The provincial press of the late nineteenth-century provides a fascinating insight into how imperialistic sentiment was conveyed to a newly literate working-class.[1] The provincial press adopted the conventions of ‘new journalism’, catering for working-class tastes by prioritising the reporting of sport, sensationalist news and by placing a focus upon localised issues.[2] Its rise paralleled the […]
Tag Archives | empire
National Museum of the Royal Navy’s Conference on the Anglo-German Naval Arms Race and the War At Sea
Registration is now open for the NMRN’s conference on the Anglo-German Naval Arms Race and the War At Sea up to the eve of the Battle of Jutland. The conference keynote addresses will be given by Professor Nicholas Rodger, Professor Norma Friedman and Rear-Admiral James Goldrick (RAN). Conference speakers will cover: The arms race and […]
“The Sure Shield of Britain and of her Empire in the Hour of Trial”: sailors in the First World War
Given the upcoming centenary of the Great War this year it is understandable that we find ourselves saturated with discussions of the tragedy that befell the European empires in 1914. Yet, despite this wide and encouraging engagement with the topic, the key focus of popular debate is centred on the many millions who died fighting […]
‘Painting for Empire’: sailors and ship-board banalities
It is an interesting question whether or not the men who joined the Royal Navy in the late nineteenth century knew of or imagined the time-consuming and monotonous aspects the job entailed. Consideration of sailor diaries reveals that one of the most common, and indeed, disliked tasks aboard ship, was painting the vessel, inside and […]
The British Empire on Celluloid – Alfred West’s “Our Navy”
John M. MacKenzie argued that early film transposed popular imperial propaganda from the music hall stage to the screen.[1] He cited the films of R. W. Paul and Cecil Hepworth on military life as being influential for amalgamating military spectacle and popular entertainment.[2] Often overlooked, filmmaker Alfred West from Gosport, Hampshire, was one of British […]