History books give us the grand overview of World War I, with maps of front lines and formal portraits of generals. But what about the regular folks? Life didn’t just stop for four years while the world was at war. These remarkable photographs also capture the parts of the story that often get left out. They show us the real people, the everyday routines, and the surprising bits of humanity that managed to shine through even in the most difficult of times. It’s a different way of looking at the Great War, one filled with faces you won’t soon forget. Children, mothers, soldiers, factory workers, all just trying to get through their day with a little hope intact.
#1 Man Buying The Evening Star From Newsboy, Washington, D.C., USA – Headline Reads “U.S. At War With Germany”, 1917
Image source: National Photo Company Collection
#2 “He Is Fond Of Flying”, R.a.f. Squadron’s Fox Mascot, France, 1918
Image source: National Library of Scotland
#3 Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps Members Bathing, France, 1918
Image source: National Library of Scotland
#4 Constantinople Children, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#5 American Red Cross Personnel Loading Supplies Into A Motorcar, England, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#6 Apparatus For Measuring Extension-Flexion Of The Wrist, Part Of Physical Rehabilitation, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#7 Entire Family Equipped With Masks, Merbach-Moselle, France, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#8 Nun Bringing Women Whose Husbands And Sons Are At War To The American Red Cross Dispensary For Treatment, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#9 Patients Learning Engraving As Part Of Undergoing Occupational Therapy. Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.c., USA, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#10 Airman Wearing An Early Oxygen Mask From The Aviation Service, 1919
Image source: medicalmuseum
#11 Hospital For War Affected Soldiers, Berlin, 1915
Image source: Arthur Tervooren
#12 Philadelphians Looking At New Map Of Europe After WW1, 1918
Image source: wikimedia
#13 Woman Operating Punch Press, Frankford Arsenal, Frankford, 1914
Image source: Library of Congress
#14 Mullikin, Carter, Miss, 1915
Image source: Library of Congress
#15 Close Up Of The Hollerith Machine In Operation – It Was A Punch Card System Used To Tabulate The Statistics Of Sick And Wounded, Tours, France, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#16 Merican Red Cross Personnel In England, During The Flu Epidemic, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#17 American Red Cross Refreshment Unit 389, Fifth Avenue, New York, USA, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#18 American Soldiers Doing Laundry With French Washerwomen. 305th Sanitation, Fronville, Meuse, France, 1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#19 Field Dental Station With Farming Equipment At Rear, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#20 Evacuation Of Injured, Beau Desert Hospital Center, France, 1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#21 Soldiers Learning Projection Of Motion Pictures As Part Of Occupational Therapy At Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#22 Nurse Works With Rehabilitating Patient’s Neck, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#23 Soldier At Walter Reed Hospital Working At His Old Trade As Draughtsman, Washington, D.C., USA, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#24 Effects Of Shell Shock On Private Sheehan (Left) At The First Aid Station In Courboin, France, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#25 Alice (Roosevelt) Longworth, 1918
Image source: Library of Congress
#26 Prince Peter II Of Yugoslavia And Prince-Regent Paul, Circa 1914
Image source: wikimedia
#27 Start Of Autorally In St.Petersburg, Before 1913
Image source: wikimedia
#28 Two Young Men Wash Dishes In A Temporary Flu Camp, Circa 1918-1921
Image source: medicalmuseum
#29 French Soldier With Double Arm Amputations Learning To Write Using Prostheses, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#30 Girls Sacking 416 Loaves Of Bread At Bakery Camp Number 322, Near Dijon, France, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#31 Injured Soldiers, Near Herne Bay, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: Fred C. Palmer
#32 Princess Patricia Inspecting Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1919
Image source: Library and Archives Canada
#33 Men On Troops Train, With Red Cross Workers In Front, Probably In Washington, D.c., USA, 1918
Image source: National Photo Company Collection
#34 Woman Sewing With A Singer Sewing Machine, Between 1917 And 1918
Image source: George Grantham Bain Collection
#35 Patients Weaving Baskets As A Form Of Physical And Occupational Therapy, Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C., Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#36 Medical Research Falling Test (Barany Chair Test), Pilot Candidate Is Recovering From Spin Administered By William Hollard Wilmer, Issoudun, France, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#37 Recovering Soldiers Gardening For Rehabilitation And Occupational Therapy, Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#38 Art Department In The Army Medical Museum, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#39 Men And Horses At Serbian Front, Circa 1914-1918
Image source: medicalmuseum
#40 Listening Device Used To Detect Approach Of Zeppelins, Operated By Spanish Soldier, 1917
Image source: William Mitchell
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