Sphere cover - British infantry waiting in trench to attack
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Sphere cover - British infantry waiting in trench to attack
Front cover of The Sphere with a photograph showing British infantry in a support trench waiting to attack during the preliminary bombardment preceding the attack on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Note the flowers by the side of the trench which were growing profusely. The magazine notes that a number of soldiers picked them and stuck them jauntily in buttonhole and cap. Date: 1916
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Media ID 14167252
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Attack Battles Infantry Somme Sphere Tommies Tommy Trench Trenches Waiting
EDITORS COMMENTS
The Haunting Beauty of War: British Infantry in the Trenches on the Eve of the Battle of the Somme This evocative cover image from The Sphere magazine, published in 1916, captures the poignant moment before the first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916. The Western Front of World War I was a brutal and unforgiving landscape, where the trenches became a grim and permanent feature of the battlefield. In this photograph, British infantry soldiers are seen waiting in a support trench, their expressions a mix of anticipation, anxiety, and perhaps even a touch of defiance. The scene is set against the backdrop of a preliminary bombardment, with the smoke and dust from the explosions rising in the distance. Yet, amidst the chaos and destruction, there is a surprising note of beauty and even serenity. The photograph reveals a profusion of flowers growing by the side of the trench, their vibrant colors in stark contrast to the gray, muddy surroundings. The soldiers, perhaps seeking a moment of respite from the horrors of war, have picked some of these flowers and stuck them jauntily in their buttonholes and caps. The image is a poignant reminder of the human spirit's ability to find beauty and solace even in the most unlikely and inhospitable of places. It also serves as a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience of the soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest battles in history, with over one million casualties on both sides. The photograph is a testament to their determination, their sense of camaraderie, and their unwavering commitment to the cause they believed in.
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