Filling trench mortar shells with T. N. T. high explosive

Trinitrotoluene (or TNT) was the most commonly used explosive in the Allied forces. This drawing shows it being poured into shells in a liquid form in order that the whole space of the shell was occupied by the explosive, thereby ensuring the maxium blast effect. The artist wrote ' The shell-filling operations were not spectacular. Rows of men in khaki unifrom stood behind rows of bombs, each man had a dipper, and poured liquid T.N.T into the hollow sections of a shell. The scene had a quiet and simplicity which robbed it of all its hidden meaning and terror. Though into each shell went a terrible power of destruction, it was not as exciting to watch as a row of soda clerks pouring out malted milks.'