The Manchester Courier takes a different view of World War One | The British Newspaper Archive Blog

Blog

The Manchester Courier takes a different view of World War One

The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, like other British newspapers, reported that Britain joined the First World War on 4 August 1914.

The Courier makes for especially fascinating reading because it reported the news in a very different way.

 

Manchester Courier: ‘Keep your country out of a wicked and stupid war’

Many newspapers included an advert encouraging unmarried men between 18 and 30 years old to join the Army on 5 August 1914.

This example is taken from another title printed in Manchester, the Manchester Evening News.
 
WW1 advert printed in the Manchester Evening News

Manchester Evening News – Wednesday 05 August 1914
Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

View the whole newspaper page

 

Instead of including the advert above, however, the Manchester Courier devoted a whole page to an announcement from the Neutrality League.

The announcement encouraged Englishmen to ‘DO YOUR DUTY… keep your Country out of A WICKED and STUPID WAR’.
 
An announcement from the Neutrality League in the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser

Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser – Wednesday 05 August 1914
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

View the whole newspaper page 

 

Did Germany declare war on Britain during World War One?

The Manchester Courier also differed in the way it reported the declaration of war. The newspaper stated that Germany declared war on Great Britain at 7pm on 4 August 1914, before Britain’s declaration was made at 11pm.
 
The Manchester Courier reported that Germany had declared war on Britain first during the First World War

Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser – Wednesday 05 August 1914
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

View the whole newspaper page

 

Read more news from the Manchester Courier

 

Tags

, , , , , ,

2 comments On The Manchester Courier takes a different view of World War One

Leave a reply:

Your email address will not be published.