Did you know that...
Australian troops were called ‘diggers’ after the miners of the 19th Century Australian gold rush. Apparently, the name was resurrected by members of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the beaches at Gallipoli in 1915 as the soldiers had to dig trenches and dugouts into the cliffs in order to survive Turkish shelling.
Did you know that...
The name ‘tank’ is believed to derive from the term ‘water carrier’ – the code name tanks or ‘land ships’ were initially given during World War One in order to divert enemy attention from what was a new weapon. Initially, the troops were suspicious of these new vehicles as many broke down. They gradually won respect as tactical weapons and by September 1916, 49 tanks were in use on the Somme. They could break through wire, provide greater mobility and cover for infantry, and could be used as supply carriers. At Cambrai in 1917, tanks were said to have been the decisive factor in the Allied victory. By 1918, tanks were an integral part of most major operations and over 500 took part in the Battle of Amiens.
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The last British Army cavalry charge occurred during the Battle of El Mughar, near Jerusalem in Palestine, on 13 November 1917. The Buckinghamshire Hussars, supported by the Dorset and Berkshire Yeomanry Regiments, overran a Turkish position, taking several hundred prisoners.
Did you know that...
That over 80,000 Chinese men served on the Western Front between 1917-1919? The first men of the Chinese Labour Corps arrived in France in April 1917. They made a vital contribution to the Allied war effort. As well as moving supplies and helping with construction projects, the Chinese also participated in the clear-up operations after the Armistice and sustained many casualties from unexploded munitions. Altogether, Chinese deaths totaled 1,612 and these were interred alongside Allied soldiers in military cemeteries across France and Flanders.
Did you know that...
Conscription was first introduced to the British Army in 1916, and ended in 1919. It was re-introduced in 1939 and replaced with National Service in 1947. National Service ended in 1960, and the last National Servicemen left the Army in 1963. Since that time, the Army has been composed entirely of volunteers.
