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WW1 - View across the Douve Valley shelling Messines
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WW1 - View across the Douve Valley shelling Messines
WW1 - View across the Douve Valley shelling Messines - 8th June 1917
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Media ID 32383930
© The Keasbury-Gordon Photograph Archive / Mary Evans
Arras Artillery Messines Shelling
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This evocative vintage lantern slide depicts the Douve Valley in Belgium, viewed from a distance on the morning of the 8th of June, 1917. The tranquil scene is disrupted by the ominous smoke rising from the horizon, a reminder of the intense shelling taking place at Messines, just out of frame. The British forces, including the ST Pol and Arras Transport Companies, were preparing for the upcoming Battle of Messines, one of the largest artillery barrages of the First World War. The horses and carts in the foreground, laden with supplies, underscore the logistical efforts required to support the troops on the front lines. The soldiers, unseen but surely present, were gearing up for the assault on the German positions, a critical moment in the war's Western Front campaign. The Douve Valley, located in the Ypres Salient, was a strategic location during WW1, with its flat terrain and close proximity to the front lines making it a valuable target for artillery fire. The valley's serene appearance in this photograph stands in stark contrast to the chaos and destruction that would have unfolded just beyond the viewfinder. This poignant image, captured by The Keasbury-Gordon Photograph Archive Collection, offers a glimpse into the complex and often overlooked aspects of war – the logistical planning, the daily challenges, and the unyielding determination of the soldiers and support personnel. It serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the resilience of those who lived through it.
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