The 1912 Army Manoeuvres - The Red Army and Blue Army in Cambridge, outside Trinity College, Cambridge.
These amazing old photographs, that been an an old album for over 100 years and are now being revealed - show The Army Manoeuvres of 1912 outside Trinity College Cambridge, where King George V attended the conference - the 1912 Manoeuvres were some of the last military exercise of its kind conducted by the British Army before the outbreak of the First World War, much of the activity took place in Cambridge and on the Gog Magog Hills.
You can see the full photograph album HERE
The manoeuvres began on 16 September, with King George V travelling down from Balmoral to observe them. He was received at Trinity College by Sir John French, Wully Robertson, and General Foch, the senior French observer.
The exercise scenario involved Redland, under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Douglas Haig, advancing on Cambridge from the west. Their progress was to be checked by the rapidly mobilising forces of Blueland. The main engagement took place to the south of the city, with the Fens forming a notional ‘inland sea’.
Redland fielded 22,500 men, 9,000 horses, seven aeroplanes, and an airship. Blueland deployed 25,000 men, 8,000 horses, seven aeroplanes, and an airship. Both sides also made extensive use of bicycles.
The King observed several engagements and skirmishes, including one in which Haig narrowly avoided capture by Blueland cavalry. The decisive encounter involved 20,000 men around Horseheath, but the Umpires ultimately judged the outcome to be a draw.
The following photographs are all from outside Trinity College, Cambridge, during this time - if anyone can identify the uniforms and the people in the photographs that would be fantastic, please do get in touch if you can and I can add the information here.
The photograph below is probably people attending the conference held at Trinity College, Cambridge, at the end of the manoeuvres - again it would be great to identify who they are.
From the same Army Manoeuvres of 1912 the photo’s below show the Beta II Airship which broke down over Midsummer Common, Cambridge - you can read more about that HERE
These two photographs below were also in the old album and may well be part of the 1912 Manoeuvres. They could be from the camp on Midsummer Common - the only clue being that there are Cambridge based pictures and the housing in the background.
It would be great to identify the people shown and perhaps this chap is a relative of the Hall family as it is their family photograph album. If anyone can identify the uniform and regisment, please do get in touch and let me know :)