Wednesday 20th Movember: Kiel, Germany

Since 1882 the largest sailing event in the world has been held every year during the last week of June in Kiel, Germany. Nowadays 5,000 sailors, 2,000 ships and three million visitors converge on the harbour for a week of races, tall ship displays and concerts from grandstands across the City.

Back in June 1914 Kiel Week was abruptly interrupted by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and the subsequent onset of World War 1. Kiel immediately reverted to its role as Germany's main naval base and here we have three of Germany's finest sailors, from HMS Schwaben, readying to do battle with a plastic baby, wooden pig, wooden stork, toy pram and woollen dog...

Das fidele Kleeblatt written on the sign at the sailors' feet translates literally as The jolly Clover but in this instance means the jolly trio. I cannot imagine their jollity lasted for the rest of the war but we can hope.

Real photographic postcard, Kiel, September 1914.