A British 60 Pounder Breech Loading (BL) gun, 1915 (c)

Photograph, World War One, Western Front, 1915 (c).

The 60 Pounder Breech Loading (BL) gun was developed as a heavy field gun and saw service with British and Commonwealth Forces on the main fronts of World War One (1914-1918). It was still in service in the early years of World War Two (19139-1945).

World War One was an artillery war. Artillery dominated the battlefield and inflicted more casualties than any other weapon. Heavy artillery was used to destroy entrenched positions, dug outs and lines of supply.

From a collection of 282 photographs collected by Captain Richard Tennant Cooper (1885-1957), 16th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and the Royal Engineers.