What was life like during the Great War for a town with one of the highest volunteer enlistment rates in the UK?
Click here for a diary or see below for an introduction.
Quick Quiz
Answers are given via the link at the end of these questions.
In 1915:
1. Who was the prime minister and who was the monarch?
2. How did most people obtain news?
a) By newspaper
b) By radio
3. Were a) anaesthetics and b) antibiotics available?
4. How were streetlights lit?
a) By electricity
b) By gas
5. How many cars were on the road in the UK? Around:
a) 2,000
b) 20,000
c) 200,000
6. What were some of the main political topics just before the war, apart from the war itself?
7. What was the main type of aircraft used for bombing raids on the UK?
a) Seaplane
b) Airship
8. How many UK soldiers and sailors were conscripted?
a) None
b) Around 100,000
c) Around 500,000
9. Who were the supreme heads of:
a) The Church of England
b) The Church of Scotland
10. What was life expectancy for newborn females just before the war?
a) 55
b) 60
c) 65
Overview
This website includes:
- A diary of a year in the life of the town.
- Introductions to world, UK, Scottish and local contexts in 1915.
- Summaries about Langholm’s war experience, including recruitment, home support and battles.
- An overview of Langholm’s organisations and activities.
- Explanations about products and services available at the time.
- Articles on various topics such as newspaper adverts, alcohol, property ownership and voting rights.
- A range of resources, e.g. map links, genealogical information and data compilations.
Why 1915?
A single year has been selected for focus during a time of rapid change. 1915 was chosen because of its significance on various levels:
International
1915 was the first full year of the Great War. It saw major conflicts on the Western Front and the attempted opening of a new front in the Dardanelles/Gallipoli.
National (UK)
Around 1.3 million volunteers signed up for military service prior to conscription in 1916. A munitions crisis led to the formation of a coalition government.
Local (Langholm)
Numerous townsfolk joined the war effort on the front line and at home. The provost (mayor) endorsed the cancellation of the town’s main traditional event, embroiling himself in a major argument about whether this was a sign of respect or capitulation.
Why Langholm?
This Scottish border town provides an excellent lens on wartime life:
- A high proportion of its young men volunteered for military service.
- It was very engaged in national and international affairs through its textile industry.
- Its local newspaper provides detailed weekly information.
- It had a wide range of organisations, including a Red Cross hospital.
- It gives a perspective on distinctive Scottish processes and traditions within the UK.
The Langholm area in Dumfriesshire (now in Dumfries and Galloway) has produced a remarkable number of pioneers across various fields.
See here for acknowledgements, including to:
- The Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser, the local newspaper.
- The Langholm Archive Group, an online resource.
- The Langholm Library Trust, which manages the local reference library.
Diary >