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Not necessary now, Flanders during World War I
Summary
Scene in an old support line near Kemmel, Belgium. Soldiers in a support trench. The walls of the trench are constructed from sandbags. Within these walls there are a number of dugouts. The men in the trench are happily going about their business. The original caption suggests the area was secure at the time this photograph was taken. ..Support and reserve trenches were set up behind the front line. They were built as secondary lines of defence and were also used to house supplies and equipment. Communication trenches, used to transport men, weapons, equipment and supplies, linked the support and reserve trenches with the front line...The photographer is thought to have been John Warwick Brooke...[Original reads: 'OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON THE BRITISH WESTERN FRONT. Not necessary now. Scene in an old support line near Kemmel.']..digital.nls.uk/74547882 ( http://digital.nls.uk/74547882 )
World War I (WWI or WW1), also known as the First World War, or the Great War, was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. World War I Images From National Library of Schotland. These photographs form part of the papers of Field Marshal (Earl) Haig (1861-1928), held by the National Library of Scotland. More information is available from the Library's Digital Archive. Like many World War I generals, Haig remains a controversial figure. The collection contains diaries, papers and photographs from every part of Haig’s career, the Great War diaries being of special importance to historians. Photographs in the "Official Photographs" series (which were destined for publication and have captions on the back describing the image) are in black-and-white. World War I saw the development of a system of 'official’ reporting by professionals especially recruited into the forces. Initially reluctant to allow cameras near the fighting, it took some time for the authorities to appreciate the propaganda and recording potential of photography. These photographs provide us with an invaluable record of how the Government and Military wanted the war perceived. Official photographers were encouraged to record morale-boosting scenes of victory and comradeship. Despite the restrictions placed on them, official war photographers succeeded in giving the most comprehensive visual account of the war. It is important to remember that these images were propaganda; few that could depict the war in a disheartening or disconcerting way passed the censors. As a result the photograph taken was often posed. They were intended to reassure those at home and boost morale. They were printed in newspapers, and were intended to confirm that 'Tommy' was winning the war.
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