The bombardment of Beaumont Hamel, 2 July 1916 (b/w photo)

Photograph from an album of 22 official photographs (and one newspaper cutting) showing scenes from the Western Front, 1916-1918 (c). Tracer ammunition made projectile trajectory visible to the naked eye, enabling aiming correction without observing the impact of the fired rounds and without using the sights of the weapon. The heavily fortified village of Beaumont Hamel on the Somme was attacked by the British 29th Division on 1 July. The assault was beaten off by the German defenders and 223 officers and 5,017 other ranks from the 29th were killed or wounded. The village was finally captured by the 51st Division on 13-14 November 1916. Associated with World War One, Western Front (1914-1918).