Leaving to repair the line near Villers-Bretonneux, 1916 (c)

Stereoscopic photograph, World War One, Western Front, 1916 (c).

All front-line regiments detailed working parties to undertake tasks such as repairs and extensions to the trench systems, reconnaissance and, sometimes, recovery of the dead and wounded. Any work in the open meant that they had to operate at night to avoid being picked off by enemy marksmen. But it remained a risky operation as the dazzling white light of flares could still suddenly expose them.

From a collection of 96 stereoscopic photographs entitled 'The Great War' including the official series.