Unseen Photographs Shed New Light on World War I

The Independent newspaper in the UK has released some newly discovered portraits of British soldiers from World War I. 

Hidden in a French barn for ninety years, these pictures are a telling record of soldiers in preparation for the Battle of the Somme. 

Over 400 glass plates have been discovered and collected by photography enthusiasts Bernard Gardin and Dominique Zanardi, in hopes of identifying the soldiers:



A treasure trove of First World War photographs was discovered recently in France. Published here for the first time, they show British soldiers on their way to the Somme. But who took them? And who were these Tommies marching off to die?

Link - via webphemera

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by taliesyn30.


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I think that the new light is that pictures of off duty British soldiers in France at this time are very rare. Most pictures that we have are taken at home with uniforms buff and facial hair glistening! Either that or at the trenches. Off duty and in a French garden - not so many! These pictures show a fairly bedraggled lot, even though for sure they must have done their best to spruce themselves up before standing in front of the camera. Also, the picture of the black Tommy is incredibly rare - we know that black soldiers served in the British forces but pics of them are few and far between. Plus social histor - like the tattoo - how many WW1 soldier pics like that do you see? The sheepskin tops, and so on...
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I looked through all of the pictures. The look in their eyes! These are some of my favourites, pictures 41, 92, 113, 157, 177, 216, 238. Most the rest are all the same lone soldier in uniform, but these really stood out.

The picture of the tattoo that is mentioned in the article is picture 219... definitely worth a look! Wow! The lighting is exquisite.

Yet I have to agree with Vonskippy. I was left wondering what the "new light" is exactly.
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You say: Strangely, Liberation Day _ in Holland - used to be held only once every five years, but since 1990, it has been a yearly event.

It always has been a yearly event ansd still is. In 1990 the governement decided to give a bank holiday once in 5 years.
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