British troops resting in a captured mine crater, July 1916

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

On the first day of the Somme offensive (1 July 1916) the British detonated several mines to destroy the German defences. When the mines were blown the infantry rushed forward to seize the craters. Although they were successful in some areas, elsewhere the Germans were able to defend the craters and inflict heavy casualties on the attackers.

From a box of 73 lantern slides.