Photographers > Ernest Brooks
(228) C.1808 - Outside a German fortress in a wood
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| First World War 'Official Photographs' > Photographers > Ernest Brooks > (228) C.1808 - Outside a German fortress in a wood |
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| Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/74545948 |
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| Description | Destruction after the Battle of Messines Ridge, Belgium, 1917. In the centre of the picture is a squat, stone building, which rubble has fallen on top of. This building is surrounded by more rubble and branches. The trees in the background are stripped of their branches. The Battle of Messines Ridge (June 1917), was one of the British Army's tactical successes. It was also the first time defensive casualties more than attacking - the British losing 17,000 against the German's 25,000. The image is dominated by and intricately carved and inscribed church bell. The bell is lying in the bottom of a muddy trench. The trench is a scene of devastation and disorganisation. [Original reads: 'GREAT BATTLE OF MESSINES RIDGE. Outside a German fortress in a wood.'] |
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| 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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| 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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