World War I Articles | The Western Front Association

Articles on every aspect of the First World War written by experts in their field. Some are were first published in Stand To! or Bulletin, others have been researched and written for the web. If you would like to contribute an article please get in touch.

The Loss of HMS Pathfinder

Within 24 hours of the declaration of war, on the 5th August HMS Lance, a Royal Navy destroyer, fire…

The Unknowns Continue to Appear – the Work of the War Graves Adjudication U…

[This article first appeared in the November 2020 Special Edition of Stand To! The Unknown Warrior: …

‘Unfading Memories’: The Hot Lane and Elder Road Street Shrine

When the British government chose to go to war in August 1914 it had no understanding of what would …

Five Sons Lost in the First World War

For many years, it was thought that only one British family had suffered the loss of five sons durin…

The Disappearing Gunner

There are, of course, thousands of men who were killed in the Great War who have no known grave. It …

Albert Perkins - Who Do We Think He Is?

Many members of The Western Front Association will no doubt enjoy watching the BBC’s long-running se…

An ‘Enthusiastic’ Response to War? British social responses to the outbreak…

This is an MA Dissertation submitted to the University of Wolverhampton as part of their 'History of…

Donald Where’s Your Troosers?

Once the stalemate of trench warfare set in during the autumn of 1914 it was not long before the Bri…

The Real Winslow Boy

In 1946, Terence Rattigan wrote the play ‘The Winslow Boy’ – a story of a father’s fight to clear hi…

Le Cimetière Militaire de Soultzmatt, Alsace

We came across the cemetery by chance, driving through the Val de Pâtre along a peaceful road heavy …

Death of a Princess : The Destruction of HMS Princess Irene 27 May 1915

In May 1913 the Canadian Pacific Railway had placed an order with Denny’s of Dumbarton for two new s…

Private Alfred Berry and the Zeebrugge Raid 1918

The Zeebrugge Raid of St. George’s Day 1918 was an audacious attempt by the Royal Navy to neutralise…