Video from the Somme

[Gareth Coe]

Shot on location on the Western Front in 1916, Battle of the Somme was produced privately and proved more popular than the official films that the War Office had made during the war despite being shockingly graphic. Audiences, well aware of the real conditions in the trenches, seemed to prefer a film that didn't try to pretend that war was easy or fun.

 

In this extract from the silent 80 minute documentary, a wounded soldier is carried on the back of a comrade through a trench

 

[ashley]

You will note from the film that very few ( if any ) of the German troops are wearing steel helmets but are wearing the `scratcher caps` or a few are wearing the Picklehaulb.

This is because the first German helmets were not issued to troops until 1916, they were supposed to be issued for this battle but not enough helmets were available at the time.

 

Ashley