Thom Atkinson, a U.K. photographer, spent nine months working on an incredibly detailed and interesting project, titled Soldiers’ Inventories. It consists of 13 photographs, each depicting the weapons, clothing, armor, and personal items that British soldiers have worn in battle over the course of 1,000 years.
The series starts with the Battle of Hastings, which took place in 1066, and ends in 2014, with the gear of the Royal Engineers, based in the Helmand Providence. Shields, chainmail, yo-yos, checkers, gas masks, guns and more make an appearance over the incredibly thorough collection of battle gear used over the course of the past millennium.
“The Anglo-Saxon warrior at Hastings is perhaps not so very different from the British ‘Tommy’ in the trenches,’ he said. “There’s a spoon in every picture. I think that’s wonderful. The requirement of food, and the experience of eating, hasn’t changed in 1,000 years. It’s the same with warmth, water, protection, entertainment.”
1066 – Huscarl, Battle of Hastings
1244 – Mounted Knight, Siege of Jerusalem
1415 – Archer, Battle of Agincourt
1485 – Yorkist Man-at-Arms, Battle of Bosworth Field
1588 – Caliverman, Tilbury
1645 – New Model Army Musketeer, Battle of Naseby
1709 – Private Sentinel, Battle of Malplaquet
1815 – Private Soldier, Battle of Waterloo
1854 – Private Soldier, Rifle Brigade, Battle of Alma
1916 – Private Soldier, Battle of the Somme
1944 – Lance Corporal, Parachute Regiment, Battle of Arnhem
1982 – Royal Marine Commando, Falklands War
2014 – Close-Support Sapper, Royal Engineers, Helmand Province
(Images: Thom Atkinson/Gallery Stock)
The series starts with the Battle of Hastings, which took place in 1066, and ends in 2014, with the gear of the Royal Engineers, based in the Helmand Providence. Shields, chainmail, yo-yos, checkers, gas masks, guns and more make an appearance over the incredibly thorough collection of battle gear used over the course of the past millennium.
“The Anglo-Saxon warrior at Hastings is perhaps not so very different from the British ‘Tommy’ in the trenches,’ he said. “There’s a spoon in every picture. I think that’s wonderful. The requirement of food, and the experience of eating, hasn’t changed in 1,000 years. It’s the same with warmth, water, protection, entertainment.”
1066 – Huscarl, Battle of Hastings
1244 – Mounted Knight, Siege of Jerusalem
1415 – Archer, Battle of Agincourt
1485 – Yorkist Man-at-Arms, Battle of Bosworth Field
1588 – Caliverman, Tilbury
1645 – New Model Army Musketeer, Battle of Naseby
1709 – Private Sentinel, Battle of Malplaquet
1815 – Private Soldier, Battle of Waterloo
1854 – Private Soldier, Rifle Brigade, Battle of Alma
1916 – Private Soldier, Battle of the Somme
1944 – Lance Corporal, Parachute Regiment, Battle of Arnhem
1982 – Royal Marine Commando, Falklands War
2014 – Close-Support Sapper, Royal Engineers, Helmand Province
(Images: Thom Atkinson/Gallery Stock)
