Tag: First World War

Modern, 20th century history, Military history

Life before the RAF: the young air services and Parliament

The 1 April 2018 marks 100 years since the formation of the Royal Air Force, a particularly poignant anniversary for our Public Engagement Officer, Sammy Sturgess who is a former member of the Service herself and she graduated from basic training on the 90th anniversary of the RAF. Today she explains the prelude to the formation of the world’s first independent Air Force through debates … Continue reading Life before the RAF: the young air services and Parliament

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history

‘All that he hoped for and all that he had he gave’: Philip Kirkland Glazebrook (1880-1918)

Continuing our series on MPs who died while serving in the First World War, Dr. Kathryn Rix looks at an unlikely former MP for Manchester South… On 7th March 1918 Philip Kirkland Glazebrook was killed in action while serving with the army in Palestine. Six years earlier, to the very day, he had taken his seat in the Commons as the newly elected Conservative MP for South Manchester. Unlike … Continue reading ‘All that he hoped for and all that he had he gave’: Philip Kirkland Glazebrook (1880-1918)

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Modern, 20th century history, Elections, Electoral Reform, Social history, Women and Parliament

The Representation of the People Act, 1918: A radical reform measure

This is the second in our blog series, women and parliament in this, the centenary year of the Representation of the People Act 1918. Here at the History of Parliament we are closely involved in celebrations, commemorations and projects relating to this anniversary. So today, on the actual anniversary that this Act became law it seemed pertinent to honour its passage. To that end, our … Continue reading The Representation of the People Act, 1918: A radical reform measure

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history

‘His life was lovely and pleasant & he died in glory’: the Hon. Neil James Archibald Primrose (1882-1917)

Continuing our series on MPs who died while serving in the First World War, Dr. Kathryn Rix looks at the life of a former prime minister’s son. One of the first MPs to die while fighting in the First World War, William Glynne Charles Gladstone, was the grandson of a former Liberal prime minister. On 15 November 1917 the son of another former Liberal prime … Continue reading ‘His life was lovely and pleasant & he died in glory’: the Hon. Neil James Archibald Primrose (1882-1917)

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history, Parliamentary Life, Social history

Parliament and the First World War

In partnership with the Parliamentary Archives alongside their current exhibition on Parliament and the First World War, we recently held events in Parliament exploring the institution during the war years… The Parliamentary Archives exhibition on Parliament and the First World War, still open in Westminster Hall, proved an excellent opportunity for us to gather together historians and discuss the impact of the First World War … Continue reading Parliament and the First World War

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history

‘A youth of radiant promise’: the Hon. Francis Walter Stafford McLaren (1886-1917)

Continuing our series on MPs killed in the First World War, Dr. Kathryn Rix marks the centenary of the death of Francis McLaren, who had a close connection with the History of Parliament’s founder, Josiah Wedgwood. On 30 August 1917, Francis McLaren, Liberal MP for Spalding, was killed in a flying accident while training with the Royal Flying Corps. His plane crashed into the sea … Continue reading ‘A youth of radiant promise’: the Hon. Francis Walter Stafford McLaren (1886-1917)

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Modern, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Military history

MPs in World War I: William Hoey Kearney Redmond (1861-1917)

In the latest of our blogs on MPs killed in the First World War, Dr Kathryn Rix marks the centenary of the death of the Irish nationalist Willie Redmond… On 7 June 1917, William Hoey Kearney Redmond, the Irish Nationalist MP for East Clare, died of wounds sustained during the Battle of Messines in Belgium. Aged 56, he was the oldest MP to be killed … Continue reading MPs in World War I: William Hoey Kearney Redmond (1861-1917)

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history

‘Absolutely our best officer’: Valentine Fleming (1882-1917)

In the latest of our blogs on MPs killed in the First World War, Dr Kathryn Rix marks the centenary of the death of Valentine Fleming on 20 May 1917… On 25 May 1917, the obituary of Valentine Fleming, Conservative MP for South Oxfordshire since January 1910, appeared in The Times, following his death five days earlier on the Western Front. Its author – ‘W. … Continue reading ‘Absolutely our best officer’: Valentine Fleming (1882-1917)

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20th century history, Military history, Modern

MPs in World War I: Gerald Archibald Arbuthnot (1872-1916)

100 years ago yesterday the Somme claimed another MP: Gerald Archibald Arbuthnot. Dr Kathryn Rix of the Victorian Commons, blogs on his life… Gerald Archibald Arbuthnot was killed in action on 25 September 1916 while serving with the Grenadier Guards during the Battle of the Somme. Like Guy Baring, whose death we marked two weeks ago, he is buried at the Citadel New Military Cemetery, … Continue reading MPs in World War I: Gerald Archibald Arbuthnot (1872-1916)

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history

MPs in World War I: Charles William Reginald Duncombe, 2nd Earl of Feversham (1879-1916)

Yesterday we marked the death of Hon. Guy Victor Baring, who died on 15 September 1916. Another former occupant of the Conservative benches in the Commons was killed in action on the same day, as Dr. Kathryn Rix records… Of the MPs and former MPs who died on military service during the First World War, Charles William Reginald Duncombe was the only one to have been … Continue reading MPs in World War I: Charles William Reginald Duncombe, 2nd Earl of Feversham (1879-1916)

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