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Working parties in a mine
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Working parties in a mine
Photograph: Working parties in a mine. From an album of 76 official photographs, 1916-1917. Associated with World War One (1914-1918). Tunnelling and mining operations were used to attack enemy positions by tunnelling underneath them and then destroying them with explosive mines. Much of the tunnelling was done by special Royal Engineers units formed from Welsh and Durham miners. Date: 1917
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Media ID 14403667
© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library
Associated Attack Enemy Mine Mining Official Operations Parties Photograph Positions Tunnelling Underneath
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the grim reality of working parties in a mine during World War One. Dated 1917, this image is taken from an album of 76 official photographs, documenting the pivotal role of tunnelling and mining operations in the conflict. The First World War saw the employment of special Royal Engineer units, comprised primarily of Welsh and Durham miners, to execute these clandestine missions. The photograph reveals a group of soldiers, huddled around the dimly lit mine shaft, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of a lantern. They are intensely focused on their work, drilling and placing charges in the mine's tunnel walls. The damp, cramped conditions are palpable, with water droplets clinging to the walls and the air thick with the scent of damp earth and gunpowder. The objective of these working parties was to tunnel underneath enemy positions and then destroy them with explosive mines. The use of tunnelling and mining operations was a strategic and daring tactic employed during the war, with the potential to turn the tide in favor of the Allied forces. The risks were immense, with the constant threat of discovery and the ever-present danger of premature explosions. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the courage and determination of the soldiers involved in these clandestine operations, who played a crucial role in the outcome of the First World War.
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