Winter War: Snow On The Wire in No Man’s Land
This extraordinary image shows an early war German position on the Western Front during the winter of 1914/15 – so exactly a hundred years ago. Little damage from shell fire is visible, but on the left in the trees the head of a German soldier peaks out from above his trench and to his right there also appears to be a periscope. This would mean the image would have to have been taken in No Man’s Land, which makes it even more unusual as the enemy would have to have been to the rear of the photographer.
A close inspection of the barbed wire shows it covered with snow; glistening in the winter sunshine. The old world had ended; man had made a new world on the Western Front which grow even more terribly as the next twelve months evolved.
Great War Photos 
On Monday we had the privileged to meet a relation (we did not know until recently existed) who had an amazing collection of medals of my husband’s great uncles. As a social historian it was the letters backwards and forwards from France which captured my attention – to see war as the lads wrote about it it – the poems were great too. I had so little time. One day I’d like to transcribe them and put them all in order. It is quite incredible that one hundred years on we have photos and the written word which describe WW1 so clearly. Thanks so much for sharing your photos
10/12/2014 at 16:16
Fascinating photo Paul from your extensive collection that you so kindly share with us.
Best wishes to you and family for Christmas & New Year.
Geoff
13/12/2014 at 11:03