British troops eat Christmas dinner in a shell hole in Beaumont Hamel, France on the 25th of December, 1916. The commune was almost completely destroyed during the Battle of the Somme that took place that year.
Tag Archives: Battle of the Somme
On this day: Australian troops in France
Troops of the Australian 7th Brigade (Australian 2nd Division) pass the former German bunker known as “Gibraltar” in Pozières, France on the 28th of August, 1916.
The Battle of Pozières was part of the larger Battle of the Somme, which claimed around a million casualties. Pozières marked a victory against the German Empire for Australia, with the help of British troops. First World War.
From the collection of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
On this day: Australian soldiers in France
10th August 1916: Australian infantry soldiers march towards their rest billet after fighting in the Battle of Pozières – part of the much larger First World War Battle of the Somme in France.
The Battle of Pozières, where Empire forces from Britain and Australia fought the Germans, resulted in a British victory.
The Brigade suffered 1898 casualties in the fighting between 25th of July and the 7th of August. Australian war historian Charles Bean wrote that Pozières ridge “is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth”.
From the collection of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
On this day: Troops in France
Unidentified troops travel along the Australian Army route to fighting at Pozières and Mouquet Farm in France. 1st August 1916. The fighting was part of the larger Battle of the Somme.
While the battle was seen as a major victory for the British Empire, Australian troops suffered 23 000 casualties while advancing two only kilometres along this route.
In the background the village of Contalmaison is under German fire.
The image was taken by a British war photographer, and is from the collection of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
On this day: the Battle of the Somme
Wounded British soldiers come in from the advanced dressing station at Bernafay Wood on the 19th of July 1916. The photograph was taken by Ernest Brooks, the British military’s first-ever official war photographer.
The Battle of the Somme ran from July to November of 1916 and claimed well over a million lives, making it one of the worst battles in the history of war.
Winter at War
Anzac soldiers in the snow near Mametz, France at the end of the Battle of the Somme. 1916-17. By Frank Crozier (1883–1948), Australian official war artist.
From the collection of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
On this day: the conclusion of the Battle of the Ancre
Part of the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of the Ancre was fought in France between the 13th and 18th of November, 1916, between combined British and French forces and the German Empire.
The battle resulted in a British victory and German defeat.
Field kitchen of the 2nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment on a water-logged site. X
Water refilling point on the Ancre River. X
A Royal Flying Corps working party in a mine crater at Beaumont Hamel, captured in the battle. 13th November. X
A British Army Chaplain helps a wounded German prisoner on the first day of the battle. X
On this day…
13th November 1916: On the first day of the Battle of Ancre – part of the larger Battle of the Somme – a British Army Chaplain helps a wounded German prisoner near Aveluy Wood.
On this day: British troops prepare for battle
This photograph, dated the 17th of July, 1916 show British troops digging themselves in on the last day of the Battle of Bazentin Ridge.
Part of the larger Battle of the Somme, Bazentin Ridge – in France – began on the 14th and resulted in a British victory over the German Empire.
Waiting for Battle
A British sentry is photographed here in the lead-up to the Battle of the Somme. Seen on the 28th of June, 1916 – three days before the months-long battle began – he watches from outside Café Jordan, Mailly Maillet, France.
The photographer was Ernest Brooks, a Englishman most famous for his work in the First World War.
