As if it ended yesterday, pity of war is brought home in vivid colour
A century after end of First World War, 100 images of the conflict have been given new power to shock
EVEN today, 100 years on from the end of the First World War, fading black and white images of the horrors of the Western Front still have the power to shock.
But the sheer terror endured by those who gave their all has been given added impact by a set of newly “colourised” photographs of the conflict. The series of 100 images, whose newly brightened hues make it seem as if the conflict came to an end just yesterday, has been painstakingly produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.
Among the photographs is one of a wounded German prisoner of war, both eyes bandaged, being gently led along a railway line by a British Tommy in 1916, a French soldier behind them weighed down by the heavy tripod of an early camera.
Another shows gunners from the Royal Garrison Artillery pushing a light railway truck filled with shells and British officers standing outside the mouth of a German trench in Messines, Belgium, after its capture in 1917.
Other, equally striking pictures show King George V sitting next to an army commander on the site where Thiepval Chateau stood before its destruction during heavy fighting in September 1916, and a more lighthearted one of a soldier receiving a haircut from a barber on the Albanian front.
Tom Marshall, who spent weeks adding colour to the original black and white photographs, said: “I began colourising black and white photos
professionally in 2014, coinciding with the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.
“Around the world there was a renewed interest in a war that had not been fresh in the public memory for many years.
“To mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, I decided to collate 100 images I’ve colourised in tribute to the men and women who lived through the war, and those who lost their lives.”
The Nottingham-based photo colouriser added: “I included men and women of several nationalities, races and religions, as the entire world was affected by the war, and I hope the photos will show an insight into the lesser known stories and events.”
Mr Marshall, of Photografix, appealed for people to make a donation to the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal – or to a similar appeal in their home country – as a way of remembering the men captured in his images, as well as the estimated nine million combatants and seven million civilians who died as a direct result of the war.
Mr Marshall said: “Since 2014 I have been very fortunate to have been able to work on exhibitions, press articles and books commemorating significant First World War anniversaries, but I have also been honoured to work on personal family photos, which all have unique insights into what was truly the first global conflict.”
By adding colour to images previously seen only in black and white he hopes to convey to a new generation the grim reality of a war.
Now “the pity of war” so powerfully evoked by the poets of the trenches a century ago has, thanks to Mr Marshall, a modern, colour-drenched hue.
‘I hope the photos will show an insight into the lesser known stories and events’
Standing on a ridge overlooking the medieval French town of Sedan, the scene of one of the last epic battles of the First World War, the lessons we can learn today from the horrific bloodshed experienced on the Western Front are not immediately apparent.
To start with, the equipment used to achieve the dramatic breakthrough on the Germans’ Hindenburg Line, the Allied Forces’ primary objective during four years of bitter fighting, bears little resemblance to that of a modern-day army – especially when we are told the wars of the future are more likely to be fought in cyberspace than on a conventional battlefield.
The introduction of prototype tanks enjoyed mixed reviews, with many of them getting bogged down in the mud. Meanwhile, the failure of the fledgling Royal Air Force to hit a single bridge during three days of intensive bombing raids on strategically vital canals and rivers aptly illustrates the limitations of the primitive warplanes employed at that time.
And yet, as I discovered during a fascinating study tour of Great War battlefields organised by the
1st UK Armoured Division, there are some important aspects of the final march to victory that are as relevant today as they were in 1918. Particularly as we look to fashion our military role in the world post-brexit.
While the main emphasis of this week’s Armistice Day commemorations will be to honour the sacrifice and contribution of the British participants, we should not forget that victory was ultimately achieved by a multinational force – British, French, American, Canadian, Australian and New Zealander. Vital contributions were also made by Commonwealth participants from regions such as the Indian subcontinent and Africa.
Winning wars depends on a nation’s ability to forge effective alliances that share the same objectives – an attribute that has much resonance today, as the Western democracies look to counter the threat posed by emerging powers such as China, and more familiar adversaries like Russia. As Lieutenant-general Patrick Sanders, Commander of the UK Field Army, remarked: “We have to learn the lesson of how the forces adapted for the huge challenges of 1918, and what they teach us for today.”
In this context, it was encouraging to find senior American, French, German and Irish military officers accompanying their British counterparts during our visit to the defining battles of the Great War. The conclusion of the trip will be marked with a ceremony at the Château de Sedan this weekend, attended by German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and French President, Emmanuel Macron.
Such unions between German and French leaders are, of course, watched with a degree of suspicion in Whitehall. There is particular interest at the Foreign Office in the role Mr Macron might fashion for himself now that Mrs Merkel has given intimations of her own political mortality.
Domestic support for the energetic French leader might be in freefall, but that has not dampened his enthusiasm for wholesale reform of the European project – changes that he hopes will help the EU to achieve its dream of becoming a superpower to rival the United States.
Ensuring that Britain is not put at a disadvantage by such French-inspired delusions of grandeur is one of the reasons the Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is keen to provoke a national debate on what he calls “Global Britain”, looking at the role the UK can play once we have freed ourselves from the EU’S tiresome shackles. Establishing strong alliances based on shared objectives – the same formula that helped us to achieve victory in 1918 – is, to my mind, vital if Britain is to be able to defend and protect its interests, both at home and abroad.
And the obvious place to start is in the US. The deep military, commercial and cultural bonds between Washington and London have formed the bedrock of the transatlantic alliance since 1945.
Many ministers in Theresa May’s Cabinet appear to have qualms about maintaining close relations with the White House as long as Donald Trump remains in office. This factor no doubt explains the Government’s bizarre decision to oppose the reintroduction of US sanctions against Iran.
Mr Hunt’s position is that sticking with the 2015 nuclear deal is the best way to maintain a dialogue with Iran’s moderates, thereby encouraging Tehran to adopt a more constructive attitude to the outside world. Well, let’s see how this helps the Foreign Secretary to achieve another of his goals – arranging a ceasefire in Yemen, when Iran’s support for the Houthi rebels is the main reason previous peace initiatives have failed.
Certainly, antagonising our most important ally in the White House at a time when Britain is looking to develop its global brand post-brexit does not seem to be the most auspicious start. A better idea would be to embrace the concept of strong alliances based on shared goals, a formula that is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago when achieving victory on the Western Front.