A thread on Trench Art letter openers of the Great War - ‘a letter writing war’ facilitated in part by its detritus 🧵 The typical form of the letter opener was of a cartridge case (used or otherwise), a split bullet, and a piece of shell brass, fashioned into a miniature sword.

Scenes from The Captive Heart (1946) - a PoW film with a difference No heroics or escapes: filmed in an actual PoW camp, Marlag & Milag Nord, the exterior shots gave an authentic feel of a camp

Death, mourning and remembrance in the First World War. A thread with images.

1: the returned letter 2: the telegram

British Army steel helmets: 1915-85 a 🧵 for your interest and attention 😬

War Office Pattern, with Brodie’s patent liner, c1915-16. Repainted and with a rough cast finish, its original (and startlingly bright) apple green paint scheme can be seen behind the liner. 1/ War Office Pattern helmet, a salvaged/re-fitted example with replacement liner/chin strap. This chin strap no longer has a buckle, and the liner gave more protection. This one, with a rubber ring beneath the crownpad, was fitted in 1917. This helmet has a rough ‘cammo’ finish 2/

Ok, the moment you’ve been waiting for.

#BattledressThread

[Yes, this is procrastination] It all started with a need for a new uniform for the mobilised army to replace ‘Service Dress’. ‘Battledress, Serge’ (1937-8) had smooth lines, concealed buttons & collar with hook & eyes (officers had a collar & tie). It was largely devoid of flashy insignia #BattledressThread

Kitchener: the enigma who became Britain’s war lord and living icon, 1914 Kitchener’s image of strength as depicted by society photographer Bassano became an icon to decorate people’s homes - as well as to persuade recalcitrants to join the army

Gallipoli: variations on a theme. First UK edition of Moorhead’s classic. On the cover? The @I_W_M diorama model of the landings at V Beach #gallipoli Gallipoli: variations on a theme. US paperback edition of Moorhead’s classic. On the cover? The iconic depiction of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers landing at W Beach #gallipoli #lancashirelanding #sixvcsbeforebreakfast

Great War souvenirs (with contemporary labels): Women’s War Volunteer badge. This was given to a worker in Taunton, at one of over 2700 hospital supply depots providing clothing and other comforts to hospitals across the UK #ww1 Great War souvenirs (with contemporary labels): postcards (of London at night) detailing one man’s rejection (on the grounds of fitness) any form of military service #ww1

The Great War in games: a variant of Happy Families. Collect the cards to this tongue-twister. The term K-nut, was derived from the stage character - Gilbert the Filbert, the nut with a K - referred to a feckless gadabout. #ww1 The Great War in games: a variant of Happy Families. Collect the cards to this tongue-twister. ‘Brother Billy Biking Boldly into Berlin’. Don’t try this at home, people! #ww1

Evolution of a guide: @I_W_M

Very ‘HMSO’ in style, this was the first post-ww2 one. ‘The purpose of this booklet is to guide the visitor in a tour...’ the entrance hall had a model of a @CWGC cemetery, Chamberlain’s Munich paper, Kitchener’s poster, Monty’s D-day message... Evolution of a guide: @I_W_M

The 1960s. Sensible and ordered, sombre perhaps, this guide was earnest: ‘The purpose of the Imperial War Museum is to collect, preserve and display material...bearing upon the two world wars...’ Weapons were now most prevalent in the ground floor

My dad. He got on with life after he came back from Germany. He’d been there five years, a PoW at Lamsdorf, Stalag VIIIB I’ve no idea what he thought or felt on #VEDay . Relief? Probably. Like thousands of others of the BEF in he was captured in 1940 and the years were long and hard.

They came home
#VEDay They came home
#VEDay