World War I Articles | The Western Front Association

Articles on every aspect of the First World War written by experts in their field. Some 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.

Friendly Fire: The Life and Death of Frank Downes

Paul Brant, who has done splendid work in recording and preserving memory of the Great War in Nor...

Just because it’s official doesn’t mean it’s right

'It’s an ill wind … ' The pandemic has certainly limited options, but at the same time it has fo...

First World War Memorial at Galle, Sri Lanka

The Great War of 1914-1918 was a truly global conflict which was felt in countries like Sri Lanka...

The ‘Battle' of May Island January 1917 and K-Class Submarines of the Fi...

This was neither a ‘battle’ nor an engagement of any kind with the enemy, but nonetheless, it lef...

Do WWI helmets protect against shock waves as well as modern designs?

Medical engineers from Duke University have demonstrated that, despite significant advancements i...

Eton Street 'Shrine' in Hull and the loss of the Earl

At the corner of Eton Street and Hessle Road in Hull stood until recently a branch of the Yorkshi...

How Far was the Shells Crisis of 1915 Exploited by David Lloyd George fo...

[This article is by 17-year old Jack Moyse and is based on his essay which was the runner-up for...

To What Extent was the Empire’s Commemoration of Those who Served During...

[This article is by Matthew Cogan aged 19, and is based on his essay which won the Colin Hardy Me...

Reduced and Reconstituted British Divisions, 1918

During the spring and summer of 1918, both the War Office and GHQ in France faced a difficult dil...

The workhorse of the staff: The Vauxhall D-Type staff car

If asked to suggest the most numerous (or even preferred) type of ‘Staff Car’ used by British Gen...

A soldier of the Cheshire Regiment - thrice missing: Private Peter Mahon

On the day I began writing this article, 11 November 2020, I reflected, as did we all, upon the b...

Morning Attack Neuve Chapelle. A reminiscence from Fred Dixon

I have never seen it mentioned anywhere that 'C' Company 2nd Leicestershire Regiment made an atta...