Active Service Testament 1914

The Active Service Testament (1914), issued by the Naval and Military Bible Society, is a small, pocket-sized New Testament produced for sailors and soldiers at the outset of the First World War. Intended for use in the field, it was designed to be lightweight, durable, and easily carried in a uniform pocket or kit. The text offered spiritual guidance and comfort to servicemen facing the uncertainty and dangers of active duty.

Distributed widely during mobilisation, the Active Service Testament reflects the Society’s long-standing mission to provide access to Scripture for those serving in the armed forces. Many surviving copies show signs of personal use, such as inscriptions or wear, linking them closely to individual wartime experiences. As both a religious work and a historical artifact, the book stands as a quiet testament to faith, resilience, and the everyday spiritual life of men at the beginning of the Great War.