Civilians Collection

Coastguards and civilians of Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey
Commemorative postcard, Heroes All! Five brave coastguards and two civilians of Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, who rescued 20 members of the 2nd Walworth Boy Scouts Troop who got into difficulties

Instruction booklet, Knitting for the RAF, WW2
Cover design, instruction booklet, Knitting for the RAF, World War Two, price one shilling. circa 1940

Dig for Victory poster - WWII
World War Two poster encouraging British civilians to dig for victory, featuring somebody doing just that

British trooper meets French woman on the road to Lille, WW1
A poignant scene captured by the Sphere magazines special artist, Fortunino Matania showing a British trooper riding through a devastated French landscape and stopping to speak to a French woman

Air Raid Drills at the Windmill Theatre
At the Windmill Theatre, London, the showgirls are given a crash course in fire-fighting and first aid. 1940

Recruitment poster for the British Army
Poster for the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, encouraging everyone to Step Into Your Place. A long line of people, soldiers and civilians, combine in their effort to win the war

Soldiers doing target practice on a shooting range
A group of men doing target practice on a shooting range before the outbreak of the First World War. Their success or otherwise is written up on various blackboards

A church service in the bombed out remains of Norwich Cathedral. Norwich was bombed as part of the Baedeker Raids against historic and beautiful cities such as Bath

V1 (Robotplane) damage at Arlington Road, Southgate, N14, London, 19th June 1944

Lyudmila pavlichenko, famous 26 year old russian guerrilla sniper who has killed 309 germans, for which she was made a senior lieutenant and given the order of lenin, a former historian

Partisan units of yugoslav national liberation army march into liberated belgrade, october 20th, 1944, yugoslavia, world war 2

The Mine in the chutter Munzil exploded by the enemy at the first attack of General
NAM310751 The Mine in the chutter Munzil exploded by the enemy at the first attack of General Havelock, Lucknow (b/w photo) by Beato, Felice (Felix) (1825-c.1908); National Army Museum

The Door-God - Civil, 1922. Creator: Unknown
The Door-God - Civil, 1922. Menshen are divine guardians of doors and gates in Chinese folk religions, used to protect against evil or encourage the entrance of positive energies at thresholds

Air Raid Precautions, cigarette card, British, 1938. Testing for mustard gas contamination. The end of the instrument is coated with special paint that will change colour if mustard gas is present

American troops marching through Liverpool, WW1
American troops marching through the streets of Liverpool, UK, on the way to their rest camp during the First World War. Date: 11 August 1918

American sailors in Vladivostok, Russia
The arrival of American sailors from the USS Albany in Vladivostok, Russia, as part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. Date: circa 1919

Wartime poster, Britain Expects that you too, this day, will do your duty. Suggesting that civilians as well as soldiers have a role to play in the war effort. 1940s

Exodus of a people: the Serbian army protecting a column of peasants fleeing to Albania, World War I
6000376 Exodus of a people: the Serbian army protecting a column of peasants fleeing to Albania, World War I, 1915 (colour litho) by Bombled

Delayed Action Bomb explodes on King Edward Street while Bomb disposal Team are working on it. Two casualties and L.F.S are called in to clear debris. 9th March 1941

Firemen rescuing people from their house on Tabernacle St, Shoreditch. 11th January 1941

A young byelorussian partisan woman, world war 2, january 1944

November Insurrection
Polish cadets and civilians take the Belvedere Palace, Warsaw, from the occupying Russians - a fine victory, though the insurrection was suppressed by the Russians

British Tommies Welcomed
A British tommy is given a warm welcome by civilian French women

Fountain Road in Hull, Yorkshire, during the blitz of World War Two. The emergency services, local people and the army search the rubble and crater lift by the bomb dropped by The Luftwaffe

Bomb damage at Saltburn, children looking at a bombed building from a metal fence

Rough riders at Cincinnati, enroute to reception of T.R. [Theodore Roosevelt], c1910-c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Rough riders at Cincinnati, enroute to reception of T.R. [Theodore Roosevelt], between c1910 and c1915

Adm. Osterhaus at City Hall, 1912. Creator: Bain News Service
Adm. Osterhaus at City Hall, 1912

Greek Reservists on "King Constantine", between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Greek Reservists on "King Constantine", between c1910 and c1915

The War in Denmark: the town of Sonderburg in ruins after the bombardment... 1864. Creator: Unknown
The War in Denmark: the town of Sonderburg in ruins after the bombardment, 1864. Engraving...from a sketch taken by Mr. Simonsen, our Danish Artist

The War in Denmark: Prussian battery at Gaasberg Point, opposite the forts of Düppel, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The War in Denmark: Prussian battery at Gaasberg Point, opposite the forts of Duppel, 1864....We see two of the great guns at work, throwing shot and shell across the waters of the Venning Bund

The War in Schleswig: High-Street, Hadersleben - from a sketch by our special artist, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The War in Schleswig: High-Street, Hadersleben - from a sketch by our special artist, 1864. View of...the principal street of Hadersleben

The War in Schleswig: Prussian ammunition-train entering Flensburg - by our special artist, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The War in Schleswig: Prussian ammunition-train entering Flensburg - from a sketch by our special artist, 1864....the Prussians...have brought up heavy siege-guns and trains of ammunition

French National guard refuse to charge on an unarmed crowd, 1870
1575680 French National guard refuse to charge on an unarmed crowd, 1870; (add.info.: French National guard refuse to charge on an unarmed crowd, during riots in Paris)

Collapse of a railroad bridge during Presidential visit, 1866
1576637 Collapse of a railroad bridge during Presidential visit, 1866; (add.info.: Appalling calamity at Johnstown, Pa. on Friday, Sept)

Soldiers from the Bedfordshire infantry regiment fire on German soldiers from the upstairs of a private house during
3252870 Soldiers from the Bedfordshire infantry regiment fire on German soldiers from the upstairs of a private house during WWI (litho); Private Collection; (add.info)

Civilians using their daily trades, in this case bridge building, during WWI, from The Pageant of the Century, pub.1934
3502706 Civilians using their daily trades, in this case bridge building, during WWI, from The Pageant of the Century, pub.1934; (add.info.: Civilians using their daily trades)

German soldiers using women and children as a battle screen during WWI (litho)
3252904 German soldiers using women and children as a battle screen during WWI (litho); Private Collection; (add.info.: German soldiers using women and children as a battle screen during WWI)

Returning French Refugees, 1918 or 1919. Creator: Bain News Service
Returning French Refugees, 1918 or 1919. Refugees returning to France after World War I

Capt. P. Koenig, Paul Hinken, 1916. Creator: Bain News Service
Capt. P. Koenig, Paul Hinken, 1916. Shows submarine Captain Paul Liebrecht Ko¨nig. He was Captain of the merchant sub Deutschland. This shows them in Baltimore on July 10, 1916

Departure -- 7th Regt, N.Y. between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
Departure -- 7th Regt, N.Y. between c1915 and c1920

Trophies, Place de la Concorde, 1918 or 1919. Creator: Bain News Service
Trophies, Place de la Concorde, 1918 or 1919. Cannons and other weapons gathered in the Place de la Concorde, Paris, France after World War I

Marines in France, between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
Marines in France, between c1915 and c1920. French civilians visiting American soldiers of the Fifth Marines in an army camp in St. Nazaire, France during World War I

Werrenrath, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Werrenrath, 1918. Reinald Werrenrath (1883-1953) singing at a rally for the Fourth Liberty Loan Campaign which took place on the steps of Federal Hall, New York City in 1918

Werrenrath, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Werrenrath, 1918. American baritone opera singer Reinald Werrenrath (1883-1953) at a rally for the Fourth Liberty Loan Campaign, Federal Hall, New York City in 1918 during World War I

G.W. Wickersham, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
G.W. Wickersham, 1918. Lawyer and Presidential Cabinet Secretary George Woodward Wickersham (1858-1936) at a rally for the Fourth Liberty Loan Campaign, Federal Hall

Sub-treasury, 4 Oct 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Sub-treasury, 4 Oct 1918 (date created or published later). A rally for the Fourth Liberty Loan Campaign which took place on the steps of Federal Hall, New York City in 1918 during World War I

Edna De Lima, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Edna De Lima, 1918. Soprano opera singer Edna de Lima at a rally for the Fourth Liberty Loan Campaign, Federal Hall, New York City in 1918 during World War I

Mrs. H.A.C. Van Der Flier, Apr 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Mrs. H.A.C. Van Der Flier, Apr 1918. Mrs. Hendrika A. C. Van Der Flier of Holland, participating in a bazaar to raise funds for Belgian orphans during World War I, at the Waldorf Astoria

Luella Duys & Eleanor Horrmann, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service. Luella Duys & Eleanor Horrmann, 1918
Luella Duys & Eleanor Horrmann, 1918. Two girls, Luella Duys and Eleanor Horrmann holding dolls, possibly at a bazaar to raise funds for Belgian orphans during World War I at the Waldorf Astoria

Tea at Hostess House, between c1915 and 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Tea at Hostess House, between c1915 and 1918. Women having tea at a "hostess house" probably in a military camp during World War I

At Hostess House, Y.W.C.A. between c1915 and 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
At Hostess House, Y.W.C.A. between c1915 and 1918. Women and military personnel at a "hostess house" probably in a military camp during World War I

Hostess House YWCA, between c1915 and 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Hostess House YWCA, between c1915 and 1918. Women and military personnel at a "hostess house" probably in a military camp during World War I

Pont-a-Mousson, Americans visiting aged French, between c1915 and 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Pont-a-Mousson, Americans visiting aged French, between c1915 and 1918. An American woman visiting elderly French people, probably during World War I

German U-Boat in N.Y. 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
German U-Boat in N.Y. 1917. The SM UC-5, a German Type UC I minelayer submarine (U-boat) which was captured by the Allies, brought to New York City and renamed U-Buy-a-Bond

Going to Yaphank, between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
Going to Yaphank, between c1915 and c1920. A group of men riding a train, probably to Camp Upton, located at Yaphank on Long Island, Suffolk County, New York, during World War I

Mrs. J.F. Curtis & Mrs. Wm. Burton, Oct 1917. Creator: Bain News Service. Mrs. J.F. Curtis & Mrs. Wm. Burton, Oct 1917
Mrs. J.F. Curtis & Mrs. Wm. Burton, Oct 1917. Shows (left to right) Mrs. William Burton, Mrs. James F. Curtis (the former Laura Beatrice Merriam), wife of James F

Jackies on U-Boat, 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Jackies on U-Boat, 1917. The SM UC-5, a German Type UC I minelayer submarine (U-boat) which was captured by the Allies, brought to New York City and renamed U-Buy-a-Bond

Liberty Loan procession in Central Park, 25 Oct 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Liberty Loan procession in Central Park, 25 Oct 1917. The SM UC-5, a German Type UC I minelayer submarine (U-boat) which was captured by the Allies, brought to New York City and renamed U-Buy-a-Bond

German U-Boat, 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
German U-Boat, 1917. The SM UC-5, a German Type UC I minelayer submarine (U-boat) which was captured by the Allies, brought to New York City and renamed U-Buy-a-Bond

Berlin, goulash for 8 cents, 1916. Creator: Bain News Service
Berlin, goulash for 8 cents, 1916. Women serving food from a mobile lunch kitchen in Berlin in 1916 during World War I. Sign reads translated from German: "Warm lunch

Berlin, travelling soup kitchen, 1916. Creator: Bain News Service
Berlin, travelling soup kitchen, 1916. A mobile lunch kitchen in Berlin, Germany in 1916 during World War I

Mrs. Anna Dike & Anne Morgan, between c1915 and 1918. Creator: Bain News Service. Mrs
Mrs. Anna Dike & Anne Morgan, between c1915 and 1918. Mrs. Anna Dike, Miss Anne Morgan and French politician Fernand David (1869-1935) inspecting land in France

Going to Camp Upton, Sept 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Going to Camp Upton, Sept 1917. American recruits going to Camp Upton, a U.S. Army installation located on Long Island, in Yaphank, New York, during World War I

Christening "U-BUY-A-BOND", 1917. Creator: Bain News Service. Christening "U-BUY-A-BOND", 1917
Christening "U-BUY-A-BOND", 1917. The chistening of the SM UC-5, a German Type UC I minelayer submarine (U-boat) which was captured by the Allies

Kilties enter 71st Regt. Armory, July 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Kilties enter 71st Regt. Armory, July 1917. Canadian Highlander soldiers (Kilties) entering the 71st Regiment Armory, Park Avenue (between East 33rd and 4th streets), New York City

14th Infantry Camp, Prospect Park, between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
14th Infantry Camp, Prospect Park, between c1915 and c1920. A camp of the 14th Infantry in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York

Mrs. E.R. Stettinius. Creator: Bain News Service
Mrs. E.R. Stettinius.Mrs. Edward Riley Stettinius, (formerly Judith Carrington) head of the Economy League of the Junior Colonial Dames of America

Kilties in New York, July 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Kilties in New York, July 1917. Canadian Highlander soldiers and band marching in New York City. The Highlander regiments were in the United States in July of 1917 for "British Recruiting

Recruiting Parade, 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Recruiting Parade, 1917. A parade during World War I in Union Square, New York City

Recruiting Parade, 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Recruiting Parade, 1917. A parade during World War I in Union Square, New York City

English women sifting steel grit, between c1915 and 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
English women sifting steel grit, between c1915 and 1918. Woman working in factory in England during World War I

L.C.C. Tech Institute, Munitions Class, May 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
L.C.C. Tech Institute, Munitions Class, May 1917. A woman receiving training in machine work in a munitions class offered by the London County Council in May 1917 during World War I, England

London Common Council Tech. Lessons in Tracing, May 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
London Common Council Tech. Lessons in Tracing, May 1917. Women receiving training in machine work in a munitions class offered by the London County Council in May 1917 during World War I

Recruiting Parade, 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Recruiting Parade, 1917. A parade during World War I in Union Square, New York City

Helen Ware, Grace Schnebe, Chrystal Hearn, Frances Starr, Gladys Hanson, Lucy Weston, May 1917. Actresses Helen (Remer) Ware (1877-1939), Grace Schnebbe (Mrs)

Actors Fund Fair, 1917 or 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Actors Fund Fair, 1917 or 1918. Red Cross nurses standing behind guns at an Army and Navy Tea Room during a fundraiser for the Actor's Fund

14th Infantry Camp, signing recruit in, 1917 or 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
14th Infantry Camp, signing recruit in, 1917 or 1918. Soldiers at a table signing up recruits at a camp of the 14th Infantry, probably in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York during World War I

German Landsturm troops, Antwerp, between c1914 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
German Landsturm troops, Antwerp, between c1914 and c1915. German troops in Grote Markt plaza, Antwerp, Belgium during World War I

Russian Poles in war zone, between c1914 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Russian Poles in war zone, between c1914 and c1915. Russian Polish women standing next to shelter during World War I

Harriet Post, Marie Canfield, Miss [Camilla] Morgan, Catherine Porter, Laura Canfield... Dec 1914
Harriet Post, Marie Canfield, Miss [Camilla] Morgan, Catherine Porter, Laura Canfield, Muriel Winthrop, and Margaret Andrews, 12 Dec 1914 (date created or published later)

Belgian relief shop, N.Y. between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Belgian relief shop, N.Y. between c1910 and c1915. The Belgian Relief Shop, New York City during World War I

Women workers, England, between c1915 and c1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Women workers, England, between c1915 and c1918. Women working in a field with hay in England during World War I

Women working, England, between c1915 and c1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Women working, England, between c1915 and c1918. Women working in a flour mill in England during World War I

Mrs. Marsh entertaining wounded, Warwick Castle, 6 Oct 1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Mrs. Marsh entertaining wounded, Warwick Castle, 6 Oct 1915 (date created or published later). Mrs. Agnes Power Marsh, wife of Henry Wheelwright Marsh at Warwick Castle with soldiers wounded in World

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Civilians: Unsung Heroes in Times of War and Crisis" In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, they have always played a crucial role in supporting their nations. Like an instruction booklet guiding us through troubled times, they demonstrate unwavering resilience and adaptability. During World War II, knitting for the RAF became more than just a hobby; it was a way for civilians to contribute to the war effort from home. With each stitch, they provided warmth and comfort to brave pilots soaring through the skies. The iconic "Dig for Victory" poster served as a rallying cry during WWII, urging civilians to cultivate their own gardens and grow essential crops. These ordinary individuals transformed into farmers overnight, ensuring that no one went hungry amidst rationing. In WWI, an encounter between a British trooper and a French woman on the road to Lille showcased the compassion shared by people across borders. In moments of despair, these chance connections reminded us of our shared humanity. Air raid drills at Windmill Theatre exemplified how civilians adapted their daily lives to protect themselves during wartime. They sought refuge within theaters' walls while still finding solace in entertainment despite imminent danger. Coastguards and civilians of Leysdown on Isle of Sheppey stood united against enemy threats along Britain's shores during WWII. Their vigilance safeguarded coastal communities from harm's way. Recruitment posters for the British Army called upon able-bodied men who willingly stepped forward as volunteers or conscripts – embodying bravery in its purest form. Soldiers honed their skills with target practice on shooting ranges before heading off into battlefields - training alongside dedicated civilian instructors who prepared them mentally and physically for what lay ahead. Firemen rescuing people from Tabernacle St houses in Shoreditch demonstrated selflessness amid blazing infernos - risking their lives without hesitation to save those trapped within burning buildings. "The Door-God.