Photographer Thom Atkinson’s series “Soldiers’ Inventories” presents a fascinatingly detailed look at the military kits of British soldiers from 1066 to modern day. Spanning over 900 years, the project displays the items British soldiers would have carried into battle during conflicts like the Siege of Jerusalem in 1244, to the Falklands War in 1982.
Creating the project in an effort to explore “the mythology surrounding Britain’s relationship with war,” Atkinson enlisted the help of historians, collectors, and historical reenactment groups over the course of nine months to meticulously piece together each military kit. Laying the items out to photograph them from above, the final images make comparison remarkably easy, as we see swords turn to rifles, and shields turn to bulletproof vests. Almost more striking than the evolution of warfare is the similarity between military kits over time. Despite incredible technological advances, the kits contain the same general items, especially items of distraction or personal significance, like playing cards, books and photographs. Atkinson remarks, “Watching everything unfold, I begin to feel that we really are the same creatures with the same fundamental needs.”
Huscarl, Battle of Hastings, 1066
Mounted Knight, Siege of Jerusalem, 1244
Fighting Archer, Battle of Agincourt, 1415
Yorkist Man at Arms, Battle of Bosworth, 1485
Trained Band Caliverman, Tilbury, 1588
New Model Army Musketeer, Battle of Naseby, 1645
Private Sentinel, Battle of Malplaquet, 1709
Private Soldier, Battle of Waterloo, 1815
Private Soldier, Rifle Brigade, Battle of the Alma, 1854
Private Soldier, Battle of the Somme, 1916
Lance Corporal, Parachute Brigade, Battle of Arnhem, 1944
Royal Marine Commando, Falklands Conflict, 1982
Close Support Sapper, Royal Engineers, Helmand Province, 2014
You can find the full list of the items in each photograph here. See more of Thom Atkinson’s work on his website.
Images courtesy of Thom Atkinson, used with permission.
Via [My Modern Met]
really interesting.... i wonder if another 200 years what weapons will it be... (lightsabers,shield,exo skeleton, )
Definitely like being able to see the transition of the uniform design from colorful and ceremonial to camouflaged earthy colors.
Also, I don't know if this was intentional but its interesting how the "what they wore" was slowly moved to the edge of the arrangement in each photo while the "what they carried" took center.
Seeing the cameras included in the gear is a reminder that they're not just used to create art.
Fascinating set of photographs, really well executed