First World War

'Fall in. Answer now in your country's hour of need', 1914

1914: To arms

The outbreak of war in August 1914 was greeted with enthusiasm in Britain. But to meet its commitment to its allies, the nation would have to expand its small professional army and make it ready for war as quickly as possible.

Douglas Haig: The chief

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig commanded the British Army when it achieved arguably its greatest victories, those over the Germans on the Western Front. But for many his leadership was marked by unacceptable losses.

Christmas greetings from the front line

Here we look at some of the Christmas cards sent by soldiers during the First World War, and how they helped ease the pressures of life on the front line.

A First World War Christmas

Soldiers throughout the First World War found ways to maintain morale and mark the festive season while separated from their loved ones.

Allied soldiers on the roof of a captured A7V tank, 1918

1918: Year of victory

The German Spring Offensive saw mobile warfare return to the Western Front. Despite early gains, the Germans exhausted themselves, setting the stage for a successful Allied counter-offensive.

Field Marshal Lord Allenby of Megiddo and Felixstowe, c1925

Edmund Allenby: The bull

General Sir Edmund Allenby led the British Empire to victory in the Middle East in 1918. He successfully pioneered the combined use of infantry, cavalry and aeroplanes at the Battle of Megiddo.

Hellfire Corner: A sign of the times

One of our most iconic First World War objects is the signboard used to mark the infamous ‘Hellfire Corner’, a busy and dangerous junction near Ypres.

9th Hodson's Horse in General Chauvel's march through Damascus, 1918

Battle of Megiddo

Fought in September 1918, this was the climactic battle of the Sinai and Palestine campaign of the First World War. Ottoman forces found themselves encircled by British Empire forces under General Edmund Allenby.

Battle of Loos

The Battle of Loos took place on the Western Front in September-October 1915. At the time, it was the largest British offensive of the First World War.

Mark I tank C19 in Chimpanzee Valley during the Battle of Flers Courcelette, 1916

Attack of the tanks

In September 1916, the face of battle changed forever. On an unsuspecting enemy, Britain unleashed its new secret weapon - the tank.

Battle of Passchendaele

In July 1917, the British and French launched a massive offensive near the Belgian city of Ypres. The bitter struggle that followed came to symbolize the horrors of trench warfare.

Stepping into line

As the entire nation mobilised for the First World War, women took up new challenges. Many of these opportunities had previously been off limits, including military service.

Group photograph of officers of The Black Watch

Talk

27 Feb 2026 FREE

'Highland Chieftains': The Officers of The Black Watch

Join Dr Ruadhan Scrivener-Anderson as he looks at selection, socialisation and the development of group identity within The Black Watch in the lead-up to the First World War.

Askaris moving a field gun in East Africa

Talk

20 Mar 2026 FREE

Ring of Fire: A New Global History of the Outbreak of the First World War

Historian Alexandra Churchill offers a fresh perspective on the opening year of the conflict, revealing its truly global scale.

Territorial forces checking people's papers at a roadblock

Talk

27 Mar 2026 FREE

Chasing Spies: Local Security and Home Defence in August 1914

Historian Harry Richards reveals the impact of 'spy fever' on British society and home defence during the First World War.

Trail

History of Warfare: Gallery Trail

Follow the trail to find 10 objects that explore the nature of warfare and the British Army through time.

Video

Operation Science: Body Armour

Go behind the scenes at the National Army Museum to discover more about an unusual item in our collection.

Recruiting leaflet, Army Cadet Force, 1991

Timeline

Army Cadets: Interactive Timeline

Explore the history of the British Army Cadet Force and the Combined Cadet Force through this interactive timeline.

Home Activity

How to Draw: Desert edition

Use our step-by-step instructions to try your hand at desert-themed drawings.

Home Activity

How to Draw: Transport edition

Use our step-by-step instructions to have a go at drawing Army transport.

Video

The story of conscription

Explore the story of conscription from its origins before the First World War, through National Service and beyond.

Video

Easter Rising 1916

Watch experts from museums in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland sharing their thoughts on objects from our Easter Rising collection.

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Commonwealth soldiers in Palestine

Discover the diverse range of soldiers who contributed to Britain's First World War effort in Palestine.

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Commonwealth soldiers in East Africa

Discover the diverse range of soldiers who contributed to Britain's First World War effort in East Africa.

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Commonwealth soldiers on the Western Front

Discover the diverse range of soldiers who contributed to Britain's First World War effort on the Western Front.

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Commonwealth soldiers at Gallipoli

Discover the diverse range of soldiers who contributed to Britain's First World War effort at Gallipoli.

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Somme 1916

Explore the story of the Somme through a selection of objects from the National Army Museum's collections.