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First World War 'Official Photographs' > Photographers > Ernest Brooks > C.1087 - Scene on the Ancre

C.1087 - Scene on the Ancre

Permanent URL:	http://digital.nls.uk/74546606
Description:	Derelict train with soldiers standing in it, France, during World War I. The camera is face-on to the end of a blown out train carriage which is still sitting on its lines. The ground around the train is littered with branches and bark. The metal structure of the train is still intact but the wooden sides have little holes as well as big missing chunks. Seven soldiers are standing inside the carriage and looking out through these large gaps. They all appear to be quite relaxed and smiling. This photograph would have been good propaganda illustrating the might of the Allied soldiers and the power of Allied Forces against the vilified German enemy. [Original reads: 'OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON THE FRONT IN FRANCE. A scene on the Ancre.']
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Form / genre:	Images > Pictures > Photographs > Photographic prints
Dates / events:	World War, 1914-1918 Campaigns Western Front [Date/event depicted] 1916-1918 [Date created]
Places:	Europe > Belgium > Flanders (region) [Place depicted] Europe > France (nation) [Place created] Europe > France > Picardy > Somme > Albert (inhabited place) [Place created]
Subject / content:	Black-and-white prints (photographs) Destruction Propaganda Railroad cars Soldiers War photography Photojournalism Railroad tracks
Person / organisation:	Brooks, Ernest, British official photographer [Photographer] Great Britain. Army [Depicted] Haig, Douglas, Sir, 1861-1928 [Former owner]
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Ernest Brooks

Description:

Ernest Brooks was the first British official war photographer to be assigned to the Western Front in 1916. Previously a 'Daily Mirror' photographer, he was given the honorary rank of Second Lieutenant. His remit was to take as many photographs as possible, with as much variety as possible. Using his inconspicuous hand-held camera Brooks was free to wander, sometimes capturing his subjects unawares. Many of the images taken by Brooks were used to fuel the propaganda machine at home and abroad. Despite this Brooks, who was very aware of composition and light, produced some very artistic and thought-provoking images.

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Dates / events:	1916-1918 [Date created]
Places:	Europe > Belgium > Flanders (region) [Place depicted] Europe > France (nation) [Place created]
Person / organisation:	Brooks, Ernest, British official photographer [Photographer] Great Britain. Army [Depicted]
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Photographers

Description:	Photographs by named photographers.

First World War 'Official Photographs'

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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Form / genre:	Images > Pictures > Photographs > Photographic prints
Dates / events:	World War, 1914-1918 Campaigns Western Front [Date/event depicted]
Subject / content:	Black-and-white prints (photographs) Propaganda War photography Photojournalism
Person / organisation:	Haig, Douglas, Sir, 1861-1928 [Former owner]
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