Tommies Collection (page 5)

Dawn, First World War scene on the Western Front
Dawn, photographed by Cooke showing British troops, who have slept in the open country waking up to a misty morning in Flanders. Date: 1914

The Bill for Billeting Soldiers, WW1
Billeting terms for householders taking in soldiers during the early weeks of the First World War. with an extremely young soldier demonstrating how a young Tommy fits in - sleeping on the floor

A blanket converted into an overcoat for British soldiers
The blanket as overcoat. With the shortage of military overcoats, a suggestion for converting a blanket into a warm and practical coat

The Sphere, Christmas in War Time. Cover of the Christmas edition, depicting cheerful British soldiers raising a cup around a warming fire to Christmas and to a crucifix. Date: 1914

Decca advertisement, WW1
Advertisement for the popular Decca gramophone during the First World War, showing two soldiers discussing asking their commanding officer for a favour

British troops in Bruges, 1914
With the British forces in Bruges, Belgium in October 1914. British troops passing across the Grand Place at Bruges during the retirement of the Belgian army from Antwerp

Waiting for You in Blighty - WW1 postcard
Jolly First World War postcard showing a British soldier about to go home on leave the delights waiting for him in Blighty from pretty girls and a comfortable armchair to a cosy pub

Visitors for wounded soldiers by Miss Watson Williams
A set of four pictures - the pair on the left entitled, As Tommy Does Not Like It, showing some rather tiresome visitors - an aristocratic lady and a maiden aunt

Knitting postcard, WW1
Humorous postcard from the First World War drawing on the theme of knitting. A soldier on leave is used to help a young girl wind her wool (no doubt used to knit comforts for troops)

The Trench train, Victoria station, WW1
Moving scenes at Victoria railway station as British soldiers and officers, bound for the Front, bid farewell to their loved ones. 1915

Biscuits & Beef, British soldiers rations, WW1
A humorous cartoon by a serving soldier, Sapper E. G. Eschini showing a British soldier gnawing at the tough and unpalatable biscuits and beef, typical rations during the First World War. Date: 1917

Tatler front cover - Miss Vesta Tilley
Vesta Tilley (1864-1952), born Matilda Alice Powles, music hall actress whose speciality was male impersonations. During the First World War, she earned the nickname

King George V cheered by troops in France, WW1
King George V, attended by his staff, cheered by troops in billets " somewhere in France" during a visit to the Front in 1916. Date: 1916

British soldier cooks dinner on a brazier in trench
Somewhere in France, a British soldier cooks his dinner on a brazier in the trenches while his comrades keep a look out. Date: 1915

Beechams Pills advertisement, WW1
Advertisement for Beechams Pills from 1916 featuring the outlined silhouette of a British soldiers who states there are two good things in these days of trial - bullets for the boches

A Rest from the Firing Line by Will Owen, WW1
A British soldier, hopes to enjoy some time away from the firing line but ends up working just as har. Date: 1915

Another Secret out - Old Bill in camouflage, Bystander cover
Front cover of The Bystander featuring Old Bill, the cartoon soldier character created by Captain Bruce Bairnsfather, attired in a uniform of dazzle camouflage. The caption reads, Another secret out

My Hat! by Bruce Bairnsfather
How a tin hat feels before battle...and during. Humorous cartoon by Bruce Bairnsfather in The Bystander. 1916

First day of the Somme - Worcesters off to battle
British soldiers from the Worcester Regiment cheerily waving their helmets on their way to battle on the first day of the Somme (1 July 1916)

Christmas dinner at the Front 1916
Soldiers eating a hot meal during Christmas at the front, in World War I. 1916

Story of the Knitted Scarf - World War One
Humorous cartoon showing how an enterprising soldier, having received an enormous scarf knitted by a kindly mother or aunt back at home, converts it into a comfortable hammock across his trench

Toasting the tank, Christmas 1916
Secondary front cover of The War Illustrated magazine featuring an illustration of British soldiers toasting a tank, comparatively a new-comer into the arean of battle

British Tommy on leave returns home to his family
From a Somme dugout to the Home Fireside A British Tommy on leave returns home to his family - just in time for Christmas Dinner. Date: 1916

A football match played by troops during the battle of the A
" Our Happy Tommies" A typical upbeat choice of subject for The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, Sutcliffes illustration

A. D. Nineteen Fifty
Cartoon by Captain Bruce Bairnsfather, originally published in The Bystander magazine on 29 September 1915 and subsequently issued as part of his Fragments from France, and, as here

WWI - King George receives a greeting from the troops
WWI - King George V, whilst visting the front, receives a greeting from the troops and returns their cheers with a salute. Date: circa 1916

Having a smoke after a fight - WWI
Before battle, in battle, and after battle our Tommies are ready for a fag. These men are lighting up after a scrap - WWI. Date: circa 1916

British Tommies in German dug-out trenches - WWI
British Tommies in captured German dug-out trenches - WWI Date: circa 1916

London Scottish Troops heading to the trenches - WWI. Nowadays, the unit is now a company of The London Regiment. " The great traditions of which we were all so proud were maintained

British Troops moving through Northern France - WWI
British Troops moving through undulating country in Northern France - WWI. The infantry lines seem more concerned about their safety than the commanding officers, who seem less inclined to keep low

British Infantry in France awaiting orders - WWI Date: circa 1915

Pioneer Regiment entrenching in France - WWI
A Pioneer Regiment - British Army combatant corps used for light engineering tasks - dig trenches on the Western Front - WWI. Date: circa 1915

British Infantry march through a French Village - WWI Date: circa 1915

British Forces arriving at a French Port - WWI
British Tommies arriving at a French Port - WWI Date: circa 1915

Grahame-White Type 10 Charabanc with a bus-load of Tommies at Hendon in 1915. Date: 1915

British soldiers in stables billet, France, 1939
Billeting down in a thoroughly traditional manner in a French farmhouse stable, likened by The Sphere to what it might have been like to be with Marlborough in Flanders

British soldiers showing respect for their foe
" Concerned!" Caption: Disappointed Tommy to Officer (after waiting several hours for an expected assault by the enemy which has not come off)

A misunderstanding by George Ranstead
Two soldiers discuss a new watch while traveling on a bus or tram, but accidentally offend a ruddy lady sitting opposite. Humorous drawing on a postcard by George Ranstead

Camouflage - WWI postcard by George Ranstead
Humorous postcard by amateur soldier artist of the Great War, George Ranstead, showing the evolution of an almost fully-grown infantry soldier by the end of the war

WWI postcard by George Ranstead
Humorous postcard by George Ranstead, an amateur soldier artist of the Great War, showing a sergeant handing a bomb to a rather green looking new recruit on the battlefield and saying, Ere you are

World War One - Trophy of German Helmets
World War One - British Tommies sporting captured trophies - most obviously Hun Helmets and bayonets. Date: circa 1916

Commandeered - postcard by Lawson Wood
Commandeered - A postcard by Lawson Wood showing two solid-looking British soldiers commandeering a (now very upset) young lads toy horse

The Lighter Side by Bernard Hugh
A Tommy (on furlough pending discharge): Blimey! I should fancy I had my bathing costume on. A soldier returning home weighed down with a greatcoat, boots, rifle

WWI - North African allied soldier
World War One - Our Tommies series - North African Allied soldier

WWI - Colonial sailor fighting on the allied side
World War One - Our Tommies series - Colonial (possibly North African) sailor fighting on the Allied side during World War One

British soldiers 1916
Two British soldiers, muddy and soaked but looking cheerful, stand in the middle of a cemetery, somewhere in the Somme region

Nesle 1918
Men of the 20th British Division and the 22nd French Division in hastily dug rifle pits covering a road, in the Nesle sector of the Somme region

Somme trench 1916
British troops wait pensively in the trenches for the order to advance on Beaumont Hamel on the first day of the Battle of the Somme

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