Photographers > Ernest Brooks
(241) C.1833 - Tea time on newly taken ground
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| First World War 'Official Photographs' > Photographers > Ernest Brooks > (241) C.1833 - Tea time on newly taken ground |
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| Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/74546838 |
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| Description | Soldiers resting at Messines Ridge, Belgium, 1917. Uniformed men, many of whom are sitting or lying on the ground relaxing. A lot of the soldiers have noticed the camera and are looking toward it and smiling. They are all congregated in a grass-covered area surrounded by trees, a marked contrast to the bleak and barren landscape where much of the fighting took place. A few of them can be seen holding flasks or billycans. On the left there is a cart or carriage, possibly a makeshift tea stall. This photograph and the accompanying caption are typical of the kind of material that was used by the Government and Military to fuel the propaganda machine. The relaxed and happy scene, so far removed from the reality of war, and the flippant remark about tea time would be used to assuage the fears of people at home, giving the impression that all is well. [Original reads: 'GREAT BATTLE OF MESSINES RIDGE. - Tea time on newly taken ground.'] |
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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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