Illustrated War News, 1914–1918 & 1939 - Key Data

Released during the First World War, The Illustrated War News (IWN) was an offshoot of The Illustrated London News (ILN). Published weekly between 1914 and 1918, The Illustrated War News re-appeared briefly throughout November 1939, the opening year of the Second World War. Staunchly patriotic, its coverage related to military matters, focusing on Britain’s armed forces and on national defence. The paper portrayed all of this through a combination of full-page (and often graphic) illustrations and photographs. This collection incorporates nearly 8,600 images from 195 issues of The Illustrated War News. These were published between August 1914 and April 1918, and during November 1939. This intriguing resource, which forms part of the series British Illustrated Periodicals, 1869–1970, sheds light on the British war efforts and their portrayal in the media.

The Illustrated War News covered a wide range of topics related to warfare, from the invention of new military technologies to humanitarian aid efforts, from armament manufacturing to the experiences of prisoners of war. It reported on multiple fronts (air, land, and sea) and on pivotal theatres of war (including Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific). The paper also published the work of many well-known war artists such as Richard Caton Woodville Jr., Henry Charles Seppings Wright, Charles Eddowes Turner, and Bryan de Grineau. The Illustrated War News illuminates key aspects of modern warfare and grants insights into how conflict was experienced by civilians and combatants. This collection contains valuable material for students and researchers interested in colonialism, military history, international history, and social and cultural history.