Some of the spectators during World War I
Groups of soldiers are all sitting along a river bank while a couple of soldiers stand on the path close to the camera. In the distance soldiers wearing gear can be seen. Everybody seems fairly relaxed...Soldie... More
Colonel of the regiment watching the greasy pole competition
Cavalrymen, including the Colonel of the regiment, sitting on a river bank watching a greasy pole competition, during World War I. They appear to be completely engrossed in the event. Although they are in full ... More
Tug of War, Flanders during World War I
Game of tug-of-war during a horse show behind the lines, World War I. The tug-of-war teams are surrounded on either side by hundreds of spectators. The two teams are wearing different coloured strips. ..Soldier... More
Spectators watching the swimming race
Spectators at a swimming competition, during World War I. This image shows a group of women and children standing on a river bank. They are watching members of the cavalry taking part in a swimming competition.... More
Tommies watching the shelling near Wancourt, Flanders
Three soldiers are on a muddy ridge, one standing and looking through binoculars and two sitting down. One soldier is standing at the base of the mound. They are looking over the trenches into the distance wher... More
Race for French children is never forgotten by Tommy
Young children taking part in a race, at a Black Watch sports day. The winner has touched the finishing line, with the rest of the runners in hot pursuit! These children were very likely from a nearby village o... More
H.M. watching the Australian sports
King George V is standing in the foreground, watching as soldiers take part in a sports day event. The men taking part are in full uniform and are carrying full packs. The exercise shown here is possibly part o... More
Dragons ready for the dragon fight
Troops watching Chinese dragon ceremonies, Western Front, France, during World War I. This shows some members of the Chinese Labour Corps carrying two huge paper dragons with large decorated heads and long snak... More
Diving competition during World War I
A man jumping off a makeshift diving board into a river. This diving event is part of a larger swimming competition, organised by the Cavalry. On the opposite river bank there are a number of spectators, both s... More
Competitors in the Section jumping, Flanders
three cavalrymen taking part in a horse show. They are competing in the jumping section. Behind them, on the horizon, there is a large crowd of spectators. Often at events of this nature local people would also... More
Dragon built by the Chinese in France to entertain British troops
This photograph shows a group of Chinese members of the Labour Corps carrying a large paper dragon. One man carries the head supported on a pole while seven or eight men carry the long snake-like body. Another ... More
Spanish Generals on the drill ground watching drill, Flanders
Spanish and British officers on the parade ground, France. Although quite formally clad, the group has an air of relaxed informality about it. A large group of officers are milling around and chatting to each o... More
Draught horses, harness and limbered wagon
This photograph shows New Zealand troops taking part in a horse show. A line of artillery carriages are drawn up for inspection. Each is drawn by two horses, with a soldier riding the left horse in each pair. O... More
German prisoners taken in the new push lined for examination near Mess...
German prisoners of war, Messines, Belgium, 1917. Long rows of German soldiers are lined up diagonally across the picture. They are being watched from a high guard post behind them. Soldiers are lying watching ... More
Race in progress during World War I
A swimming race in progress, during World War I. Flags have been placed in the water as markers. There are soldiers the whole length of the left river bank watching. On the right bank there appears to be a smal... More
After the sports the Balmorals give an entertainment
A large audience of soldiers and a number of children, probably from a nearby town or village, watch an entertainment troupe called the 'Balmorals'. The show is being staged on a makeshift stage, erected in fro... More
Colonel of the Black Watch, Flanders
A colonel from the Black Watch Regiment talking to another officer. Unfortunately the identities of the men are not known. It is an informal photograph, taken at a sports day organised for the Black Watch. Also... More
Set on fire by German shells during World War I
Two soldiers in steel helmets are standing watching a building, apparently part of a farm, in flames. The original caption indicates that this was set on fire by shelling. Farm buildings were often used by the ... More
Grand show, Flanders during World War I
Spectators at a horse show behind the lines. They appear to be mostly, if not all, Scottish soldiers. Some of them are standing on large carts or carriages. It is a happy and relaxed scene. ..Soldiers at the fr... More
Divisional Commander watching an event, Flanders
The Divisional Commander and those around him are all spectators at a sports day organised by the Black Watch Regiment. Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell which event they are watching. Some of the events ... More
French ladies admiring the prizes at a Divisional Horse Show
French ladies admiring the cups at a horse-show. Three trophies and two cups are lined up across the bottom left corner of the image. They are on a table which has been covered and pinned with white cloths. The... More
H.M. watching a display by the infantry
King George V, standing at the far right of the shot, watching a display by members of the infantry. The event is taking place in a large grassy field bordered by trees. A long line of soldiers make their way a... More
Best turned out gun team being admired, Flanders
This photograph was taken in a grassy field which is bound in the far corner by a copse of trees. This is providing some leafy shade and shadows. The bottom left hand corner of the image is dissected by a thin,... More
Fine jump but not quite clean, Flanders
An action shot of a competitor taking part in the jumping section of a horse show. Man and horse are halfway over one of the jumps. The horse has dislodged some bricks in the process. In the background there ar... More
March past of the pipes, Flanders
Horse show behind the lines. Groups of men are lined up around different squares in a huge field. In the middle of each square a different activity is taking place. At the front of this picture a marching band ... More
Divisional Commander with the divisional pet 'Rip', Flanders
The Divisional Commander is attending a sports day organised by the Black Watch. The events area has been cordoned off, and the Commander is sitting on the sidelines with the other spectators. Next to the Comma... More
Rifle grenade competition, Flanders
Members of the Black Watch Regiment at a sports day, organised at the Western Front. The young soldier in the foreground is taking part in a rifle grenade competition. Two of the men behind him are possibly jud... More
Gas helmet V.C. race, Flanders during World War I
Members of the Black Watch Regiment taking part in a sports day event. The event involves wearing a gas helmet and racing. Most of the men seen here have already put the helmet on, and are ready to start runnin... More
Boat race, Flanders during World War I
Three teams of men, all in a line and carrying a log ('the boat'), range across the front of the picture. There is a man at the head of each line coaching them on. In the background a huge crowd is visible. ..P... More
Iron rations, Flanders during World War I
British soldiers watching shelling in the distance. A spread out group of soldiers wearing rain ponchos and helmets are looking off into the distance. The soldier at the front of the group is pointing into the ... More
Gun team was in action 6 days previous to this turn out
A gun team in a field surrounded by trees. There are six horses pulling a gun with three soldiers, each sitting on one of the horses. They are well turned out and lined up as if for inspection. There is a large... More
Scene on the ground, Flanders during World War I
Dancers at a divisional sports day, France, during World War I. The photograph is taken in a grassy field which is bound on the far side of the picture by some very dense trees. They are huge trees and are crea... More
Dinky race, Flanders during World War I
This photograph, attributed to John Warwick Brooke, shows two men racing on donkeys, watched by Royal Air Force men, a few officers and one or two locals. This appears to be one of a series of photographs of an... More
Tug of War, Flanders during World War I
Facing the photographer are three rows of men. In the middle are the uniformed tug-of-war team. Down either side are deep lines of men all watching and straining to see the action. Officers march up and down ea... More
First time round, Flanders during World War I
The event is being held in a flat grassy field, bordered on the far side by a thin line of trees. Two long, dense lines of soldiers cross the picture at right angles to the trees in the background. On the far s... More
Queen and her party witnessing some explosions
Queen Mary with a small party, watching an explosion in the distance. They appear to have paused momentarily to watch this spectacle, and are standing by the roadside at the edge of a grassy field. The party co... More
Officers of the regiment watching the sports
Five British Cavalry officers sitting on a river bank. They are spectators at a swimming event, during World War I. Four of them have noticed the photographer and are looking over their shoulders directly into ... More
Tanks attack on Thiepval, Flanders
Tank moving across a battlefield at Thiepval, France. The tank appears to be moving over the top of a trench. In the trench there is a group of soldiers carefully watching it, they are all wearing steel helmets... More
General view of the dance during World War I
South Africans, from the S.A.N.L.C., performing a traditional dance. Most of the dancers are wearing lengths of material wrapped round their waist - cleverly combined with what is very probably parts of their u... More
Chinese entertain soldiers and nurses in an open air theatre in France
Chinese entertainment for the troops, France, during World War I. This photograph shows a group of Chinese men in costumes walking on stilts. They are performing on an open-air stage with part of their audience... More
View of captured German lines, Flanders
According to the photograph's original caption this image shows the captured German lines at Messines Ridge, Belgium. There is little form or structure to indicate a trench system here. It is very difficult fro... More
Divisional Commander and Staff watching the flight of a rifle grenade
The Divisional Commander and his staff are attending a sports day organised by the Black Watch. They are watching the rifle grenade competition. The event is taking place in a large field bordered by trees. It ... More
Chinese boat display during World War I
Chinese celebration, France, during World War I. This photograph shows a person with a large white headdress and white or pale costume walking inside a carnival float covered with paper or cloth and with a patt... More