Imperial War Museums – författare

'The paciest and most entertaining history book to come my way' Ian McIntyre, The Times'Riveting and beautifully illustrated' The Lady'Engrossing . . . far more than a sartorial survey' The Oldie* * * * * * A vivid history of ordinary women and their extraordinary deeds through two world wars and beyond, by From Our Own Correspondent presenter Kate Adie.Uniform is universally seen as both a stamp of authority and of official acceptance. But the sight of a woman in military uniform still provokes controversy. Although more women are now taking prominent roles in combat, the status implied by uniform is often regarded as contrary to the general perception of womanhood.In association with the Imperial War Museum, this is the first book to look at the image of uniformed women, both in conflict and in civilian roles throughout the twentieth century. Kate Adie examines the extraordinary range of jobs that uniformed women have performed, from nursing to the armed services. Through contemporary correspondence and many personal stories she brings the enormous and often unsung achievements of women in uniform vividly to life, and looks at how far women have come in a century which, for them, began restricted in corsets and has ended on the battlefield in camouflage.

A poignant collection of 100 deeply personal missives, Love Letters of War reveals the personal cost of conflict, and the joyful and heartbreaking moments experienced by lovers in wartime.With over 7,500 personal letters from the First World War and 12,000 from the Second World War, the archives of the Imperial War Museums shine a light on the intimate lives of the Forces and their loved ones. Love Letters of War features the transcribed letters of 100 of the most moving, fascinating, heartbreaking and inspiring missives from IWM's collection. This carefully considered selection includes letters from a broad spectrum of society and experience, from unrequited passion, lasting love (with one couple exchanging over 700 letters) and forbidden love between opposing sides, to rare letters surfaced by the IWM's LGBTQ+ network and from collections such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Bringing together research from IWM's expert curator Anthony Richards with items donated by families of the Forces, Love Letters of War is a memorable and nostalgic read laying bare the universal language of love. Personal photographs, items, original letters and drawings accompany the letters, placing them in context alongside thoughtful notes on each selected letter.

During the Second World War, across the frontline as well as on the Home Front, millions of people recorded their thoughts of their experiences - whether in letters, their personal diaries or those prosecuting the war giving speeches. Much as Letters of Note celebrated the great letters written through history, so Words of War allows the Imperial War Museum to showcase its incredible array of first-hand material to shine a light on how people journeyed through the 1939-45 conflict.Ten chapters take the reader chronologically through the key moments of the war: from the retreat to Dunkirk to the battle of the Atlantic; the savage fighting in the jungles of the far East to the RAF Bomber Command's campaign in Europe; the discovery of the Nazi's concentration camp system to the war's ultimate conclusion at the Nuremburg trials. One hundred documents are researched and selected by the Imperial War Museum's expert archivists, with commentary from their head Antony Richards explaining the significance of each and placing it in context to the war's progression. Readers will be able to engage and empathise with the writers in a thought-provoking and immediate way.

Late on the night of May 16, 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson led 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force on a mission code-named Operation Chastise--an audacious bombing raid across the English Channel. Their aim? Destroy three dams in the Ruhr Valley, the industrial heartland of Germany. The dams were fiercely protected. Torpedo nets in the water prevented underwater attacks, leaving air attack the only option. But anti-aircraft guns stood ready to wreak havoc on any enemy bombers daring enough to attempt an approach. What the Germans didn't know, however, was that 617 Squadron had a secret weapon--the "bouncing bomb"--and that it would be the difference maker in this attack. Using rarely seen archival footage from Imperial War Museums' unique collection, this flip book recreates the work that went into this raid, enabling readers to watch, frame by frame, as RAF pilots attempted to perfect their technique for dropping the bouncing bomb and getting it to detonate right on its target.

IWM has managed a Film Archive since it was first established in 1917, and the Archive now covers all aspects of conflicts in which British, Commonwealth or former Empire countries have been involved since the start of the twentieth century. The constantly growing collection extends to over 23,000 hours of moving images, representing a wide and diverse range of material from public and service information films, documentaries and unedited combat film, through to official newsreels and amateur films.

The famous Sherman tank was the most widely used Allied tank of the Second World War, and the sheer number of units produced played a crucial part in the Allies winning the war.Using rare footage from the film archive at IWM, this flip book shows the famous Sherman tank move up to the front, as a tank squadron prepares for action north of Caen in early July 1944.

Thirty new and classic cocktail recipes inspired by the colorful and controversial Winston Churchill.This charming book from the Imperial War Museums features dozens of cocktail recipes, each accompanied by detailed instructions, an ingredients list, and a short description of how the drink is inspired by British former head of state Winston Churchill. Photographs of the cocktails at Churchill War Rooms or the Churchill Bar accompany each recipe, and archival images of Churchill himself, drawn from the Imperial War Museums collection, tie the volume together. Published in association with the Churchill Bar at the Hyatt Regency Churchill in London, this is the ideal gift for anyone who likes a glass of something strong mixed with a splash of history.

IWM holds approximately 11 million photographs in its archives, covering the causes, course and consequences of modern conflict from the First World War to the present day.Animals in Wartime highlights 50 images from this vast collection and illustrates the many and varied ways that animals have played their part in wartime over the past century. Vital in moving supplies, sending messages and in many cases for the morale boost they gave, animals have often been subject to the same dangers faced by their owners during conflict. This unique selection of images depicts incredible animal bravery and features some of the most heart-warming stories found within IWM’s photograph archive.