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Crowds gathered outside War Office in August 1914, WW1
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Crowds gathered outside War Office in August 1914, WW1
Scene outside the War Office in Whitehall, London following the declaration of war in August 1914. Note the ubiquity of the straw boater among the men gathered there. Date: 1914
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Media ID 14165873
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Boater Boaters Crowds Declaration Enlistment Manpower Office Outbreak Recruiting Recruitment Start Straw Whitehall
EDITORS COMMENTS
August 1914: A Sea of Hats - The Unyielding Tide of Manpower at the War Office, Whitehall, London In the sweltering August heat of 1914, the inexorable march towards the First World War reached a crescendo. The declaration of war against Germany on the 4th of August set off a chain reaction that would see millions of men from across the British Empire answer the call to arms. This evocative photograph captures the scene outside the War Office in Whitehall, London, as the tide of manpower surged towards the recruitment offices. The men in this image, a sea of straw boaters, are a testament to the era's sartorial sensibilities. The straw boater, a popular summer hat, became a symbol of the British soldier during the early stages of the war. Its ubiquity in this photograph underscores the sheer volume of men responding to the call to arms. The War Office, with its imposing facade, stands as a backdrop to this historic moment. The recruitment offices within its walls were the first point of contact for the thousands of men who sought to enlist. The scene outside is a microcosm of the larger war effort, with men of all ages and backgrounds, united in their determination to serve their country. As the sun beat down on the crowds, the air thick with anticipation and uncertainty, the men waited their turn to enlist. The War Office would process their paperwork, assign them to regiments, and send them off to the front lines. The photograph captures a moment of hope, determination, and resolve, as the British people rallied together in the face of an unprecedented global conflict. This image, a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who answered the call to arms during the First World War.
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