Illustrated War News, 1914–1918 & 1939 Overview

The Illustrated War News reveals the widespread participation of people of colour in the British and Allied forces during the World Wars — a fascinating (and often overlooked) topic which students and scholars are keen to explore. For example, this publication illustrates how, during the First World War, soldiers from Algeria fought in the French Army; how volunteers from Caribbean nations such as Jamaica, Barbados, and Guyana enlisted in the British Army; and how Māori volunteers joined the New Zealand Army. The pages of The Illustrated War News also feature extensive coverage of the British Indian Army. The paper likewise devoted attention to soldiers conscripted from African colonies and from Indochina (modern day Vietnam) by the French military.

The Illustrated War News documents the crucial role played by women throughout the First and Second World Wars. The paper’s “Women and War” column is an illuminating case in point. You can learn how women served in the armed forces, how they worked in munitions factories, how they tended to the sick and wounded in military hospitals, and how they performed vital humanitarian work in organisations such as the Red Cross. The Illustrated War News also boasts fascinating material on the Russian Women’s Battalion, the so-called “Battalion of Death”.

The Illustrated War News features extensive material on many of the most important European conflicts that occurred during the First World War, including the Battle of Verdun (1916), the Somme Offensive (1916), and the Battle of Passchendaele (1917). It also contains extensive coverage of the pivotal military campaigns that occurred in Africa and the Middle East, such as the Mesopotamian campaign (1914–1918), the East African campaign (1914–1918), and the Sinai and Palestine campaign (1915–1918).

The contributions and experiences of animals in twentieth century warfare can be overlooked. The Illustrated War News evidences how animals played significant roles on the front lines and in the rear-guard during the First World War. This collection likewise demonstrates just how important animals were to many military regiments, such as the Russian Cossack cavalry units and the British Imperial Camel Corps. The pages of The Illustrated War News also evidence how carrier pigeons relayed messages to troops, how “canine helpers” helped to locate wounded soldiers, and how horses transported munitions and bore riders into battle. 

This collection provides informative (and often detailed) reports on the development of military technology. Throughout the First World War — and subsequently throughout 1939 — contributors discussed the latest innovations in the manufacture of artillery, munitions, planes, ships, and tanks.