At the outbreak of what became known as the Great War in August 1914, The Illustrated London News began to publish a supplement to its weekly news magazine, The Illustrated War News. This pictorial history of the First World War spanned 197 weekly editions and ran all the way through to April 1918 when it was abruptly curtailed due to a shortage of paper as a result of German attacks on Allied shipping.

More than thirty dedicated war correspondents and illustrators on the front line provided accuracy and authenticity to the publication whilst promoting patriotism and supporting the government's drive to boost morale. Articles featured the plight of refugees, development of new military technologies, what life was like on board ship and, albeit heavily censored, what it was like to experience a bombardment in the trenches. The magazine displayed portraits of key figures both sides, including Kitchener, Lloyd George, Haig, Kaiser Bill, Clemenceau, George V, Emperor Franz Joseph and featured the many different European theatres on land, sea and air.

The Illustrated War News featured a mix of front line reporting, commentary, advice columns, cartoons, photography, diagrams, illustration and light gossip. The magazines provides a rich resource for discovering how the British population lived through this turbulent period.   

Click here for a moving snapshot of the of The Illustrated War News from 111 years ago.