Billets Collection

French soldiers arranging their billets before the annual grand manoeuvres (engraving)
2789420 French soldiers arranging their billets before the annual grand manoeuvres (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Le Marchand de billets de loterie, 1774 (engraving)
3645578 Le Marchand de billets de loterie, 1774 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le Marchand de billets de loterie, 1774)

The Military Manoeuvres in France, with the Sixth Army Corps (engraving)
1060273 The Military Manoeuvres in France, with the Sixth Army Corps (engraving) by Horsley, Walter Charles (1855-1934); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Military Manoeuvres in France)

Marchands de billets de loterie (coloured engraving)
602227 Marchands de billets de loterie (coloured engraving) by Vernet, Carle (1758-1836) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Marchands de billets de loterie)

Brass Mill Date: 1938

Food for billeted soldiers, WW1
A page from The Sketch showing what householders who had soldiers billeted with them were expected to provide in terms of meals for 3s. 4d halfpenny. Date: 1914

French Railway Alphabet - B for Billets (tickets). 19th century

The Gordon Services Club, 1940
Margerie Doutie writing up the menu for the Gordon Services Club, based at the former Gordon Hospital in London. The Club, established in June 1940 by the Canadian Red Cross

The Maple Leaf Club, Brabazon House
Two soldiers share a joke with Mrs Murray, matron of the Maple Leaf Club, established during the War to provide food, medical treatment and accommodation for Canadian soldiers stationed in Britain

Canteen in Blandford
The inside of a canteen in Blandford, Dorset, where women volunteers are dishing out food and tea to the troops. 1940

Blaw, Man! An incident in a billet in France, Arthur Garrat
A Scottish solider from a Highland regiment, wearing a kilt, tries to teach a small French boy how to play the bagpipes. Date: 1918

Bullets and Billets by Bruce Bairnsfather, frontispiece
Frontispiece of Bullet and Billets, an autobiographical work by the wartime Bystander cartoonist and creator of Old Bill, Bruce Bairnsfather telling of his experiences in France from the outbreak of

British dug-out interior, WW1
A sketch of a dug-out billet behind the lines showing an officer comfortably curled up under the curved corrugated iron roof which forms the main structure of the dug-out

Training munition workers at Shoreditch Technical Institute
Scenes showing the training of munition workers at Shoreditch Technical Institute (run by London County Council) during the First World War

British troops in church billets in Flanders, WW1
Just back from the trenches, British troops settle down in church billets during a service after a stretch of work in the first line on the Western Front

Billets - Cromwell Gardens - Dining area with decorated ceil
Billets - Cromwell Gardens. Dining area in very large room with decorated ceiling. 21017 Private P. J. Hill, D Company, 20Th Battalion, The County Of London Regiment

The Bill for Billeting Soldiers, WW1
Billeting terms for householders taking in soldiers during the early weeks of the First World War. with an extremely young soldier demonstrating how a young Tommy fits in - sleeping on the floor

King George V cheered by troops in France, WW1
King George V, attended by his staff, cheered by troops in billets " somewhere in France" during a visit to the Front in 1916. Date: 1916

A Subalterns Stunts in Italy by H. L. Oakley
A few scenes characteristic of when British troops arrived at their billets in an Italian village, as witnessed by the famous silhouette artist, Captain H. L. Oakley

Stunts silhouetted by H. L. Oakley
A page of silhouettes by Captain H. L. Oakley published in The Bystander depicting the trials and tribulations of a billeting officer

Scenes from behind the front line in Flanders, H. L. Oakley
Scenes of French life behind the front lines, familiar to British soldiers billeted in France during the First World War, cut on the spot with scissors by Lieut. (later Captain) H. L

Pretez vos billets de banque e la France. Prenez des bons de la defense nationale. A French soldiers helmet crowned with holly. Underneath it are bank notes. Date 1918

Sheraton Desk 1805
Desk by Thomas Sheraton, with pigeon-holes for your insurance certificates, bank statements and billets-doux

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Billets: A Glimpse into the Lives of Soldiers and Civilians" During World War I, billets played a crucial role in providing food and shelter for soldiers on the frontlines. These temporary lodgings became a lifeline for weary troops, offering them respite from the harsh realities of war. Food for billeted soldiers was often meager but provided much-needed sustenance to keep them going. However, billeting wasn't limited to wartime situations alone. In Russia, during the famine that ravaged the country, police in St Petersburg went beyond their duties by giving out billets as lodgings to those affected by hunger and destitution. This act of compassion offered a glimmer of hope amidst dire circumstances. Across continents, even in Australia's 1st Light Trench Mortar Battery or 2nd Infantry Battalion, soldiers found solace within their billets. Whether arranging their quarters before grand manoeuvres or simply "carrying on" with daily routines at Flesselles, these spaces became sanctuaries where camaraderie blossomed amidst adversity. Billeting also had its lighter side - depicted in engravings like "Le Marchand de billets de loterie" from 1774 - where merchants sold lottery tickets with hopes of fortune shining upon lucky buyers. Such glimpses into everyday life remind us that even during tumultuous times like war or famine, people sought moments of joy and distraction. Beyond military contexts, other aspects associated with "billets" emerge - such as Brass Mill Date: 1938 showcasing industrial progress or French Railway Alphabet-B highlighting transportation systems' efficiency. In times when unity mattered most, institutions like The Gordon Services Club served as meeting places for servicemen during World War II. Here they found comfort and support while being away from home. Through these various hints about "billets, " we catch glimpses into different facets of history.