1900s

British and Gurkha troops, 1917

Egypt and Palestine campaign

The struggle against the Turks in Egypt and Palestine began with a test of endurance and engineering in harsh desert terrain. It evolved into a fast-moving mobile campaign, which resulted in Allied victory and the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

Warrington Road in the Ypres Salient, 1917

1917: Year of stalemate

In 1917, Germany adopted a defensive strategy on the Western Front to counter the growing strength of the Allies. Despite launching several offensives, and suffering heavy casualties, the Allies achieved mixed results.

March past of the South Persia Rifles, c1918 

Persia mission

In June 1916, a British military mission began recruiting a local force in neutral Persia. Its goal was to bolster Allied interests and prevent enemy influence in the region.

Private William Bowyer of 1/1st Buckinghamshire Yeomanry (Royal Bucks Hussars), 1915

Senussi Revolt

During the First World War, the British position in Egypt was threatened by rebellious Senussi tribesmen. The campaign against them took place in the unforgiving climate of the Western Desert.

The Nigerian Regiment Artillery with a field gun,

West Africa campaign

In February 1916, the Allies finally completed the conquest of Germany’s West African colonies. One of the First World War’s forgotten sideshows, this campaign was fought in hostile terrain and disease-ridden jungles.

A six-inch howitzer of 127th Siege Battery, Royal Artillery, Salonika, 1917

Salonika campaign

From 1915 to 1918, British troops were part of a multi-national Allied force fighting the Bulgarians and their allies in the Balkans. Despite harsh conditions, they eventually brought the campaign to a successful conclusion.

Indian troops passing through a communication trench on the Mesopotamian Front, 1917.

The Commonwealth and the First World War

Over 3 million soldiers and labourers from across the Empire and Commonwealth served alongside the British Army in the First World War.

V Beach at Cape Helles, April 1915

Gallipoli campaign

Gallipoli was the first major amphibious operation in modern warfare. In 1915, British Empire and French troops landed on the Ottoman-held peninsula in the Dardanelles Straits with disastrous consequences for the Allies.

The South African Engineer Corps bury a comrade, 1915

South-West African campaign

On 9 July 1915, enemy forces in German South-West Africa (now Namibia) surrendered to the Allies. This marked the final stage of a short but successful campaign of manoeuvre fought in extremely harsh conditions.

Landing troops from transports at Lao Shan Bay, September 1914

Siege of Tsingtao

In the autumn of 1914, British soldiers fought alongside the Japanese in China. Their goal was the German naval base at Tsingtao, which finally fell in November after a two-month siege.

A 15-inch howitzer being prepared for action on the Somme, 1 July 1916

1916: Year of attrition

1916 witnessed two of the longest and most notorious battles of the First World War. Both resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties for both the Allies and Germans on the Western Front.

Troops in trenches at Wulverghem, 1915

1915: Early trench battles

During 1915, the British and French undertook a series of unsuccessful attacks against the Germans on the Western Front. For both sides it was a tough learning experience.

Explore 1900s events

Your Country Needs You! Propaganda and recruitment
Primary
1 Jun 2024 - 18 Jul 2025 FREE

Your Country Needs You! Propaganda and recruitment

Explore how advertising and propaganda work, particularly focusing on recruitment campaigns of the First World War.

School students getting to grips with the handling collection
Secondary
1 Jun 2024 - 18 Jul 2025 FREE

Trench medicine: Illnesses, injuries and their treatment

Explore artefacts and sources on the causes and treatment of injuries and illnesses on the Western Front during the First World War, and assess the impact of these innovations.

School students getting to grips with the handling collection
Secondary
1 Jun 2024 - 18 Jul 2025 FREE

The Cold War: Mission reconnaissance

Find out about key events during the Cold War and discover Brixmis, the secret reconnaissance arm of the British Army in occupied Germany.

Mission accomplished? Comparing First World War battles
Secondary
1 Jun 2024 - 18 Jul 2025 FREE

Mission accomplished? Examining First World War battles

Investigate four key battles through primary sources and decide whether they can be considered victories or defeats.

Part of a First World War propaganda poster showing a soldier and a munitions worker
Primary
1 Jun 2024 - 18 Jul 2025 FREE

Your Country Needs You! Propaganda and recruitment (virtual)

Explore how advertising and propaganda work, particularly focusing on recruitment campaigns of the First World War.

School students getting to grips with the handling collection
Secondary
1 Jun 2024 - 18 Jul 2025 FREE

World at War: Soldiers of Empire

Discover more about the contributions of soldiers from the British Empire in the First and Second World Wars.

Recruitment and conscription
Secondary
1 Jun 2024 - 18 Jul 2025 FREE

Recruitment and conscription

Analyse recruitment posters from the Museum's collection and multimedia recreations of First World War parliamentary debates to explore the history of Army recruitment and conscription.

A British medical orderly treats a wounded German soldier, c1916
Secondary
1 Jun 2024 - 18 Jul 2025 FREE

Trench medicine: Illnesses, injuries and their treatment (virtual)

Explore artefacts and sources on the causes and treatment of injuries and illnesses on the Western Front during the First World War, and assess the impact of these innovations.

Explore 1900s learning resources

Walter Tull character actor
Video

Walter Tull: A Soldier’s Story

Explore the life and times of Walter Tull, one of Britain’s first black army officers, who served during the First World War.

Shirley Hamilton: ATS Servicewoman
Video

Shirley Hamilton: ATS Servicewoman

Explore the contribution of Caribbean women who joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) during the Second World War.

Auxiliary Territorial Service personnel operating anti-aircraft defences, c1940
Quiz

Britain and the Blitz in the Second World War: Quiz

Put your knowledge of the Blitz to the test in this interactive quiz.

Members of the Coldstream Guards during an infantry exercise in Germany, c1977
Timeline

Britain, the Army and the Cold War: Interactive Timeline

Explore the British Army’s role in the Cold War through this interactive timeline packed with over 100 sources. 

British soldiers and locals watch the burning of Belsen, May 1945
Video

The Liberation of Bergen-Belsen

Explore the British Army's liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and the substantial relief effort which followed.

Operation Science: Signals
Video

Operation Science: Signals

Step into the world of Army signalling and discover some of the methods soldiers have used to communicate.

The story of conscription
Video

The story of conscription

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

Easter Rising 1916
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.

Commonwealth soldiers in Palestine
Video

Commonwealth soldiers in Palestine

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

Commonwealth soldiers in East Africa
Video

Commonwealth soldiers in East Africa

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

Commonwealth soldiers on the Western Front
Video

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.

Commonwealth soldiers at Gallipoli
Video

Commonwealth soldiers at Gallipoli

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