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The CD-ROM's in this section contain digital images taken from contemporary documents, glass plate negatives, glass lantern slides, photographs, newspapers etc... World War One Aviators can be found in Berkshire and The war listed alphabetically under Royal Flying Corps.

The image on the left is the Farman Experimental 2 Seater Biplane FE2b and can be found on the Early Army Flying CD-ROM.

An interesting and informative collection of photographs and contemporary documents held at the Museum of Army Flying. Photographs of the machines used by early Army Pilots include the Armstrong-Whitworth FK8, the Bleriot Experimental BE12, the Farman Experimental 2 Seater Biplane FE2b, Bristol Fighters, the Sopwith Camel and the Vickers Fighting Biplane FB5. Photographs of German aircraft include the Fokker Biplane, Halberstadt CL II, and the Siemens Schuckert D-I. Also Inluded is a French instruction manual for flying the Farman type F.40 biplane.

ISBN1903129427 List price: £9.95

(The Westland Aircraft Collection Vol.1) Westland is one of the longest standing names surviving in British Aviation, the manufacture and development of aircraft and helicopters has been undertaken continuously from the same site under the same name since 1915. This first CD-ROM traces the progress of Westland from its foundation by the Petter brothers during World War 1 to 1926 by which time a major aircraft manufacturer was fully established in the West Country. The story is told via contemporary photographs, many hitherto unpublished, depicting the aircraft, personalities and factory site. The text links are also provided in the form of a word file, which can be downloaded, to a PC, which can then be amended or added to as required. A book you can rewrite or enlarge to your own requirements.

ISBN1903129400 List price: £11.95

Of great use to historians and genealogists alike, this CD-ROM lists Portsmouth residents and their roll in The First World War. Over seven thousand residents are listed, with a brief history of their service and their contribution to the war. As well as people serving in the Armed Forces, Special War Workers are also listed such as people employed in the Dockyard. The following is the first entry; “Abbey. A., Private, 8th Norfolk Regiment. He volunteered in October 1914, and in the following year was sent to France, and was in actionat Albert. In 1916 he was transferred to Egypt, and thence to Palestine and was engaged in transport duties. Later he returned to France where he took part in the Retreat and Advance of 1918. He was demobilised in March 1918, and holds the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals. 27 Henrietta Street, Southsea.”

ISBN1903129860 List price: £11.95

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Berkshire and the War is a unique record of a county's contribution to the First World War. Compiled between 1915 and 1919 it includes photographs and articles first published in the Reading Standard as well as retrospective accounts written especially for this publication. Around 9000 men are recorded, mainly from the Royal Berkshire Regiment and the Berkshire Yeomanry. However, men from Berkshire served in almost every unit of the British military and so almost all the regiments and corps of the army are represented as are units of the Royal Marines and ships of the Royal Navy. The contribution of civilians to the war effort is not ignored. There are images of civic functions in aid of the war effort, details of nurses and hospitals and of the ambulance services, and summaries of their achievements during the war. The original publication was not indexed. This series of five CD-ROM's is indexed by name, regiment and place. It is an essential source of information for family and military historians and for those who want to study the conflict with an emphasis on Berkshire. Each CD-ROM contains an index of all five volumes in the series.

The above image, from Volume 1 in the series, is of the late Corporal O.F. Bowyer, Royal Flying Corps, Warfield. Killed on active service, aged 23.

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Upon the outbreak of the first World War the magazine "Illustrated London News" began to publish illustrated reports related entirely to the war and entitled it "The Illustrated War News". This weekly magazine was reputed to have the largest number of Artist-correspondents reporting on the progress of the war. These CD-ROM's currently cover the opening two months of the war when the confidence that Allied superiority would overcome all threats was at its height. Photographs and drawings of the preparation for the conflict, as well as actual action, are shown along with details of the commanding officers and articles by the military thinkers of the day. A vivid portrayal of a time when the Cavalry Horse was considered a vital weapon of war.

The above image is from volume 2 of the series and shows how primitive air-bomb dropping was during the First World War. The photograph is Flight-Lieutenant C. H. Collet who dropped bombs on the Bickendorf Zeppelin shed near Cologne.