First World War categories launched

Clip from Film: IWM (NTB 279-1) "Tommy" Xmas Leave. 1916

Explore our First World War Categories

Our film team has been busy making IWM's vast film collection more accessible and easier to navigate.  

The Second World War categories page was prioritised due to the 80th commemorations of the End of the Second World War and following the launch in June 2025, the next phase has focused on the "Great War" of 1914-18.

IWM's film collection covers all aspects of conflicts in which British, Commonwealth or former Empire countries have been involved since the start of the twentieth century. Our category pages divide the collection thematically, as well as by key events and personalites. 

Our First World War film archive is one of the oldest and largest in the world

For the centenary of the First World War, IWM worked with European partners to digitise the entire collection. It illustrates all aspects of the conflict, both at home and on the fighting fronts and includes the renowned film The Battle of the Somme - now granted UNESCO Memory of the World status – which shows trench warfare as captured by official army cameramen.

The Conflict Categories pages will be be expanded to help with discoverability for your projects. This includes a wider range of twentieth century conflicts and social history themes within our collection. We look forward to sharing these in due course.  

Curated clip collections can also be accessed via our 2026 anniversaries page and when logged in via the search bar using keywords. 

Does this help aid your research? Let us know what you think

If there is a subject which you feel should be featured, or if you have any other feedback, please contact us.