A captain and another officer watch the loading of a 9.45in heavy trench mortar. The surrounding area is covered with snow.
Note that, despite the conditions, none of the men are wearing extra clothing.
Trench mortars were widely used by both sides during the War, enabling a missile to be fired at shrort range and high trajectory towards enemy lines.
The derogatory term for a German, ‘Boche’ or ‘Bosch’, originates from the French slang ‘alboche’, which was two words ‘Allemand’ (German) and ‘caboche’ (pate, head) put together.
Uniform details suggest photograph taken later than Autumn, 1916.
Original reads: ‘OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN ON THE FRONT IN FRANCE. Loading a big trench mortar in a front line Boche trench.’
Original URL: http://digital.nls.uk/first-world-war-official-photographs/pageturner.cfm?id=74548338
Resource Type : image
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