Introduction

Photographs of the First World War are usually appreciated for what they show, the desolate battlefields of the Western Front, the mighty battleships patrolling the seas, the frail aircraft engaged in a new element of warfare, and the tired soldiers in the trenches. During the First World War there were three main categories of photographer; official, press, and amateur. Official photography was no exception but eventually at least one man was appointed to every theatre of war including the civilian and several to the most important battleground, the Western Front. The work of the official photographers was initially intended for publication in the home press and for circulation as propaganda material abroad but as the struggle continued, their role broadened to include the permanent record for Britain and the Empire. The photographs of the First World War offer an extraordinary range of images.