The British Uniforms of World War 1 I THE GREAT WAR Special

[@lloyddutchsmiley1147]

The other day I was going through some old things in my loft, found a worn faded box filled with metal files etc, amongst one of them the words "T Hudspith 1925" had been scratched into it. after getting out the old photo albums I found it was my Great Grandfather he was wearing a British uniform and it was dated 1917. Turns out he fought in the Somme and had a few of his fingers removed for whatever reason, and this was him returning to Britain. Sadly he died in his early 50s but his experiences of the war are lost, as anyone who knew him are now dead and according to my father, my grandfather had mentioned he never once spoke of his experiences, but would sometimes sit still and focus on an area in the room start to shake and sometimes even be sick. RIP T. Hudspith

[@TheGreatWar]

Very cool find. You should digitalise the photos for sure.

[@lloyddutchsmiley1147]

I shall send a copy as soon as I do, on another note, my Grandfather (his son) fought during WWII if you would like I can post some pictures of him in uniform etc?

[@TheGreatWar]

Sure thing, write down how you found them, want to encourage people to look for more photos.

[@lloyddutchsmiley1147]

I will try to find a way to post them. Basically I found them as a result of my grandfathers death earlier this year, he had a pen drive with some photographs on them, as well as issued bibles from 1917, amongst other photographs of him and his family as a child moving into a young adult, do you have a facebook page? I can like some but not all of the photographs to there?

[@tironansunfrendlyskies5040]

My father was a Korean War vet, he did talk about it sometimes. I learned things that I'd never considered. He told me that machine guns were just great but then never lasted very long because of mortars. He described fire just disappearing into the human wave attacks. When I got out of the Navy we really had discussions and long silences as we remembered what we had been though. I miss that old man.

[@rottenroads6536]

My Great Great Uncle enlisted into the Newfoundland regiment in 1916 at 16 years old, lying his age and claiming he was 19. Standing at 5'4, he fought as reinforcements at Beaumont Hamel (The Somme), he was hit in the eye with a bullet and survived. Now fighting with one eye, he went through normal trench life until 1917. Where on April 12th, outside of Aisne, he was hit in the stomach with shrapnel. He was taken back to his trench on a rubber tarp, and died in the open. He was just 17 years old.

[@MrRenegadeshinobi]

ROTTEN ROADS 😢

[@Catinagalaxy]

That's sad😢😢😢

[@SuperCompany007]

*sips tea agressively*

[@Guest-lq6vt]

No

[@crusader_bt1617]

@@Guest-lq6vt yes

[@musakhanburki2583]

Ooooooooooooooooóoooó9

[@Jackadiah]

It might be because I'm British but to me the British uniform is possibly the most iconic of the entire war

[@TheSteelEcho666]

I'm british too, but the most iconic has to be the german with the pickelhaube.

[@rdjhardy]

I think of the first pattern stahlhelm with the with the twin lugs (devil horns).

[@Jackadiah]

+TinnedTommy I was thinking about that too, but there's no denying about the iconography of the British uniforms.

[@ThePalaeontologist]

Not sure about that. The pickelhaube was phased out whereas the Brody pattern helmet went on way through WWII and somewhat beyond, and was also issued to the Americans, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and South Africans. I'm sure that it is an iconic image, the early WWI months pickelhaube and field grey uniform, but there is no way it is necessarily more iconic as the fighting tommies with their iconic, dish like helmets. Also, the Brody was sometimes used to cook things in unofficially (I think it was not condoned/banned but it still went on understandably) Fighting tommy in green-khaki with a Brody helmet? Surely the first thing I think of with WWI.

[@sean668]

As an American, I think of the pickelhaube and the Adrian helmet. The Brodie looks more World War 2 to me.

[@richardsawyer5428]

The military reforms of the 1900s (1908 if I recall correctly) are a fascinating subject largely brought about by the Boers teaching us how to fight a modern, well equipped and skilled foe. Even the School Meals Act (universal free dinner once a day at school) was a result of trying to improve the health of future military recruits whilst they were growing up.

[@wheel6243]

my maternal grandfather went to France with the Army Service Corps (ASC) in 1914 and made it all the way through. The family still has his 1914 Star medal with bar. One of his brothers was in the Highland Light Infantry and we still have his cap badge.

[@dylanwilson9131]

Love this channel, ww1 is such an interesting part of history.

[@TheGreatWar]

+The Peace Lords yes it is

[@samuel10125]

+The Great War do a video caparing todays uniforms and combat gear with ww1s.

[@TheGreatWar]

+Kabir Škrijelj How would you quantify that?

[@MrJsmproductions]

+Kabir Škrijelj that depends on whether you mean on an individual basis, or as a unit. And what you define as completing your objectives. For example do you mean taking positions or holding them? Etc

[@rdjhardy]

Really?

[@celston51]

The British kit was superior simply because they could pack all their troubles in their old kit bag. And smile, smile, smile. Great episode though.

[@arslongavitabrevis5136]

Very clever! 😅😅😅

[@MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

Jawohl! Thanks guys!!!

[@Pipohipo]

My two favorite channels together! : D

[@TheRagingStorm98]

Your awesome :D

[@richardshort3914]

I believe you mean, 'heartily agree,' as do I.

[@SandyEA]

Yeah what you said. :D

[@attilarischt2851]

That "Thick German Accent" is what sold your channel. No two ways about it.

[@marsnz1002]

The logistics of war have always blown my mind. Producing the everyday requirements (beyond just guns, bullets, aircraft etc) for an army of millions, then transporting and distributing it day in day out for years on end.

[@howardwayne3974]

Like the old saying goes , " armatures talk tactics , proffesionals talk logistics " .

[@zeppelinboys]

the book by david stevenson 1914-1918 really dives into the details on the insane numbers required for food, horses, munitions, etc. it's insane all armies were able to support men in the field for so long

[@kimchipig]

An interesting thing not mentioned here was that by 1916, very few officers who were anywhere near the front line ever wore their officer's uniform. Most wore a regular enlisted man's tunic and breeches, and instead of the Webley .455 carried a SMLE. The whipcord breeches became quite a term or derision in the army, and was often mentioned in the Wipers Times.

[@Alex-kc3ex]

Len Peters I would wear my full dress uniform with my officer sword and my cane, gota look fancy for the enemy

[@Alex-kc3ex]

Len Peters Sorry not cane, what I meant was baton or walking stick lol

[@Alex-kc3ex]

@almightyinferno killed with style

[@kaczynskis5721]

It should be noted that some officers derided the practice - for them, at best such officers were blurring the distinction between themselves and their men, at worst they were being cowardly.

[@arslongavitabrevis5136]

@@kaczynskis5721 More likely those idiots were bloody snobs as many British officers were.

[@Herrbrayne]

Currently building a model kit of British soldiers from 1914, so I decided to watch this video as a reference for painting. All of the photos I had researched made me unsure of what color to paint the officer's jacket, since there was so much variation. Now that I know they were tailor made, I am no longer confused. Very informative and interesting.

[@KevlarNinja]

I like the British WW1 uniforms. I don't know why; there's just some sort of Je ne sais quoi to them.

[@zachbocchino5501]

Gaston: I dont know what that means

[@stevekaczynski3793]

Better than the British WW2 uniform. Battle Dress was utilitarian but that is the best that can be said for it.

[@StalkerQtya]

These uniforms remembered me for Captain Blackadder.

[@blacknight6558]

Wibble

[@woodstockthebird379]

"Sir, what if we should tread on a landmine." Well, standard procedure Lieutenant is to jump 300 feet in the air and scatter yourself across a large area.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

Reminds me of Michael Caine's character in Too Late The Hero when a comrade steps on a mine: "You could say he's got us surrounded."

[@jamiegray6931]

@colin minhinnick I don't know, the show capitalises on the futility of war and especially in the final episode shows the true horrors and terror the western front posed.

[@OneofInfinity.]

@@woodstockthebird379 Legendary 😂

[@lakewooded4929]

WW1 gave birth to the trench coat . . . I think the high slit in the back was for ease in horseback riding. The shoulder straps were added to allow retention of the over the shoulder gear. The belt had a metal loop attached for a pistol lanyard.

[@jzargo7443]

There is something special about wearing a suit and tie into combat

[@rdjhardy]

I liked wearing stockings.

[@GravesRWFiA]

yeah it says 'shoot me now' sertiosuly ass the war went on several officers attacked their rank badges to enlisted men's tunics. It was called a 'wind up jacket' and there isn't much evidence of it because there was a suggestion of cowardice in these men taking active precautions. there's a wonderful scene in A bridge too far when Col Frost is talknig to his servant about packing for the jump "Have you packed my dinner jacket?" a pained look crosses the servants face before he says "Are you sure you're going to need that sir?" "Well one should hope so?"

[@MrSvenovitch]

It would look great on you as they close your coffin.

[@dabsafe]

My Grandfather wore his kilt into battle in Salonika. 10th Btn 42nd Highlanders (The Black Watch)

[@alphapennsylvania9439]

The reason the Highlanders wore kilts is because balls like those don't fit in pants.

[@okthen1166]

lol

[@gunnerr8476]

I wonder what inside the kilt between their legs?

[@normanlesley1867]

Kilts stopped being worn because mud gathered on the hem and froze like razors blades cutting and chafing the legs.

[@_--Reaper--_]

Or maybe its because they have no balls so they wear skirts

[@TheEwker]

Kilts were also stopped being worn because the naked legs were caught by gas that irritated the skin

[@silvioevan11]

7:08 Tam o' shanter FTW! Love these bonnets. Is it too much if I dream with a future episode about caps? (Scottish Glengarry, Serbian Sajkaca, Ottoman Fez...)

[@Moggster23]

Interesting what you said about puttees being worn the same way on both legs. I had to wear a smaller version of them but wore them differently. On the left leg we wound them counter clockwise and on the right leg we wound them clockwise. We always started on the inside of the leg so they would finish in the same place on the outside of both legs.

[@ThatRedcoat]

Bright redcoats were my favourite

[@Bedfordshireman]

I never would have guessed that!

[@samuel10125]

it kinda funny the redcoats way have been bright but they actually made enimies surrender thinking there were more soldiers than there really was.

[@rdjhardy]

Lines were used against infantry and squares against cavalry. The red coat had gone in field use before Britain adopted a repeating rifle (Lee-Metford 1888)

[@JanoTuotanto]

+rdjhardy Yes , with Lee-Metford 1988 they were issued the red coat with stuffed shoulders, neon pink head band and leg warmers, and Walkman with Cindy Lauper tape.

[@rdjhardy]

JanoTuotanto That was only on Thursday nights.

[@Timasaurus007]

I love Military History Visualised! I started watching his videos a few months ago now. :)

[@TheSteelEcho666]

*Produces small Union Flag on stick. Waits excitedly.*

[@ldmitruk]

Military History Visualised is a great channel to follow. Best part of this episode for me was learning about the leather jerkins, I've always been curious about them. Looking forward to more specials on uniforms.

[@jmcf8673]

at 2:35 the soldier was sleeping next to his .303 enfield rifle. note, the cover over the action!(it covers the receiver and bolt area) to keep dirt etc out of the rifle. something I have for my no.4 enfield. those covers are hard to find now-a-days.

[@andybelcher1767]

An excellent, simplified presentation that should inspire further research. There is a whole lot more to it. :-) Incidentally, the shrapnel helmet was called just that, apart from nicknames, 'Brodie' helmets is a modern usage.

[@dannyboy1707]

Mathew is quite a help lately!

[@HaakonTheViking]

I have a strange love for puttees. I love wearing them, they just look so cool, and are so comfortable. I own 6 pairs as of right now, with 2 more coming soon. They are all reproduction of british, japanese, or viking age ones, except a pair of authentic 1909 vintage Fox's puttees from wellington and Sommerseth that is the pride of my collection. I'm also expection some military surplus swiss ones soon. I wear them while hiking or hunting, or in bad weather (Not the 1909 ones though). They keep dirt and debree from entering your boots or going up your pants. They keep your lower legs snug and reduce noise drastically. And they do actually prevent your legs from getting too wet, as they will not suck up water like cotton or synthetics does, they just get kind of moist, but will still keep you warm. A fantastic invention!

[@gaelforcewind2351]

That's it, I finally caught up! It took just over a month, and I enjoyed every single moment! Keep up the great work!

[@hillbillyknifenut83]

Amazing vid as always Indy an crew ! Love it !!! Thank you !!!

[@badvoodoo4090]

Great videos, massive amounts of information rapidly! Love it.

[@1984Phalanx]

This episode reminded me of a field trip to a war museum my class took when I was in high school. One of my classmates got to put on an authentic full Canadian forces uniform and kit from the great war and run around in it to demonstrate just how much crap the troops were expected to carry into battle(which is why they often left much of it behind). Those wool coats they wore certainly looked warm though. He was also carrying the dreaded Ross rifle, a gun which I understand was so bad (using the incorrectly sized British ammunition) some would joke that the Ross rifle must have been manufactured for the Canadians by the Germans. lol

[@TheGreatWar]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKaqioaHlJJ5gLc - if you are interested in the Ross Rifle.

[@1984Phalanx]

Cool, TY.

[@1984Phalanx]

The Great War This was a very informative video and even answers a very old question I had about it. Over ten years ago I remember debating with some people online who were adamant defenders of the ross rifle saying their grandfathers had used them for many years as hunting rifles after the war and they didn't know why the forces stopped using it. I've learned in this video that the final version of the rifle aside from being too heavy in the barrel for running and gunning through trenches was actually fit for military service and with a shortened barrel could even be considered better than the lee enfield as the action can fire faster, but by then too many had died as a result of previous problems and no one at this point believed that all the problems with the gun were solved. Very informative video thanks for sharing. I subbed to the other channel.

[@TheGreatWar]

YourPalAL Great, Othais' channel is really great for learning this kind of thing.

[@yvonneemmert9185]

I will recommend your channel to all who love history! Thank you!

[@AtomicPeacenik]

Yes! I love these episodes.

[@TheGreatWar]

+Andrew Velazquez Next one is Russian Uniforms

[@AtomicPeacenik]

+The Great War can't wait!

[@hughmccabe3385]

And after that? Austro-Hungary, Italy, Ottoman, Bulgaria, Serbia, Japan, Portugal?

[@Creekbreezy]

The intro is so eerie and gives me chills every time

[@xxalertzachxx]

hell yeah Military History Visualized is a great channel. great video as always guys!

[@jointhedogearmy9190]

Great channel...keep up the good work ;)

[@TheGreatWar]

+Join the Doge Army woof woof

[@unknowntraveller8633]

As you say it is an interesting topic certainly hope to see more uniform specials.

[@TheGreatWar]

Did you see the other two before?

[@unknowntraveller8633]

Yes but find that this part of the Great War is very rarely covered properly. Keep up the good work

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

hey, remember when you said the commonwealths and rest of the empire would get its own uniform special. well, its two years latter.

[@kapitankapital6580]

the guy with the Lewis gun in your intro has no ammo

[@Rickinsf]

Don't let on...the Huns don't know.

[@ryanmatthews9767]

best kept secret of the war

[@sIurz]

Jesus how many socialists can you like?

[@Autechltd]

Shhh shut up and make gun sound effects otherwise the huns will wise up! Pew pew pew pew, ratatatatatatata qqqqqqqqqqshhhhhhboooooooaaaaaa

[@LukeTheMovieMan117]

I love British WW1 history thank you!

[@heldaneurbanus5135]

My grandad was very fond of his leather short sleeved vest. Kept it long after WWII, after he retired from the Army. A testament to how practical they were. On the other hand he hated anything that fired the .303 cartridge. He was a small man, slender and only 5'4". Firing the thing, even prone, pushed him back about an inch every shot. Lucky for him he was promoted fairly quickly IIRC. Ended as a Colonel just prior to retirement. Edit: Come to think of it my dad kept his puttees. He's used them when he had to corner and kill a rat in our house to protect his ankles and shins. They look a bit silly but work well.

[@GravesRWFiA]

to add on here. the 03 webbed gear was modular, it could be taken apart and altered for jobs, so a machine gunner would ditch the normal ammo pouches and replaced it with a pistol holster. on the march the haversack was carried on the left hip with the large pack on the back. in assault the large pack was taken off and the haversack moved to the small of the back. The goatskin jerkins were water resistant nd quite warm but in the mud of flanders , they got massively heavy as they picked up the clay like mud. puttees were not wrapped counter clockwise. they were wrapped from the inside of the leg out, the left leg was counter clockwise, the right, clockwise.

[@rubberwoody]

the guy from 2:05 looks like one of your crew members in the tank mission of BF1

[@anttibjorklund1869]

That guy in the pic around 2:08 .... was I the only one (probably not) that was reminded of Edmund Blackadder from "Blackadder Goes Forth"?

[@kee1haul]

What a great video. So many things I never had any idea about.

[@richardshort3914]

At the 2:30 mark you mention puttees were put on counter-clockwise. It depends on the leg. They are supposed to end with the point (end of the broad bandage) on the outside, pointed to the rear. This means they are wrapped anti-clockwise on the left; clockwise on the right.

[@henerymag]

I read somewhere that the covering on the kilts was to keep the mud off of them. Mud formed a hard crust that cut into the legs of soldiers.

[@Aec7ann]

Great channel, thanks for your effort and keep doing more vids like this.

[@TheGreatWar]

We certainly will.

[@Nicdonova1]

Hey Indy, love the show :) you think you could do a special on boot camp from other nations around this time? I'm curious to see what is the difference between today's and back then and what it was like. thanks you guys :D

[@TheGreatWar]

Interesting topic. Maybe we can find out something.

[@tommyatkins2446]

As a Great war living historian with this i can advise the below. The shirts are wool and very hot, as are the puttees. Tunic and trousers are surge, just as hot. The soft Trench cap is preferable to the SD cap. Hobnail boots take some getting used to as they can slide on concrete. The great coat is super warm and i wear it in winter anyway. Fully loaded the webbing is as heavy as modern kit. For all the above i love it, its about the only thing id run into a burning house for lol Also people then werent used to synthetics so wouldnt have batted an eye at wearing wool all the time.

[@woodstockthebird379]

I was digging around in my grandmothers basement a few weeks ago, stumbling across a lone photograph of a man, around 16, in British uniform. He was in what was called a "Hero shot", where a picture would be taken of a soldier before going to war. He was part of the Newfoundland Regiment and was wounded by a mild gunshot wound in his upper right face and eye in 1916, He returned to active duty later that year and what he did in that time remains unknown to me. He died from a gunshot to the gut outside of Amiens during the Spring offensive of 1918, "Kaiserschlacht." I have yet to see if anything remains of his war experience (Uniform parts, helmet, cap, pictures, diaries, letters, etc.)

[@maxbielinski2276]

We all know that story was Bullshit, just admit you've been playing too much battlefield 1

[@neilwilson5785]

Brilliantly explained. Worth a bit of Patreon, this site. I did.

[@TheGreatWar]

Thank you for your support.

[@jsma9999]

Thank you for this film.

[@BFast117]

I've been very interested in these uniform videos, Keep them coming!

[@RiflemanMoore]

Nice that you noted the changes which had to be made to accommodate men commissioned from the ranks. I have an example of one of these developments in my collection, an officer's shoulder rank jacket made to an 'off the peg' size, rather than being tailor made for the individual, dated 1918. It would have been interesting to note the adoption of shoulder rank for officers across the British Army during the war. The cuff rank and attendant worsted braid was decidedly conspicuous so jackets with rank worn on the epaulettes either in metal or cloth became increasingly common though not universal by any means. In 1917 the practice was officially recognized with the cuff rank jacket being finally abolished in 1921 These shoulder rank jackets were derisively known as 'wind up' jackets by some when they first appeared. Some were newly made whilst others were converted from cuff rank jackets, a friend of mine has a photograph of his great great grandfather a friend of whom in the photograph has moved his rank to the epaulettes and removed the cuff braid from his jacket but the scalloped reinforcing pieces where the rank had been attached to the cuffs can still be seen.

[@tombarker6245]

Best equipped, best trained and most stylish!

[@generalwashington4390]

Keep up the great work! Thanks for making these!

[@johntait491]

Very interesting and informative. Thank you.

[@johnburnett2321]

Hey Indy. Love the show. Can you do the uniforms of the different parts of the British Empire like Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, etc..

[@andrewbisset3616]

I've heard that the cuff insignia for most officers was switched up to the shoulder boards progressively during the War for the same reasons that swords fell out of favor: the cuff badges were more easily recognizable through the scopes of enemy snipers.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

The Guards officers had them on the shoulder straps from the start, as time went on other officers also switched to the shoulder straps. Some officers even wore enlisted men's uniforms at the front, with their rank displayed inconspicuously on the shoulders, and went as far as carrying a rifle so they looked less like officers. The result of the harsh school of German sniping and sharpshooting.

[@yoda8246]

Love the Video! Keep up the top notch work👌

[@hewettlo]

Indi, incredible show. I love having this as a resource for my students. I'm now teaching military family students in Europe and we can go visit the sites you are talking about. Thank you so much. You do an amazing job giving us a real idea on what life was like in the trenches. I was wondering what life was like for the common sailor. Was life on a ship much different than today? How did the War office determine who was to be a sailor and who was to be infantry? Thanks again!

[@TheGreatWar]

Interesting question for the future.

[@brokenbridge6316]

I liked this video very much. It's quite interesting to see various uniforms from WWI. Nice job.

[@rabihrac]

Thanks this helps me understand where my own country's military uniforms came from

[@zaca3256]

Such a great channel.

[@keithorbell9500]

Just a aside on the leather jerkins, a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers worn the one his Grandfather had worn in the Desert Rats (7th Armoured Division) in WW2 in the first Gulf War in 1990-1991. His squadron was also in the (reformed) 7th Armoured Division.

[@joebradford7308]

I forget. Have you/they -speaking to KZbin and Indy n crew- Done any specials or regular episodes, on the struggle soldiers may have faced with animals of any kind? Wolves, Coyotes, Bobcats etc..? Love your show. I found you last year, binge watched your 1st year or so of this show, and have been hooked since.

[@TheGreatWar]

We did talk about the situation with wolves on the Eastern Front. Some AH soldiers were actually killed by wolves during the Carpathian campaign.

[@s.egberink5357]

Great episode!

[@alanwatts5445]

You didn't mention Trench Coats! Trench Coats were used or the first time in the Great War. These were not standard issue but were purchased by officers in the same way they purchased their tailored uniforms. They were designed to look military, allow the attachment of insignia (hence the epaulets) and were both warm and water proof. They because immensely popular. and are still a fashion item today.

[@TheGreatWar]

Wait for Saturday.

[@laxityazathoth1423]

The kilts of the highland regiments where covered up to help reduce identification of individual units as each regiment had their own tartan. They also carried cloth bandoliers of ammunition (100 rounds) too supplement there webbing ammo load

[@willynthepoorboys2]

I liked this very much,very informative.

[@ComfortEagleofJerico]

The 'cor blimey' cap. hahaha Now all Australia needs is the 'ken oarth, cant' boots, the 'nah, yeah' puttees and the 'strewth' tunic. :)

[@leadersuccess3761]

awesome video thumbs up.

[@thurin84]

brilliant! well researched.

[@FireAssayDevil]

What about greaves? Most people would nowadays would refer to what the British Army called greaves as long leather gaiters, one of the most distinctive parts of a British officer's uniform (after the Sam Browne belt of course). This item (used in conjunction with ankle boots) would be used by the ranks if they could obtain them, as they were much better for the wet and mud than puttees.

[@doomimp4025]

They can be seen pictured at 4:55.

[@Rickinsf]

Besides swords, the breeches British officers wore distinguished them in the field. German riflemen knew to aim at the men with "skinny knees."

[@karney6583]

Now we need to know what the differences between breeches and trousers are

[@string-bag]

Very enjoyable, love your desk:)

[@skilledgames5247]

Hey Indy!Love the show. I was wandering what Puerto Rico had to do in ww1 and what service did it have to the allies.Keep Up The Good Work!!

[@jackwei22]

Has uniforms for the Russian Empire been done yet which would be very interesting ?

[@mbear1639]

Yep, me too. Love hearing anything about ole Russia.

[@Zyme86]

Oh neat you partenerd up with military visulized great channel.

[@TheVargr]

The Scottish units continued wearing kilts until 1940 after the Battle of France was lost

[@janmeijer1627]

And even therafter, here in the Netherlands 1944-1945.

[@PieterBreda]

Nice episode. Very interesting

[@beatlecost]

I just received a WW1 British tunic (repro). It's amazing and very warm for a party, a cold night or the trench.

[@stevekaczynski3793]

It would be dreadful for a party in a hot climate.

[@ejatheshtfacedenglishguy6693]

It's quite nice to have a video come out on the same day as my birthday

[@TheGreatWar]

Happy birthday.

[@ejatheshtfacedenglishguy6693]

+The Great War as a young boy with autism, socialising is very hard for me and because I take an interest in the Great War this channel as been one of the only things that keeps me going,after school I used to go home and sit in the corner because I couldn't go and interact with anyone outside of school but this channel has kept me company while keeping me interested in history.this channel got me interested in socialism which lead me to read the communist manifesto and now I know the entire history of Russia while it was under the communist regime.this channel brought my grades up, without this channel I wouldn't have got the top score In my history class.from all of this I can say that without this channel I wouldn't be the person I am at the moment in time,and for that I thank you.

[@TheGreatWar]

Eja The Sh#tfaced English Guy Wow, that's really great to hear. I hope when we are covering the Revolution, you will be pleased with it.

[@ejatheshtfacedenglishguy6693]

+The Great War from a channel as historically accurate as this one, I don't see you guys making any mistakes.

[@chez9044]

Come on mate, it's your birthday, you need new resolution, what about changing your name to just English guy? :p happy birthday comrade

[@thetroller126]

You're the best history teacher

[@andrewjenkins7333]

Hi Indy, Thanks for this - as ever very interesting - like many I wore a fairly similar wool uniform (WWII pattern 'Battledress') as a school cadet in the 1960s - and learned to shoot with a Lee-Enfield .303 rifle.....stamped with the date of manufacture -1919! I see that these rifles are still in use with the Bangladesh Police and Forest Guards, among others. You made a passing reference to the 'Cor-blimey' Cap. Apparently this has now become quite rare and valuable. It was a padded warm cap with ear flaps designed for practical use in the trenches and not intended to be worn on leave or in rear areas because it was not smart enough. So what about the name. This is derived from a medieval expression of surprise (derived from 'May God blind me') still frequently used where I grew up. It can be applied to anything shocking and maybe most famously refers to trousers that weren´t fit to be worn, ones that would shock anyone who saw you wearing them, like the ones worn by the dustbinman in the song, 'My old man's a dustman' by Lonnie Donegan, which we all sang as kids. Oh, my old man's a dustman He wears a dustman's hat He wears cor blimey trousers And he lives in a council flat He looks a proper narner In his great big hob nailed boots He's got such a job to pull em up That he calls them daisy roots Congratulations on your homage to Ken Burns and on the new 'Out of the Ether' - I hope to contribute... only, as we know, the worst of the war is still to come and should be marked by commemoration not (as a BBC reporter said recently) 'celebration'. All the best, Andrew.

[@ewy2753]

3:18 "all troops regardless of rank wore them"... except that guy on the far left ...his name was Scotty...he was a strange one.

[@rockacraig5653]

You forgot: In the trenches officers generally had their rank on their shoulders but until 1917 it wasn't an official option. It was also not looked on too well behind the lines but it gave officers slightly better protection from snipers.

[@irishmorgc9493]

Hay guys love the videos grate job ! . Hay by any chance doing a video on the Connacht Rangers history in the war and pre war thanks guys ! ?

[@anthonystar]

Very informative thanks :)

[@liantuanghawlhang]

wow this video is so educational. I always wondered what the brits wear after their red coats.

[@MrCaptainLarry]

A few little facts you may be interested in: While many British soldiers tucked their cutlery into their puttees at the start of the war, the practice fell out of favour after the introduction of chemical weapons, as it made the legs more susceptible to things like mustard gas. The first Brodie Helmets weren't issued individually - they stayed in the trench and were inherited as the soldiers rotated, just like the positions themselves. Officer cuff ranks disappeared fairly quickly, changing instead to the now more familiar shoulder insignia, as it made them a very obvious target for enemy snipers. British boots were bar-laced, and were not tied in a knot or bow - the soldiers simply wound the single long lace around their ankle and covered it with the puttees - this allowed the boot to be removed with one flick of a knife in an emergency The collarless woollen undershirt that Indy mentions (called a Greyback by the troops) was actually far more akin to the soft flannel that some modern pyjamas are made from than the rough, scratchy wool of the tunic and trousers, and is really quite comfortable to wear. It also had a strip of white cotton tape across the stomach for the soldier to write his number on, so that it wouldn't be mixed up in the laundry. The Service Dress Tunic has little brass hooks at the sides to help carry some of the weight of the webbing - with the large pack attached, the 1908 Webbing can weigh close to 20kg, and that's not including your rifle. British soldiers were also issued with a 'Trench Cap' as the war went on - essentially the same design as the stiff SD cap, it had all the wire stiffening stripped out, and could be rolled up and stuffed in your pocket, but lacked the earflaps of the winter 'Gor Blimey' Gas masks developed as the war continued, but none of them were particularly pleasant. The first series were made of the same material as the greyback shirt, but dipped in chemicals that helped neutralise the effects of the early gases. Unfortunately, these chemicals also made you want to vomit, and were only effective for an hour or so. The later series were more practical, using a charcoal filter attached to the mask by a hose, but were still unpleasant to wear. Imagine wearing a swimming nose clip and keeping a snorkel in your mouth for a few hours, while also wearing a rubberised bag on your head. Still, beat the alternative. There's probably more that I've forgotten, but I'll add them as I remember them.

[@TheGreatWar]

Thanks for sharing.

[@AllenBeatcake]

OTTOMAN AND ITALAIAN UNIFORMS NEXT PLEASE! CANT STOP WATCHING UR VIDEOS ABHHHHHB sorry I've gone Insanse and I've been diagnosed with ptgws (Post Tramatic Great War Syndrome)

[@thekidhistorian1147]

Please Make an episode about the Scottish soldiers who served in the British army ... Their uniforms ... Their background... The pipers etc.

[@TN-xx4ih]

Question for put of the trenches: What were engagements in the air like? Which was the biggest one and was it used on the eastern front and other fronts? As always keep up the great work guys!

[@Merf_Gaming]

Flyboys is a good film (it's on netflix!) about WW1 air engagements. How historically accurate it is I don't know, but it's based off a true story.

[@TN-xx4ih]

...haven't got Netflix 😂 and we all know what they mean by "historically accurate"

[@stevekaczynski3793]

The adjutant of one battalion of the Devonshires carried his sword on the first day of the Somme (July 1, 1916) but he seems to have been unique.

[@MaverickCulp]

I read somewhere that the jerkin was used to facilitate slithering through no mans.

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

That may have been an unintended effect. But it is based on an item of workwear. One reason they were popular because they shed water rather than soaked it, a greatcoat would hold its own weight in water. I can confirm the mobility in them as well (I have worn one when playing WW2 Airsoft). During the war, some Offices who got hold of jerkins would have a collar and sleeves sewn to them for use in the trenches.

[@rickmon101]

Great show as always! I was wondering have you done a special on Philippe Pétain yet or plan too he seems to be a interesting figure during the war and after as well as in World War 2.

[@TheGreatWar]

He will get his episode this summer.