Free Republic

It is the whisky-making Scottish island, world famous for its peaty single malts and warm hospitality. But the isle of Islay, in the Inner Hebrides, is now being recognised for an almost forgotten example of huge courage and humanity. A hundred years ago, Islay was on the frontline in the battle at sea during World War One. The island coped with mass casualties from two major troopship disasters just eight months apart. ... Between them, the sinkings of the SS Tuscania in February and HMS Otranto in October, claimed the lives of about 700 men in the last year of...

Warships from Britain, America, France and Germany have gathered over the wreck of a World War One troopship to pay respect to the 700 men who died in two disasters off Islay. More than 200 US soldiers died when the Tuscania was torpedoed by a German U-boat off Islay in February in 1918. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-43988158

On July 28th 1918, the 4th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, Serbian flag flew above the White House and all public buildings in American capital by the order of President Woodrow Wilson. This unique event, a Serbian flag flying above the White House in Washington, took place over 9 decades ago but remained a memorable act of the US President Woodrow Wilson towards Serbia that submitted the ultimate sacrifice in “The Great War” – it lost 26% of its population and had a precedent in the war history when almost its entire population had to withdraw from their homeland.One of...

LORD of the Rings director Sir Peter Jackson is going from Middle Earth to the Western Front — transforming grainy footage of World War I into stunning 3D colour. The documentary announced on Monday is among dozens of artworks commissioned to commemorate 100 years since the end of the 1914-18 war. The New Zealander has restored film from the Imperial War Museum using cutting-edge digital technology and hand colouring. He paired it with archive audio recollections from veterans of the bloody conflict. Sir Peter said the aim is to close the 100-year time gap and show "what it was like...

Many Yellowstone County homes had empty chairs at the table on Christmas Day 100 years ago. Mrs. C.M. Wright, a widow living at 3324 First Ave. S., already had three sons serving in World War I. A fourth was eager to enlist as soon as he came of age. Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Shoemaker, owners of Billings Automobile Warehouse and Service Co., returned to Billings in early December after bidding their son Lt. Shoemaker goodbye as he sailed from New York toward France. Sons were celebrating the holiday in Army training camps and on Navy ships or in cold and...

A fascinating collection of photos have resurfaced showing the hardships faced by German-Americans at the brutal height of the First World War. As Europe was ravaged by fighting, German immigrants in the US suffered harassment, internment, lynchings - and even the humiliation of being tarred and feathered. Although a little-remembered part of history today, America was wracked by the fear and paranoia that swept from coast to coast during the Great War. The United States declared war on Germany in April 1917 and helped lead the Allies to victory. But before that, many Americans were terrified of the German threat...

In 1922, four years after her American son was killed in action in World War I, Sallie Maxwell Bennett received a letter from Emil Merkelbach, a German officer who had fought against her son in the battle that ended his life. "You will look upon my writing, no doubt, as something unusual, and rightly so, for it is indeed not exactly usual for a former enemy of his own accord to report about his opponent in the World War. I was myself a German officer in the World War." Emil Merkelbach was the leader of a German balloon squadron stationed...

The British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet, under the command of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, met the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral Reinhart Scheer, in combat at the Battle of Jutland. This was the largest naval battle of the first world war.

The significance of Vimy has shifted through the decades as new generations ponder the sacrifice There were many people in chilly, war-weary London who wanted to shake Canadian prime minister Robert Borden's hand on April 9, 1917. The first accounts of "Canada's victorious day" on Vimy Ridge filtered through the imperial war cabinet within hours of the battle and well-wishers sought out the prime minister to offer congratulations. His diary bursts with pride. "I hope that this victory is only the augury of further triumphs," he wrote. Events may have moved quickly in those day, but news moved slowly. At...

Awed by an eight-plane flyover that left the sky streaked with plumes of red, white and blue contrails, thousands paused Thursday in the shadow of the nation's official World War I monument in remembrance of the day a century ago that the U.S. entered the fight. Melding equal measures of homage to American sacrifice with patriotism, the commemoration — "In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace" — amounted to a multimedia time warp to April 6, 1917, when America begrudgingly joined the global conflict that President Woodrow Wilson had sought to avoid through neutrality. With winds fluttering flags amid temperatures in...

One hundred years ago this week, the United States entered World War I after President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany to “make the word safe for democracy.” Unlike Europe, America did not enter the war for survival. Instead, it entered the war because of a philosophy – the notion that freedom and democracy is\are noble virtues worth defending in blood. The anniversary offers a stark reminder that for much of its history the United States believed it was worthy of influencing the world with its virtues and proud of its accomplishments in the grand...

Governor Bevin has designated April 6, 2017 as World War I Centennial Day in Kentucky. One hundred years ago the U.S. declared war against Germany's Imperial Army to enter WWI. The proclamation officially begins more than two years of events to commemorate the Great War and the thousands of Kentuckians who sacrificed to help bring the war to an end. "The Kentuckians who bravely fought to protect and defend the fate of the free world during World War I may no longer be with us, but the legacy they left behind cannot be forgotten," said Gov. Bevin. "We are thankful...

In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace: Centennial Commemoration of the U.S. Entry into World War I April 6, 2017 Kansas City, MO The National World War I Museum and Memorial is honored to host America's national ceremony commemorating the centennial of the United States' entry into the Great War. Produced by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, the ceremony, In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace: Centennial Commemoration of the U.S. Entry into World War I, will be held on April 6, 2017 at the Museum. The national commemorative ceremony will tell the compelling story of the U.S decision to...

The wreck of a World War I German submarine has been discovered off the coast of Scotland by marine engineers surveying the route of an undersea power cable. Researchers said they think the wreck is one of two German U-boats sunk by British patrol ships in the Irish Sea in 1918 — including one that was supposedly attacked by a sea monster, according to an internet legend.

Allegedly, according to the wikipedia page, the Winchester Model 1897 was a favorite in the American Military. So much so that the Germans in World War 1 called for it to be banned due to it causing “Undue suffering”. Even cooler than that, however, was its (alleged) preferred use: Shooting hand grenades! While in the trenches, they would keep a few soldiers skilled in Trap shooting, armed with these shotguns. When a hand grenade was tossed their way, the trap shooters were tasked with shooting them away from the trench while they were in the air. P-TING! I wonder, which...

The Battle of the Somme was not only the bloodiest Western Front battle of WWI, it was one of the bloodiest military conflicts in human history, with over 1 million casualties. The subsequent documentary made by Geoffrey Malins and John McDowell has become an important piece of cinematic history, as well as an often-mined source of footage for WWI.

""Radical Far Left Group Demands World War I Memorial to Fallen Soldiers Be Torn Down Because It Includes a Cross"" The Bladensburg Cross was built in 1925 in Bladensburg, Marlyand in 1925. The cross was a designed by mothers of local soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. The American Legion raised the money to build the cross on private land. Now a radical far left group is demanding the cross be taken down. It offends them. The Becket Fund reported: For 90 years, a war memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland has reminded passersby of the ultimate sacrifice made...

Early voting data shows World War I veterans overwhelmingly support Hillary Clinton WASHINGTON, D.C. — With over seven million votes cast so far in the U.S. presidential election, early voting data is pointing to a tight race in most key battleground states. But there is one battleground upon which the Donald Trump campaign appears to be headed towards utter defeat: The fight for votes from World War I veterans. With at least 25,000 World War I veterans casting their votes thus far, the party affiliation breakdown of submitted ballots is suggesting a hard break towards the Clinton camp among veterans...

FULL TITLE: Outrage as thousands of children run over the graves of fallen soldiers from WWI’s Battle Of Verdun in stunt organised by German filmmaker during 100th anniversary commemorations in France Images of thousands of laughing children jogging through one of the most sacred Great War battlefields in the world have caused outrage. They were taken on Sunday during commemorations at Verdun - scene of one of the bloodiest battles in military history. The Battle of Verdun between German and French troops lasted over 300 days, and saw the deaths of more than 300,000 soldiers on both sides in 1916.

Italy (Ammoland.com) Pope Francis spoke with a group of young people at a rally of thousands at the end of the first day of his trip to the Italian city of Turin. Francis started by attacking the Right to Keep and Bear Arms as well as accusing the allies during World War Two of being complicit in the killing of Jews, Christians and homosexuals. Francis issued his toughest condemnation to date of the weapons industry, saying. “If you trust only men you have lost,” he told the young people in a long, rambling talk about war, trust and politics after...