Battle of the Somme, British machine gunners wearing

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Battle of the Somme, British machine gunners wearing

Battle of the Somme, British machine gunners wearing gas helmets near Ovillers in July 1916

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Media ID 32383894

© The Keasbury-Gordon Photograph Archive / Mary Evans

Gunners Helmets Masks Ovillers Somme

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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative vintage lantern slide captures a pivotal moment during the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. The image depicts a group of British machine gunners, their faces obscured by gas helmets, as they prepare for the next advance near Ovillers. The First World War marked a significant shift in the nature of warfare, with the introduction of new and deadly weapons such as mustard gas. In response, soldiers were issued protective masks like the ones worn by these men. The Battle of the Somme, which lasted from July to November 1916, was one of the largest and bloodiest battles in World War I. More than one million soldiers were wounded or killed, making it a turning point in the war. The battlefield stretched from the River Ancre in the north to Serre in the south, and Ovillers was a strategic location due to its proximity to the German front lines. The machine gunners in this photograph are dressed in heavy clothing and equipment, including their gas helmets, which would have weighed several pounds. The helmets were designed to protect the wearer from poison gas, but they also limited their vision and made communication difficult. Despite these challenges, the machine gunners played a crucial role in the battle, providing covering fire for infantry advances and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. This poignant image offers a glimpse into the harsh realities of trench warfare during the First World War and the sacrifices made by soldiers like these British machine gunners near Ovillers in July 1916.

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