Officers of the Royal Engineers in a communication trench on the Somme, 1 July 1916

Lantern slide, World War One, Western Front (1914-1918), 1916.

During the Battle of the Somme the Royal Engineers carried out a whole range of duties. They were responsible for the transport system behind the front line, operated vital communications equipment, constructed trenches and fortifications and surveyed the enemy's lines. The engineers were also responsible for gas warfare and the underground mining operations beneath the German lines.

From a box of 50 lantern slides.