Photographers > John Warwick Brooke
(25) D.1060 - Clearing the ground for a Howitzer position
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| First World War 'Official Photographs' > Photographers > John Warwick Brooke > (25) D.1060 - Clearing the ground for a Howitzer position |
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| Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/74548404 |
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| Description | A team of men are struggling to position a Howitzer. Most of them are holding a shattered wooden frame directly in front of it. It is unclear whether this structure is to be used to secure the gun into position, or whether the gun will be rolled across it. Widely used by both sides, big guns were an effective offensive weapon. Manoeuvring them across the rough and uneven terrain of the Front, however, was extremely problematic and time consuming. Although not mentioned in the caption, this photograph was taken on the British Western Front. Of all the big guns, Howitzers and other guns with a high trajectory were favoured by both sides. Due to the angle of fire, the shell could pass over intervening obstacles before dropping into position. It was particularly useful in trench warfare, allowing those firing to target unseen positions. [Original reads: 'Clearing the ground for a Howitzer position.'] |
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| Description | John Warwick Brooke, of the Topical Press Agency, was the second British official war photographer to go to the Western Front in 1916. The demands placed on he and his colleague, Ernest Brooks, were heavy. They had to take as many photographs as possible, with as much variety as possible, a difficult task for two men covering an army of over two million. Despite this, Warwick Brooke managed to take what would become some of the most memorable images of World War I. As an officially appointed photographer, Warwick Brooke was assigned to the Western Front to follow the progress of the British Army. During his time there, between 1916 and 1918, Warwick Brooke is estimated to have taken over 4,000 photographs. |
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| Description | Photographs by named photographers. |
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| Description | Black-and-white photographs mainly of the Western Front during the First World War. Official British war photographers took many of them for propaganda purposes. Unless otherwise stated, titles are the photographs' original captions. From the papers of Field Marshal (Earl) Haig (1861-1928). The Haig Papers also contain Douglas Haig’s diaries. |
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| Shelfmark | Acc.3155 |
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