Football and the 1914 Christmas Truce on the Western Front. My collection of newspaper published letters where soldiers described taking part in, or witness, a kick about between the German and British army #fww #ww1 #milhist #truce #football #war #christmas www.greatwarforum.org/blogs/entry/...

Like today, some people during the Great War named their children after important people, places or events. Thomas Smith, a prewar regular of the Black Watch, had a son born mid April 1915 with the middle name Joffre. Thomas died at Aubers Ridge three weeks later. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist

The Friockheim men of the 5th Bn Black Watch, in 1912. Most of these men went to France, with the first Scottish Territorial unit to arrive, on 2/11/1914. Sgt Victor Glass, 3rd from right, died after being shot while on trench digging duty at night, in December 1914. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist

The brass band of the 1st Bn Black Watch at the White City, Manchester in 1908. Many are wearing their Boer War medal(s). This was originally posted to the USA and recently acquired from Turkey! It’s a high quality image, so men may be identifiable. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #blackwatch #milhist

A postcard of British prisoners of war on the battlefield during the First World War. It’s a very relaxed image. No one seems to be expecting a counter attack or to be shelled. So possibly taken during the German offensive in March 1918. #ww1 #fww #milhist #greatwar

The Monday Morning Podcast (Series, 2007 - ) 🔈 █████ Comedy Festival (2025)

I think a good time was had by all at the WFA Scotland Conference, hosted by @wfatayside.bsky.social yesterday in Dundee. Five excellent speakers. Nick Hewitt’s talk on the Grand Fleet, post Jutland, was a highlight. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist #WFA #westernfrontassociation

Hon Lt & Quartermaster William Fowler of the 1st Black Watch during the Great War. He features on several postcards in varying uniforms between the Boer War and Great War. He’s one of the few to serve continuously from start to end of the Great War in the battalion. #ww1 #fww #milhist #greatwar

Yet another oddly high price for a military postcard. This time £88.08. The Scots Greys on horseback during the Liverpool railway strike of 1911. What was the appeal? Rail strikes or Liverpool history? Four bidders chased each other up. #milhist #scotsgreys #Liverpool #railway #strike

Spotted at Ayr railway station. A modern memorial those of the Glasgow & South Western Railway who died in all wars and conflicts. #ww1 #fww #sww #milhist #memorial #ayr

A colourised German postcard of British POW’s during the Great War. They all appear to be carrying empty metal containers, so possibly off for water, while under guard. Unposted but dates from 1914/15, as the men all have soft headwear and the kilted soldiers are in spats. #fww #ww1 #milhist

A kilted regiment arriving in France in 1914. It may be the Black Watch. (The image quality isn’t good enough for me to make a definite identification of the cap badge). If anyone can identify the French town or city, that would help narrow down the regiment. Unposted. #ww1 #fww #milhist

A Great War Chinese labour corps postcard came up on eBay. Labour Corps ones aren’t too common and quite interesting, so I started the bidding, which began at £9.99. It just sold for £239.55 after about a dozen bids! What am I missing? Are CLC images rarer than hens teeth? #ww1 #fww #milhist

A postcard of officers of the 4th (City of Dundee) Territorial Battalion, The Black Watch. Taken in 1913 during the annual camp at Barry, near Carnoustie. Sitting at centre is Lt.Col Harry Walker, who two years later in February 1915, led the Btn to France. #ww1 #fww #milhist #blackwatch

A posted German postcard of the First World War. It’s a hand coloured image of British prisoners in the Sennelager PoW camp in Germany in 1914/15. They are likely men of the R.A.M.C. going by the Red Cross armbands. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #postcard #milhist #RAMC #prisoners

A lovely summers evening walk out to Arbirlot and it’s waterfall. The graveyard beside it has two war graves from the Second World War, both young women of the A.T.S. Catherine Martin, died aged 21 and Margaret Gordon, died aged 19. #sww #milhist #arbirlot #angus #scotland #waterfall #war #ww2

Local history is the best history, especially local military history. Places so familiar to yourself with new information and context. I knew a reasonable amount about my local former wartime airfields, now I know more! #airfields #milhist #ww1 #ww2 #royalflyingcorps #royalairforce #angus

The photo portraits of four very youthful midshipmen, all killed at sea in 1914, serving in the Royal Navy. Fronde and Matthews have their ages listed on CWGC as 16, the others have no age listed. (From the War Illustrated magazine) #boysoldiers #royalnavy #ww1 #fww #milhist #1914

A crystal clear postcard of British POW’s in Doberitz in 1914/15. Unposted, no steel helmets and wearing of the glengarry dates it. A propaganda image of the men being fed, with a mixture of regiments, some wounded. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #prisoner #pow #milhist #postcard #scottish #highlander #kilt

The 9th of May marked the 110th anniversary of the disastrous battle of Abers Ridge. The darkest day of the war for my home town. 17 young men killed that day alone. The most of any one day of the war. Postcard shows British prisoners of Aubers. #ww1 #fww #1915 #greatwar #aubersridge

Todays postcard features a rather youthful looking soldier of the Black Watch. Taken in the period of the Great War. The reverse of the card is blank. From my collection. #ww1 #fww #milhist #greatwar #soldier #blackwatch #glengary

A hand coloured postcard of allied prisoners of war in the Great War. French and British soldiers posing “lining up to get food”. Posted from Mons in June 1915. From my collection. #postcard #greatwar #ww1 #fww #milhist #pow #prisoners

A Second World War aircraft hanger I pass on my commute into work. Now used as a barn by the farmer. RNAS Peewit near Easthaven on the coast of Angus, was used to train navy pilots to land and take off from aircraft carriers from 1943-46 #ww2 #sww #hanger #milhist #royalnavy #angus #scotland

Australian soldiers being marched away as prisoners of war by Germans during the First World War. The postcard states this is in the Somme area. The tin hats suggest a date of 1916 or later. Postcard from my collection. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #pow #prisoners #postcard #milhist #australians

A fascinating side effect of the First World War on birth rates in Dundee. #ww1 #fww #milhist #greatwar #scottish #population

A strong chin on this cavalryman from the Scots Grey’s. First world war era photograph taken by a Brighton photographer. Looks a bit like the guy that played Tommy Lascelles in “The Crown” tv series. #fww #ww1 #greatwar #scotsgreys #dragoons #milhist #photograph

Going to a 60th birthday lunch next week for a relative of my wife. Turns out his father served in the Royal Engineers 1915-18 and was awarded the Military Medal in 1918. There can’t be too many children of Great War veterans younger than him. #greatwar #ww1 #fww #milhist #royalengineers

A young man of the Royal Flying Corps, who’s had his photo taken by Geddes & Son photographers, who were a firm in Arbroath during the First Works War. #arbroath #scotland #fww #ww1 #greatwae #raf #rfc #royalflyingcorps #air #milhist

The statue of radar pioneer, Robert Watson-Watt, who played a significant role in Britains radar use and defence system, during the Second World War. Statue is in St Ninians Square, Brechin. #brechin #radar #ww2 #sww #war #angus #scotland #air

This newish sign on the door of a riverside walk, which I first enjoyed in the 1980’s, has informed me it’s a war memorial to James Russell, son of the landowner, who died in the Second World War. www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/it... #ww2 #sww #milhist #memorial #warmem #angus #scotland #edzell

The Boer War memorial to the men of Edzell. In the county of Angus. There’s not too many memorials to the dead of South African war round the country. Taken by myself today during a very chilly walk. #war #milhist #memorial #boerwar #edzell #scotland #angus #warmem

A German 77mm artillery gun, taken as a war trophy of the Great War. It was displayed near Arbroath’s war memorial. It wasn’t there too long, arrived 1920, broken down for scrap in 1939. Image from local archive. #arbroath #ww1 #ww2 #milhist #wartrophy #scotland #scrap

A Russian cannon from the Crimean war. Taken as a trophy and displayed for 85 years in my hometown of Arbroath, being broken down for scrap in 1940. No doubt many others shared its fate. Photos from local archive #arbroath #cannon #crimeanwar #milhist #scotland #ww2 #scrapped #scrap

A crisp and clear postcard of a Trooper of a cavalry regiment. Possibly the Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons), but not sure going by the shoulder titles. On back is written “Uncle Bob”. From my collection. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #cavalry #milhist

A German artillery gun from the First World War, presented as a trophy to the University College, Dundee. It arrived 22/01/1920 and was broken up 13/09/1937 for scrap. Postcard from my collection. #dundee #wartrophy #gun #artillery #war #trophy #milhist #ww1 #fww #greatwar

My local golf club has a Roll of Honour / Memorial to those who served, as well as those who died, in the second great unpleasantness. #arbroath #arbroathartisangolfclub #golf #rollofhonour #memorial #tayside #scotland #links #milhist #ww2 #sww

Two related Great War postcards. A soldier of the black watch and a small boy and some patriotic verses. I like the images of soldiers wearing the goat or sheepskin coats. Always fancied one fur myself, they look lovely and cosy 🐑🐐 #ww1 #fww #milhist #greatwar #postcard #blackwatch

Cracking day at the football. Derby match at Gayfield, Arbroath FC v Montrose FC. An easy 3-0 victory for the Lichties ⚽️ Smokie Joe prematch #arbroathfc #football #derby #floodlights #matchday

My piece about the 5th Battalion Black Watch and their experience of the Christmas Truce of 1914. www.greatwarforum.org/blogs/entry/... #ww1 #fww #milhist #christmastruce #greatwar

A Christmas Greeting. A Christmas card of the Great War period. A posed studio image of a soldier, with no cap badge or shoulder I.D and his sweetheart. He’s gazing at her, not sure who she’s looking at though? Unposted and from my collection. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #milhist #christmas #postcard

A Christmas card of the Great War, this time featuring the Australian Light Horse and some log cutting. Posted, but postmark almost completely faded. Message is from a pair of cousins, to a cousin in Newcastle N.S.W., Australia. #ww1 #fww #milhist #greatwar #postcard #christmas #australia

A Christmas postcard of the Great War. Santa and union flags appear to be the main Christmas tree decorations for this couple. Unposted, but a message on the reverse reads “To Joseph, from George”. From my collection. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #milgist #postcard #christmas

An illustrated Christmas card from the Mesopotamian theatre for 1918. A Red Cross issued card. From my collection. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #mesopotamia #milhist

The 1914 Christmas truce and football. Did a British regiment, or more, play football with the Germans? The answer is usually a “not really”, or made up. Here’s a thread of soldiers own accounts on the subject. 🧵 1/ #ww1 #fww #greatwar #truce #christmas #football #christmastruce

This German Christmas card of the Great War says on the front “Warm Christmas Wishes!” The message is dated 21/11/15 and not yet transcribed. From my collection. #ww1 #fww #greatwar #christmas #postcard #german

A Christmas postcard from the First World War. In this case the best wishes for the season and to the King were from the 4th Corps of the British Army in 1914. #ww1 #fww #milhist #greatwar #christmas #postcard

One, from a series of Christmas postcards issued to the soldiers in the Mesopotamian theatre, during the Great War. On the reverse it states it was given to all the soldiers. This one features Baghdads old city walls. This message is dated November 1917. #ww1 #fww #milgist #christmas

This is an American produced postcard, of a highland regiment crossing fields. All with packs on but only some with webbing. It’s unclear if this is during the war or peacetime manoeuvres. Either way, it’s much how the war of movement in 1914 may have looked. #ww1 #fww #highlanders #milhist

How many Germans in the U.K., were able to return to the continent to fight? There was a window, albeit a small one, up til the early August bank holiday 1914, where men could freely leave the country, having received their orders to mobilise. My postcard of dawdlers. #milhist #ww1 #greatwar #fww