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One of the new armoured cars, Flanders
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Nicknamed the 'mechanical monsters, this photograph shows a British tank flanked by infantry soldiers, mules and horses. World War I has a notorious reputation for being the conflict that introduced the modern concept of mass slaughter by mechanical means. The dry and hard condition of the ground in this photograph looks like ideal terrain for tanks. It is likely that this photograph was taken by John Warwick Brooke...Originally deployed to end the stalemate of trench warfare, the muddy conditions meant that early attacks with tanks failed to achieve the desired breakthrough, as the tanks soon became bogged down. It was not until The Battle of Cambrai in November 1917, that tanks were used successfully in a major offensive, when the British finally broke through the German lines...[Original reads: 'OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON THE BRITISH WESTERN FRONT IN FRANCE. One of the new armoured cars.']..digital.nls.uk/74547938 ( http://digital.nls.uk/74547938 )
Tanks in mass culture. Tanks were first developed separately and simultaneously by Great Britain and France as a means to break the deadlock of trench warfare on the Western Front. Their first use in combat was by the British Army in September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The name "tank" was adopted by the British during the early stages of their development, as a security measure to conceal their purpose.
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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