'Legacies of the First World War' : new book published by Historic England

The First World War has been described as the first total war, a conflict in which a country's people and resources were harnessed towards final victory. During 2014-18 Historic England set out to uncover and study the physical remains left across England by the First World War.

The range of what was discovered is astonishing, reflecting how the home front became as important as the battlefront. It was the place to train and equip new armies, to manufacture armaments, to treat the wounded and to grow more food. As millions of men joined the armed forces, women entered the workforce in munitions factories, as tram and bus conductresses and as farm workers.

Archaeological and architectural remains can be found of practice trench lines, munitions works, government factories, army and PoW camps, airfields and airship stations. But England was also drawn into the fighting as German warships and submarines bombarded coastal towns, and Zeppelin airships and later bomber aircraft brought death from the sky. The threat of invasion saw the construction of defences down the east and south coasts. Ships and smaller vessels were lost to mines, torpedoes and gunfire, and on the sea bed work is beginning to explore the wrecks from this almost forgotten battlefield.

Book details here ; historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publ...-of-first-world-war/ .

Book 'review' on the Mail Online website here ; www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6367373...ish-countryside.html .

I suspect that this book will be one of many focusing on the legacy of the First World War from both a local and national viewpoint . One publisher in particular , Pen & Sword Books , have a 'Towns & Cities in the Great War' series which appears to be quite extensive and with the e-book versions presently reduced in price ; www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/ebooks/212/Towns...-War/order/title/asc .

Saw the Mail article too. I intend to buy it, just want to see it beforehand first, JIC. A trip to Waterstones in Nottingham, I think.

The English Heritage series 'Monuments Of War' which included the volumes AA Command , Building Radar and Fields Of Deception , and which were published by Methuen in c2010 seemed to appear at remainder prices quite soon so I'm tempted to sit and wait for this one , just in case !

I used to think that, but have have tripped myself up too often. Books I really want, and wanted at publication e.g. "Fields of Deception", I will pay full price for. If I then see it cheaper, or second hand, I'll buy another copy to pass on. My last F of D cost me a fiver. I now own four! it's the kind of book that won't be bettered for a couple of decades I think. Then again:

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=se...ving+hitlers+bombers

I loaned out my hardback copy of "Cold War" and never got it back. Then had to wait for it to be released in paperback, years later. If you value it, get it. Print runs are short these days. Then again, sometimes you can find things on the net as pdf's, for free.
Anything a bit meh I wait for, then buy from Abebooks if the price is low enough to tempt me.

A well known photograph shown in the EH 'National Factories' article is captioned:

Cunard’s Shellworks, Liverpool: women workers turning 8-inch calibre artillery shells. © Historic England, BL 24001/021

Makes me wonder if the writers are unused to Imperial measurements of yesteryear since even a cursory glance will show that the shells are much less than 8 inch calibre and, probably, are the 4-1/2 inch also produced at that factory.

Of course there are some legacies still around, British Summer Time, and pub opening hours, everyone (with a few exceptions) having the vote for example.