In the few spare moments when not pounding the Boche our gunners settl...
Three gunners playing a game of cards. They are using a wooden crate as a table, and are sitting outside a dugout or hideout constructed from sandbags. All three are smoking pipes or cigarettes. There is a bott... More
Decorating a doll they found left by villagers in the retreat
This photograph shows a group of soldiers looking at an abandoned porcelain doll. The shoulder marks on several of their uniforms show them to be members of the Royal Field Artillery. The HD symbol painted on t... More
Fatigue party going up to the trenches through a ruined village
Soldiers moving through a ruined village, France, during World War I. Soldiers carrying equipment make their way through a ruined village. Four of the men are shouldering the weight of what looks to be lengths ... More
How the Germans thought they would stop the British advance
What is left of a mined roadway. It appears in the foreground as a huge crater. There is a soldier standing to the left, with a bicycle, providing us with a scale for the size of the crater. In the background t... More
Entrance to a captured village, Flanders
A cart drawn by a horse and mule makes its way into a small village on the Western Front. A uniformed man sits on the horse's back, and standing at the side of the road are two further men in uniform. The road ... More
Wood on its way up country, Flanders
Wood being transported by railway, France. A long line of railway compartments, each piled high with lumber. The track runs alongside a cobbled road. In the background there are a number of cranes. ..Sawmills w... More
Hero and the girl rehearsing among the ruins, Flanders
Two men in costume pose for the camera. The man on the left wears a 'Pierrot' clown outfit: a dark suit with a large white ruff. He also sports a bandana and has an eyeglass to his right eye. He appears to be w... More
Firing into the advancing Germans whilst holding a bridgehead, Flander...
This photograph shows two soldiers sheltering behind a bank. One is firing his rifle, while the other, a corporal, is watching. The caption suggests they were firing to stop Germans advancing over a bridge, whi... More
Idea of the strength of the German barbed wire at Beaucourt
Front line trenches on both sides of the Western Front were guarded by belts of barbed wire. The dilemma facing the attacking soldiers was how to cut through such barbed wire defences while under heavy machine-... More
Tommy's billet, Flanders during World War I
This is a light-hearted photograph showing a group of soldiers leaning out of the windows of a ruined house. They appear to be throwing rubbish out, including a tin hat and a pile of what appear to be shell cas... More
Cooking dinner amid the ruins of Thilloy, near Bapaume, Flanders
Two soldiers making themselves comfortable in the ruins of a shattered house. One man is cooking on a tin-can brazier, while the other stands watching and smoking. Their kit is hung on the wall behind. A third ... More
Preparing to make a pontoon bridge, Flanders
Early stage in making a pontoon bridge, Western Front, during World War I. The first stage of making a pontoon, or temporary floating bridge. A group of soldiers are pulling a flat barge into position at the ed... More
Spanish Officers see a general view of the shell-pocked ground
Spanish officers visit the Western Front, during World War I. Six men make their way down a fairly steep but not long slope, towards a churned up, muddy stretch of land. The ground is filled with shell holes, i... More
Neuve Eglise church, Flanders during World War I
This photograph shows the church in the village of Neuve Eglise. It has been badly damaged and stands roofless and windowless. The church, which had been an earlier foundation, had been remodelled in the 18th c... More
General Sir Henry Rawlinson (left) chats with a French War Corresponde...
General Henry Rawlinson with a French war correspondent. Three men stand in a half-circle, chatting. They appear relaxed and smiling. They are well dressed with heavy coats but also mud bespattered. The town sq... More
Scene in the saw mills, Flanders
Sawmill at the Front. The picture is taken from inside a shed, which is in a field close to a forest. The furthest part of the shed, also the entrance is, open to the elements. The covered part of the shed is a... More
Tommies at dinner, Flanders during World War I
This relaxed photograph is thought to have been taken by the official war photographer, John Warwick Brooke. The soldiers in this image appear a little worse for wear and are having to sit directly on the cold ... More
Raiding party returning after the raid, showing barrage behind them
Six soldiers are silhouetted black against the skyline and viewed through a tangle of barbed wire. The men are running back towards the trench. One appears to be climbing over wire. They are holding their rifle... More
Some officers studying a map of newly captured ground, Flanders
Officers examining a map, Western Front, during World War I. Five officers gathered around a map. Some of the men are using shovels to sit on, as if they were shooting sticks. The cap and collar badges of three... More
How Tommy's food is cooked, Flanders
An army field kitchen at work, despite the rainy and muddy conditions. The cooking pots gathered around this field kitchen are called 'Dixie's, while the mens own metal containers were called 'bully tins. With ... More
Within 100 yards of Thiepval Village, Flanders
Two soldiers with their backs to the camera, are leaning up against the incline of the trench. The bottom of the trench is quite narrow and their equipment is lying to hand. They are peering over the top of the... More
Loading of sleepers, Flanders during World War I
A truck has been reversed off the road up against a large stack of logs. Duckboards have been laid down so that the truck can safely negotiate the terrain. The truck is labelled 39426 and has 'load exceed 3 ton... More
Painting camouflage on a Tank, Flanders
The picture is taken from within a muddy yard. There is no particular background and so there is very little context to the picture. The back end of another tank is just visible to the left of the photograph. T... More
How a Boche truck arrived at Clery Station, helped by our artillery
An upended carriage is shown next to the remains of a brick wall or building. Although the original caption mentions a truck, it is actually an open-topped railway carriage. This photograph is one of a series s... More
General and Staff in charge of the American engineers who are construc...
The men in this photograph are all wearing the same uniform, which includes a very distinctive hat. It is a beautiful sunny day, but their faces are shielded from the sun by their hats. All of the men are stand... More
Two Generals discussing a plan of defence in a trench
Two officers, identifiable as generals by their shoulder insignia and collar braid, are sitting in a trench, looking at a map. Two junior officers await their orders. There were regular briefings of officers. U... More
Boiling cookers of tea for our wounded just behind the line
The odd contraptions along the front of the picture are for boiling water. Mass production was required to deal with the volume of men. The soldiers dealing with the boilers are wearing ordinary uniforms, but w... More
Muddy road, Flanders during World War I
Soldiers on the move, France, during World War I. The stripped and scarred landscape is depicted in the background. Along the front of the photograph six soldiers are walking, fully equipped and laden with supp... More
One of the new armoured cars, Flanders
Nicknamed the 'mechanical monsters, this photograph shows a British tank flanked by infantry soldiers, mules and horses. World War I has a notorious reputation for being the conflict that introduced the modern ... More
Tea time just behind the line, Flanders
This image shows a group of British soldiers having a cup of tea. They are all in full uniform and look as if they are just pausing for a rest. Their rifles have been put to one side. They could be in a trench... More
Framed in the ruins of Villers Carbonne, Flanders
Ruins in Villers Carbonnel, Ancre region, France, during World War I. An Allied soldier looking out through the empty window frame of a shattered house. The building had been constructed of clay daub on a frame... More
Artillery transport crossing a trench bridge, Flanders
The six horses and their four riders are straining against the inertia and weight of a fully-laden carriage. The bridge they are crossing is not only downhill, but looks fairly slippery with mud. There is evide... More
Regimental pet of a battalion of the Staffordshire Regiment, Flanders
Regimental mascot during World War I. A large shaggy dog sits on top of a very well-kept horse. Behind the horse two officers are steadying both animals. There is a long barrack building and tents in the backgr... More
Officer leader of the Balmorals demands an opinion of the landlady's d...
'Balmorals' - an entertainment troupe of a Scotch division. The lady and the clown are focused on each other and their conversation. The lady is well-dressed in dark clothing and has her hair pinned up in a kn... More
Scene on the road, over newly captured ground, Flanders
Most of the men in this photograph appear to be startled. This image really is a moment captured in time by the photographer, John Warwick Brooke. The movement and action, which has been momentarily suspended i... More
Nissen hut camp, Flanders during World War I
A row of Nissen huts have been constructed in the lee of a slope. A few soldiers can be seen walking in the snow in the background. Behind the huts there are a few small huts, possibly latrines. ..Nissen huts w... More
Three officers having a chat - wearing trench waders, Flanders
Mud-splattered officers wearing trench waders enjoying a chat. This image shows three mud-splattered officers wearing trench waders enjoying a light-hearted chat. The fact that their feet are not visible on the... More
Highlanders cutting up branches to make fascines for road making
Five Highlanders are working in a wood, making fascines or bundles of branches. Three men in the background appear to be stripping off leaves and side shoots, while two men in the foreground arrange the poles a... More
Men of the K.O.Y.L.I. resting before walking back from the trenches
a group of soldiers resting in front of a large mound of rubble. They have piled their packs in front of them and most of the men are sitting on a fallen tree trunk. According to the original caption, this phot... More
Scene in Puisieux, Flanders during World War I
Destruction at Puisieux, France. The picture is dominated by the ruined shell of a building which once had iron gates and posts. In front of the building the street is littered with debris and completely water-... More
Tug of War, Flanders during World War I
Game of tug-of-war during a horse show behind the lines, World War I. The tug-of-war teams are surrounded on either side by hundreds of spectators. The two teams are wearing different coloured strips. ..Soldier... More
Tommies arriving home at Mud Terrace, Flanders
Four soldiers walking towards the camera. The man on the far left is wearing a long overcoat, the other three have waterproof capes. All four are wearing steel helmets. To the left there is a row of tents. It i... More
Scene through a shell hole, Flanders
Wounded soldiers moving through a ravaged area, during World War I. The edges of the photograph are the wall which surrounds the shell hole. The edges of the brick are still visible. Through the triangular gap,... More
Partitions for huts made by the lady carpenters are being shifted on t...
A dirt road running along the left of the picture with a narrow grassy bank. Slightly below its level lies the canal. There is a soldier walking along the road and some standing on a deck but the rest of the me... More
All that remains of a sugar refinery near Serre, Flanders
Remains of a sugar refinery at Serre, France, during World War I. A panoramic view of ruined buildings with collapsed machinery interspersed throughout. There are groups of soldiers wandering about just talking... More
Funeral of Mr Basset. Distinguished dramatist and War Correspondent, F...
At the graveside. A group of uniformed military men stand on the left of the image, at the foot of the grave. The man farthest left appears to be saluting. This photograph has not been very well composed and it... More
Wounded men of a third line Territorial Division being carefully moved...
Wounded soldiers are lying on stretchers, positioned across open-topped railway carriages. All of the men are bundled up in blankets to keep them warm. The last man is being loaded on, near the top of the small... More
Lonely outpost on a canal bank, Flanders
This photograph shows a solitary soldier on watch beside a canal. He has the protection of a few sandbags and some branches, behind which he is crouched with rifle and bayonet...This is evocative of many of the... More
Once Boche land, Flanders during World War I
Officers at a temporary camp. According to the original caption, this area has been recently captured from the Germans. It is unclear from the photograph whether the supplies seen here have been brought in or w... More
Troops passing through a camoflaged trench to obscure the enemy's view
In this photograph two soldiers can be seen walking up steps in a trench. The trench is partly protected from view by camouflage nets. Camouflage became increasingly important during the war as aircraft surveil... More
Nuns at the graveside of Major Willie Redmond, M.P., Flanders
Two nuns standing by a graveside, Locre, Belgium, during World War I. Two nuns and three young girls dressed in black stand with their heads bowed at the graveside of Major William Redmond M.P. The grave has be... More
Moving back our heavy guns as the enemy advances, Flanders
This photograph shows a large tank pulling two carriages carrying large guns. The carriages are also heavily laden with British soldiers, of all ranks. Some men walk on ahead. It is a sunny day and all the men ... More
Fine advertisement, isn't it?, Flanders
A group of Royal Artillery, identifiable by their grenade collar badges. They are posed in a group photograph, sitting on two large shells which are painted with the words 'RMA' and 'Guarantee for Peace'. They ... More
Staff Officer explains to the Spanish Officers the construction of a m...
Spanish officers inspecting a trench. Five officers are grouped around the entrance to a half-constructed trench. The structure of the trench is visible. In the background lie frosty puddles...[Original reads: ... More
Cross-cutting a tree, Flanders during World War I
Two men - possibly civilians? - using a two-man saw to cross-cut a felled tree trunk. The work-type garments being worn would appear to suggest that these men are civilians rather than enlisted men. ..It is hig... More
Rifle inspection after being relieved from the front line, Flanders
Rifle inspection, Western Front, during World War I. Soldiers who have just come out of the trenches have cleaned their rifles and are lining up for the weapons to be checked by a sergeant. Another sergeant is ... More
Field gun turns as its way is blocked by the enemy
A field gun being moved, France, during World War. In this photograph a field gun drawn by three pairs of horses has just been turned on the road. Two soldiers are helping to push the gun carriage around. Offic... More
Padre having a few cheery words with a wounded man whilst he is bought...
A wounded man being transported by light railway. He is lying on a stretcher, placed across an open-sided trolley or cart that runs along the tracks. Painted on the end of the trolley is the number '61.' He has... More
Dressing station, Flanders during World War I
A shed runs down the left of the photograph. The shed is made of sandbags and has a very large opening with no door. The roof is made of a sheet of wood and there are duckboards laid along the front of the shed... More
General view of Arras, showing the Cathedral in the background
This photograph of Arras is believed to have been taken by John Warwick Brooke. It shows the degree of destruction in the town as a result of the war. Of 4,521 houses it is estimated that only 292 were undamage... More
Ammunition dumps, Flanders during World War I
The centre of the photograph is dominated by shells stacked two wide and eight high on a pallet. On the far side of the stack soldiers are working hard at packing them into boxes on a carriage. These boxes open... More
Highland gas sentry reading a letter from home, Flanders
Soldier reading his letter, during World War I. A kilted soldier is half leaning and half sitting on a muddy embankment. The surroundings are a little disorientating but there may be a dugout on the right of th... More
Old German front line near Beaumont Hamel, Flanders
A soldier making his way over a wooden beam positioned across the top of a trench. He is wearing a steel helmet and carrying a large container. The area on both sides of the trench is covered with barbed wire e... More
Tommy has just bought a chicken for his Christmas dinner
Soldiers buying a chicken for their Christmas dinner. Three soldiers are standing in front of what appears to be a large farm building. The top half of a split door has been left open and there are piles of sac... More
Filling up a water cart in the snow, Flanders
Soldiers, gathered around a well or water pump, are filling various containers with water. Next to them are two horses pulling a large storage tank or drum on wheels. It is possible the water is being transferr... More
New 5.9 Boche destroyed by our artillery, Flanders
This serene image was captured by the official war photographer, John Warwick Brooke. The landscape looks very beautiful and there is a peaceful atmosphere conveyed in this scene. This could be because the sold... More
Interior of Arras Cathedral, Flanders
This image is dominated by the still standing aisle columns [of Arras Cathedral]. Part of the roof and upper storey is visible but not much else due to the angle of the photograph. A lot of the liming is chippe... More
Gunners setting time fuses, Flanders
Four uniformed men stand next to a wooden table. Rows of large shells have been placed on the table. According to the original caption these men are gunners and are setting fuses. The man on the right is adjust... More
77 mm. guns which were captured by the British during the advance
Eight soldiers are standing grouped around a gun. They are all uniformed and wearing helmets. Three of the soldiers are just standing behind the gun, looking on and chatting amongst themselves. Four soldiers ar... More
Looking at Fricourt and Fricourt Wood, Flanders
Troops resting at Fricourt, France. The front of the picture is dominated by rows of tents and the men milling around them. The men are relaxing or carrying out domestic duties. In the background the rest of th... More
Transport crossing a pontoon bridge, Flanders
Pontoon bridge, France, during World War I. This photograph shows a military transport cart, pulled by two grey horses, crossing a pontoon bridge over a river. The bridge has a slatted timber roadway, supported... More
Three youthful German prisoners of 17 years resting on their way to th...
Three German prisoners of war, during World War I. The photograph focuses on three young-looking prisoners of war. Their clothes are caked in mud and are a mishmash of styles. The soldier on the left still has ... More
This speaks for itself, Flanders
Artillerymen and shells, Western Front, during World War I. Six men of the Royal Artillery, who can be identified by their grenade collar badges. They are sitting behind three very large shells, on each of whic... More
Signalling station, Flanders during World War I
To the left of the picture is a narrow short box structure made from pieces of scrap corrugated iron and blankets. There is an old armchair, writing table and desk sitting outside the structure. Two soldiers ar... More
Captured German gun, Flanders during World War I
The front of the image is dominated by a pile of long, narrow straw baskets down in the bottom right corner. These would probably have held ammunition for safe transportation. To the left of this is a mound of ... More
General view of Marne valley, Flanders
This is a wide panoramic shot of the valley of the River Marne. It was vital for the Allies to hold the Marne valley, which acted as a line of defence for Paris. The German offensive in the spring of 1918 exten... More
Bridging a blown up bridge on the Somme, Flanders
Uniformed men, possibly Royal Engineers, attempt to make a badly damaged bridge traversable. They are tying ropes, which will probably serve as handrails, around the large wooden stays that form part of the fra... More
Deserted trench during World War I, Flanders
A deserted and muddy trench. In the background there is a fence which is constructed using large posts with interwoven branches running horizontally. This would have been used as a support to prevent collapse o... More
Tommy washing in a shell hole, Flanders
A laughing young soldier who has clearly just washed his hair with the muddy water from a puddle that has collected in the bottom of a shell hole. The light hearted image does not show the reality that the wate... More
Spanish Officers inspecting a heap of captured German hand grenades, m...
Spanish officers inspect captured German weaponry, during World War I. Five officers are standing on ridges in a muddy field. Two are looking at the pool of water they are standing beside while two look off int... More
Infantry passing one of the new armoured cars on their way to the fron...
A tank pulling some sort of carriage, followed by a group of infantrymen. The strange, triangular-shaped canopy of netting on top of the tank is probably for camouflaging purposes...The soldiers in this photogr... More
Flying Corps men lifting the body of a Boche plane which we brought do...
Five members of the British Flying Corps are lifting the body of a German fighter plane which has been shot down. The wing section is in the background. The plane has its identifying cross flanked by the letter... More
Collecting firewood, Flanders during World War I
This group of soldiers is standing in a wrecked wooden building, possibly an old farm steading. Two of the men in the foreground are chopping wood, whilst another, to the left, slices a morsel of food with a sm... More
Howitzer pounding the German lines, Flanders
In his famous poem about life and death on the Western Front, 'Anthem For Doomed Youth', Wilfred Owen writes about "the monstrous anger of the gun". This photograph reveals what Owen was trying to convey. With ... More
Wiring parties going up to the front line after heavy rain
A wiring party making their way along a very wet and muddy road. They are all wearing steel helmets and carrying rifles. Three of the men are rolling large rolls of wire along the road. Two of the men in the di... More
Near Peronne, Flanders during World War I
Soldiers and horses in the street. Three soldiers are standing around two horses, whilst another soldier is sitting on one of the horses. One of the soldiers is putting a cap on the horse's head. In the backgro... More
At a training school, Flanders - Public domain portrait print
A large group of soldiers at a training school, in France, during World War I. Some of the men nearer the front are holding weapons. The men in the distance merge to form a sea of faces. At the back of the grou... More
Setting his saw, Flanders during World War I
The photographer has managed to capture a rather quiet moment in the otherwise busy confines of a sawmill. According to the original caption, this lumberman, possibly a member of the Canadian Forestry Corps, is... More
Field kitchen and Tommies resting, Flanders
This photograph illustrates the saying that 'an army marches on its stomach'. The mobile field kitchen can be seen on the right of the image with its supply wagons. The two horses in the background suggest it w... More
Repairing one of our guns for use in the continued advance
Howitzer is suspended from a hoist having just been lifted off its wooden platform. Six soldiers are straining at a lever under one of its wheels while another two are hauling on the guide chains. ..The Battle ... More
Artillery resting by the roadside, Flanders
A number of artillerymen have paused for a rest by the roadside. Unfortunately, the original caption does not say where on the Western Front this photograph was taken. The men in the foreground, reclining by th... More
Captured German aeroplane, Flanders
A wingless German aeroplane is loaded on to a trailer and strapped down. It still has its original painted insignia and number. Two soldiers are standing behind the plane inspecting it. ..Scenes such as this we... More
Wreckage in a churchyard in Thilloy, near Bapaume, Flanders
Scene in Thilloy, France, during World War I. This image shows a churchyard in Thilloy, near Bapaume. It has been badly bombed or shelled. There is little left of the church itself. A few graves can be seen amo... More
Troops resting during the advance near Peronne, Flanders
Troops resting at Peronne, France, during World War I. Soldiers are all lying down or slouching against the bottom of a mound of rubble. They are all fully equipped and armed. Most of them appear to be asleep. ... More
Washing as Mother does it, Flanders
a soldier in his shirtsleeves, leaning over a makeshift tub filled with water. As he scrubs his clothes on a washboard, he is looking up at the camera and smiling. Existing in the squalor of the trenches, soldi... More
Prisoners coming in, Flanders during World War I
German prisoners, during World War I. German prisoners being taken. One of the soldiers escorting them is armed with a large rifle and bayonet. Despite the armed soldier, they appear to be walking through the f... More
Front trench, showing the Lewis gun ready to deal with Boche
In this photograph, a machine-gun crew are standing in a front-line trench with a Lewis gun. The outer edge of the trench, to the left, is sandbagged to head height. The Lewis gun is lying across the back of th... More
Mother reading to her son some kind messages from various friends
Wounded soldier lying in a hospital bed, with his leg in traction. He appears to have lost part of his other leg. The bottom legs of the bed have been placed on blocks to make them higher than the top. Accordin... More
Going off with a good feed of grass which they have just cut for their...
Soldiers gathering fodder, France, during World War I. Two soldiers, identified by their cap badges as men of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, have been cutting grass for their horses. One man is carrying a scy... More
Twelve horse teams are used in taking ammunition over the heavy ground
A team of twelve horses pulling a four-wheeled cart or carriage, during World War I. The horses are harnessed in pairs, with one man guiding a horse from each pair...[Original reads: 'Twelve horse teams are use... More