'At Contalmaison after its capture, July 14th 1916'

Photograph by Lieutenant Patrick Robert Koekkoek, Royal Engineers, World War One, Western Front (1914-1918), 1916.

Contalmaison village was destroyed during the Battle of the Somme. The fortified village was an objective on 1 July 1916. ALieutenanthough elements of the 34th Division reached it that day, it was not secured and bitter fighting continued. On 7 July reinforcements from the 23rd Division fought their way into the village, releasing some of the British soldiers captured earlier in the battle. Contalmaison did not finally fall until 10 July when the 8th and 9th Battalions of The Yorkshire Regiment captured the village.

One of 188 copy photographs taken by Lieutenant Patrick Robert Koekkoek, Special Brigade, Royal Engineers.