British Army 1914-18

In this episode, I discuss the development of the tank from the Mark I which appeared on the battlefield in September 1916, through to the appearance of the Mark V and the Whippet in the summer of 1918. I also explain the various ways the tanks were organised between the summer of 1916 and the summer of 1917, when they were grouped under the Tank Corps. I briefly mention the German tank, the A7V. I close with the tank crews' many achievements during the advance to victory, in the final weeks of the war.

In this episode I look at how the Royal Engineer company was organised and outline the many different types of company. I then look at the main projects they worked on, such as railways, both standard and narrow gauge, roads and tracks. I also talk about the labour battalions, formed to carry out the manual work under the supervision of the skilled engineers. I finish by looking at the large numbers of foreign labourers employed by the British Expeditionary Force.

In this episode, I explain how the British Expeditionary Force was divided into Armies and Corps. I show how the number of armies increased, to accommodate the large numbers of divisions moving to France and Flanders. I then look at the different roles of the armies and corps, when they were just holding the line and when they were attacking. Next we see how the different staff officers dealt with the artillery, engineering, communications, supplies, transport, ordnance and casualties. I close with a brief look at the various support services required by the corps.

In this episode, I explain how the infantry was organised from the brigade down through the battalion, company and platoon. I also describe what weapons the infantry were armed with. I then look at the organisation of the cavalry regiment and its squadron, as well as the weapons the troopers were armed with.

In this episode, I discuss the many different types of infantry battalion created during the Great War and they fall into two categories.
The first type were formed to accommodate the two sorts of service obligation; those who had volunteered for overseas service and those who would serve at home. So, we see the differences between Regular, Territorial, Service battalions and Garrison troops.
The second sort of battalions were formed to deal with the challenges of trench warfare. These include pioneer, labour, entrenching, transport workers and dock battalions.

In this episode, I explain how the General Headquarters was organised to control the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders. I look at the two commanders-in-chief, Field Marshals Sir John French and Sir Douglas Haig. I also explain the roles of the general staff officers who supported them; the Chief of the General Staff, the Major-General Royal Artillery, the Engineer-in-Chief, the Quartermaster-General, the Inspector General of Communications and the Adjutant-General. I look at how GHQ controlled spying and how it assessed intelligence gained, to help it plan operations. Finally, we see how the Experimental Section tested a wide range of weapons.

In this episode, I explain how the politicians in London directed war policy. Determining what the generals could and could not do and deciding when to open a new front. We shall see how the War Council, the War Cabinet and the Army Council were organised. I shall also discuss the role of the Munitions Committee in making sure the British Army was supplied with ammunition, weapons and equipment. The role of the Supreme War Council, which was formed to coordinate Allied efforts at the end of 1917, is also looked at. As is the organisation and responsibilities of the Home Defence Forces, which defended the British Isles.

In this episode, I explain how recruits were found once the initial enthusiasm for war had waned. Because the divisions fighting in France and Flanders needed replacements as casualties mounted. I discuss how government started with the National Registration Act, so it knew how many men and women it had for the armed services and for industry. Next I look at the voluntary system introduced in the autumn of 1915, known as the Derby Scheme.  Finally, the government could no longer rely on volunteers, so it has to bring in compulsory service, or conscription, for every fit man of age who was not engaged in essential war work.

In this episode, I am explain how Great Britain and Ireland recruited and trained large New Armies in a short time, so that it could engage fully in the Great War. I start with the recruitment campaign headed by Field Marshal Earl Kitchener. I then look at the joining up procedure and the medical requirements, which had to be tightened up as the months passed. The we hear how the volunteers suffered from shortages of equipment, uniforms and weapons as they tried to progress their training. Finally, I outline the organisation of the six New Armies and the thirty New Army divisions which went to France and Flanders in 1915.

In this episode, I am explain how the full time Regular Army deployed to France on the outbreak of war. I also describe how time-served soldiers, or reservists, were called up and sent overseas to fight. I explain how the part time Territorial Force mobilised to defend the British Isles and how it also looked to the time served men on the National Reserve. The podcast describes how many regular army battalions were recalled from garrisons around the Empire to fight in France and Flanders and how their places were taken by Territorial Force battalions.