World War 1
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Allies: the armies, primarily, of Britain, France, Russia and America.
Armistice: November 1918 – an agreed cease-fire in the war that proved to be the end of the war
ANZACs: force from Australia and New Zealand. Suffered badly at Gallipoli.
Beatty, David: Admiral in the British Navy; fought at Jutland.
Brest-Litovsk, Treaty of: signed between Russia and Germany. It took Russia out of the war in 1917 and took huge amounts of Russian land away from the country.
British Expeditionary Force (BEF): the professional army of Britain that went to France in 1914. Referred to as “contemptible” by Kaiser Wilhelm II. 100,000 soldiers were hastily sent to France at the start of the war but the BEF had lost 50,000 men by December 1914. Fought on the Battle of Mons.
Caporetto, Battle of: a battle in north Italy that lead to the destruction of the Italian Army
Central Powers: Germany, Austria and Turkey
Conscription: introduced in 1916 in Britain. So many men had been killed that volunteers simply did not make up the loss. Conscription is where men of a certain age had to join the military (health permitting). Others became conscientious objectors.
Chlorine: one of the poison gases used during the war.
Court Martial: a military court to try soldiers. It had the right to pass the death sentence.
Dreadnought: the name given to a new Ðbreed of ship in the British navy. The first of these new super-large battleships was launched in 1906 and lead to a naval race between Britain and Germany. This naval race was one of the long term causes of World War One.
Execution: usually for cowardice in the face of the enemy. 332 British soldiers were executed in the war. A campaign is still running to get these men officially forgiven as “shell shock” victims but was not recognised by the military then as a genuine reason for failing in your duty.
Foch, Ferdinand: Generalissimo of Allied forces in 1918.
Front Line: the area of trenches nearest to the enemy
Gallipolli, Battle of: Winston Churchills plan to relieve the fighting in western Europe was an attack in Turkey. It proved to be a disaster for the ANZACs – Australian and New Zealand forces who suffered very bad casualties.
Haig, Field Marshall: commander of British forces at the Somme. His leadership during this battle has its supporters and critics.
Infantry: soldiers who fought on foot. Took many casualties from machine gun fire, poison gas and poor and out-of-date tactics. Suffered trench warfare.
Joffre, Joseph: senior French army commander
Jutland, Battle of: the only major naval battle of the war. No conclusive outcome though Britain claimed a victory.
Kaiser: Germanys king – William II. Spelt Wilhelm in German.
Kitchener: Minister of War and in one of the most famous posters of all time – “Your country needs you”. Killed when his ship was torpedoed.
Lloyd George, David: British Prime Minister at the start of the Somme campaign.
Marne, Battle of: battle where the British and French stopped the German advance in 1914 – to the south of Mons
Mons, Battle of: where the BEF hindered the advance of the Germany Army into France in August 1914 and thus reduced the chance of any success for the Schlieffen Plan. Mons is north-east of Paris.
Mustard Gas: one of the poison gases used on the Western Front
No Mans Land: land between the British/French trenches and the German trenches.
Ostend: Belgium port; the northern most extent of trenches. A target for the Allies to stop German U boat activities.
Passcendaele, Battle of: near Ypres. The “Battle of Mud”.
PД©tain, Philippe: French army commander most associated with Verdun.
Phosgene: poison