the tragedy of the shells in the First World War

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

The shortage of shells early on in the First World War was described by a newspaper at the time as 'the tragedy of the shells'. Read how this contributed to the creation of the Ministry of Munitions:

http://socsi.in/jsk8z

Image: estimate of shell output by type, 1915. Catalogue reference: WO 79/84

April Douglas