Shell production at Sir Robert Hadfield Ltd in Sheffield, 1914

Lantern slide, World War One, Home Front (1914-1918), 1914.

Following the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Herbert Asquith's Liberal Government had tried to run the war economy on a 'business as usual' basis with little direct state control over the mobilisation of Britain's resources.

After the set back at Neuve Chapelle in 1915, the British Commander-in-Chief, Sir John French, claimed the attack had failed due to a lack of shells. This led to the 'Shell Crisis' of 1915 and the collapse of Asquith's government. A new coalition government was formed with Lloyd George as Minister of Munitions. The creation of this new post was a recognition that the whole economy would have to be geared for total war if the Allies were to prevail on the Western Front.

From a box of 18 lantern slides.