World War I Gallery

Our Little Contemptibles, 1914 (oil on canvas)

2975397 Our A'Little ContemptiblesA, 1914 (oil on canvas) by Wollen, William Barnes (1857-1936); National Army Museum, London; (add.info.: Composed of regular soldiers and reservists, the British Expeditionary Force landed on the Continent in August in 1914. During the early months of World War One (1914-1918) it was engaged in slowing down the German advance. This painting depicts open warfare with British infantry wearing large packs, taking cover behind a hedge; German artillery in the distance.
The title of the canvas relates to an order given by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany (1859 -1941) to the commander of his First Army, Alexander von Kluck (1846-1934), in August, 1914:-
A'It is my Royal and Imperial Command that you concentrate your energiesA... and all the valour of my soldiers to exterminate first the treacherous English; walk over General French's insignificant [or contemptible] little Army.); A© National Army Museum ; English, out of copyright

© © National Army Museum / Bridgeman Images

How Piper Laidlaw won the Victoria Cross on September 25, 1915, (c1920). Creator

How Piper Laidlaw won the Victoria Cross on September 25, 1915, (c1920). Playing the 7th King's Own Scottish Borderers out of their trenches at the Battle of Loos in the midst of the gas attack'. During the Battle of Loos in northern France, British soldier Daniel Laidlaw (1875-1950) played his bagpipes to encourage the men of his regiment. He was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V on 3 February 1916: For most conspicuous bravery prior to an assault on German trenches near Loos and Hill 70...During the worst of the bombardment, Piper Laidlaw, seeing that his company was badly shaken from the effects of gas, with absolute coolness and disregard of danger, mounted the parapet, marched up and down and played company out of the trench. The effect of his splendid example was immediate and the company dashed out to the assault. Piper Laidlaw continued playing his pipes until he was wounded. Laidlaw was also awarded the Croix de Guerre by France

© The Print Collector/Heritage Images

WORLD WAR I: BELGIUM, 1918. Map showing the zone of war operations in western Belgium

WORLD WAR I: BELGIUM, 1918.
Map showing the zone of war operations in western Belgium, the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge, the line of battle on 28 September 1918, and the line to which the Belgians had advanced ten days later

© none

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