Two Wellington bombers by G. H. DavisTwo Wellington bombers: two outstanding aircraft ready to strike. Equally famous in attack and defence: a Wellington MK 1A and (above) a Wellington Mk II. Date: 1940
Defence of Chateau de Hougoumont - Battle of WaterlooDefence of the Chateau de Hougoumont by the flank company, Coldstream GuardsWatercolour by Denis Dighton, 1815Associated with Napoleonic Wars
British WWII posterHelp Britain Finish the Job! - wartime poster drumming up support for British forces, illustrated by five soldiers manning an anti-aircraft gun for defence of the coast
Flag of the Scottish CovenantersThe Flag of the Scottish Covenanters. They were Presbyterians sworn to defend their religion, part of a Protestant effort to seize power in Scotland against the English
Gloster GladiatorThe last of Britains biplane fighters, it entered service in 1937 and took part in World War Two, notably in the defence of Malta, though quite outclassed by its opponents
Winston Churchil visiting gun sites, England, 1944Winston Churchill visiting anti flying bomb defences in June 1944. Seen here at a gun battery in southern England. The caption on the back of the photograph reads, " The Prime Minister today
Recruitment Poster - British Military 1900THE BUFFS EAST KENT REGIMENT, 1900 (c). Poster, artist unknown, published for the Ministry of Defence, 1900 (c). Recruitment poster with uniform studies of soldiers from 1572 to 1896
Empire Air Day PosterA poster for the Empire Air Day on Saturday 20th May 1939 at Warmwell near Dorchester. The Hawker Hurricane planes played a key role in attack and defence during WW2
Haltwhistle MilecastleA view toward the Haltwhistle milecastle, on the southern side of Hadrians Wall. The milecastles served as stationing posts along the length of the wall system
Singapore, bastion in the East, by G. H. DavisBritains great bastion in the East: Singapore, stubborn obstacle to Japans ambitious projects in Southern Asia during the Second World War
Baroque main gate of the Royal Citadel, Plymouth, DevonThe Baroque main gate of the Royal Citadel, Plymouth, Devon Date: circa 1910s
AFS despatch rider and messenger, WW2An AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service) despatch rider and messenger on a motorbike at an LFS sub-station during the Second World War
Trades union membership certificateA trades union membership certificate for the United Operative Plumbers Association of Great Britain and Ireland, with Defence and Defiance as their motto
Ww2 Gas MaskA man demonstrates how to put on a gas mask
Siege of Malta 1565Jean de la Valette defends the island against the Turks
First English Civil War: Siege of Lathom House, 1644Royalist stronghold Lathom House in Lancashire defies Parlimentarian pressure and raises the royal standard. The ensuing siege lasted three months, but was eventually lifted
Soldiers doing target practice on a shooting rangeA 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
Siege of LondonderrySIEGE OF LONDONDERRY A popular image depicting the successful defence of the city by the protestants against James II
Wellington reorganizes his defence - Battle of Waterloo7pm - June 18, 1815. The Duke of Wellington reorganizes his central defence after the loss of La Haye Sainte. At the same time, The Prussians once again regain control of Plancenoit
Winston Churchill and his daughter unite for the war effortMr. Churchill at a London gun site during a raid:drawing made on the spot. The premier watches his daughter, subaltern Mary Churchill, in the control room
Mitsubishi A5M ClaudeA Japan - Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A5M Claude Parked Date: 1940s
Woman police officer in self-defence exerciseWoman police officer (Moya Wood-Heath) taking part in a self-defence demonstration exercise at an outdoor event, watched by spectators. Date: circa early 1970s
WW2 Poster -- Women of Britain Come Forward NowWomen of Britain -- These scientific instruments demand nimble fingers and quick brains. Come Forward Now. Recruitment poster, Auxiliary Territorial Service
Mitsubishi A5M4 ClaudeA Japan - Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A5M4 Claude Parked Date: 1940s
Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg (1661-1747). Corfu. GreeJohann Matthias von der Schulenburg (1661-1747). Marshal defender of the city of Corfu of the Turkish invasion of 1716. Marble statue. Corfu. Ionian Islands. Greece
Map, Britain -- Spearhead of Attack, WW2. Date: 1940s
Blitz in London -- Auxiliary towing vehicle and trailer, WW2An example of an Auxiliary towing vehicle and its trailer pump, used during the London Blitz. Such units would have been allocated to sub-stations (under the control of a regular fire station)
British troops WWIIPictures of the 4th Border Regiment who held a large sector of the Somme during a vital stage in the German advance. They were an ordinary Infantry Battalion
Margery Crandon 7Spirit photo of controversial American medium Margery, with alleged spirit faces. Few today would attempt a defence of Margery - writes investigator J Gordon Melton
Cicero V VerresCicero leads the opposition against Verres, governor of Sicily, who will throw up his defence and take flight
William Thompsons fight off Poole, Dorset, 30 May 1695. Thompson was a local fisherman whose fishing boat was fired on by a French privateer near the Isle of Purbeck
Westminster Cavalry. Aquatint by and after Thomas Rowlandson, 1799 (c). From a volume of 86 aquatints entitled ?Loyal Volunteers of London and Environs
?Army. Protecting Britain?s future?, 1993.Colour photolithograph recruiting poster, published by Ministry of Defence, 1993. Date: 1993
Advertisement, James Figg, sword fighting, boxingAdvertisement for the services of the champion boxer James Figg - teaching gentlemen the use of the small backsword and quarterstaff, at home and abroad
WW2 defence, illustration by William Heath RobinsonDefence during WW2 -- Stout members of the sixth column dislodge an enemy machine gun post on the dome of St Paul s, illustration by William Heath Robinson. Credit must appear as: Courtesy of Mrs J
Pterois volitans, red lionfishPlate 112 from the John Reeves Collection. John Reeves, a 19th Century Tea Inspector, travelled to Canton, China in order to develop a large collection of Chinese natural history drawings
Blitz in London -- AFS firefighters, WW2Blitz in London -- a personal photograph, taken by a colleague, of life in the AFS at a sub-station, showing firewomen on the Heavy Unit of Sub-station 67Z
WW1 poster, Pour la Liberte du Monde (For the Freedom of the World), subscribe to the national war loan. Date: circa 1916
Old Bill and Co. August 1940" Hey! Mind what yer doin ! Thats the second time you ve got me with that fifth column o yours!" Bruce Bairnsfather pokes fun at rumours of German spies
Southwark Cavalry. Aquatint by and after Thomas Rowlandson, 1799 (c). From a volume of 86 aquatints entitled ?Loyal Volunteers of London and Environs
Uhlans at LiegeA detachment of German Uhlans charging a fort at Liege, Belgium, only to encounter the barbed wire defences constructed by order of General Liman, commander of the Belgian troops in Liege
LFB-AFS convoy and fire exercisePart of the Civil Defence Corps until it was disbanded in the late 1960s, the Auxiliary Fire Service consisted of volunteer firefighters who would attend a fire station for drill and training
Coastal defence battery near Middelkerke, Belgium, WW1A gun of the Cecilie coastal defence battery near Middelkerke in West Flanders, Belgium, during the First World War. Date: 1914-1918
Poster advertising the Special Constabulary, seeking fit men and women for part-time voluntary service. Civil Defence is Common Sense. Ask for details at your local police station. 1940s
Worton, Wiltshire - WWII - Civilian Fire Fighters and their trailer fire engine! Date: circa 1941
Martello Tower, Corsica Date: 1809
Policeman and policewoman with gas masksA policeman and a policewoman wearing civilian gas masks outside Harrow Road Police Station (X Division) before the outbreak of World War Two. The respirator is contained in the canvas bag
England / Lyme RegisJane Austens Corner by the harbour of Lyme Regis, Dorset. The start of The Cobb sea defence is just visible to the left of the picture
