Bombarded German trenches at Guillemont, September 1916

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

German-held Guillemont was attacked by the 16th and 20th Divisions on 3 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Located on the right flank of the British sector, where it linked with French lines, enemy possession of Guillemont prevented the Allied armies from operating in unison.

After a bitter struggle, Guillemont was secured by 6 September. Its loss weakened the German hold on this sector of the Somme front. Subsequently Delville Wood was taken and the neighbouring village of Ginchy fell to the 16th Division three days later. By 15 September the British were in a position to mount their next major offensive on a broad front - the Battle of Flers-Courcelette.

From an album of 49 official war photographs entitled, 'The War 1914-1918'.