Mouqet farm, Theipval Ridge

Stereoscope Photograph showing a view of dead soldiers and tangles of barbed wire. 'After attack on Mouqet farm, Theipval Ridge, taken by our matchles...

'Col. Lynch's Irish Brigade. Join Col. Lynch. You will fight for Ireland'

First World War recruitment poster; 'Col. Lynch's Irish Brigade. Join Col. Lynch. You will fight for Ireland.' Irish recruitment poster, entirely text...