"Original German Front Line La Boiselle". This inscription was recorded on the back of the ...

Accession Number P07670.009
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Film copy negative
Maker Nenke, Robert Willie
Place made France: Picardie, Somme, Albert Bapaume Area, Pozieres Area, Pozieres, La Boisselle
Date made c 1916
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

"Original German Front Line La Boiselle". This inscription was recorded on the back of the original photograph by the photographer. To this inscription 3120 Sergeant Norman Max Pontin has added in his own hand; "German Dugouts 60 ft [feet] deep Our Dugouts never more than 4 ft below surface". This photograph is one of a series taken by Cpl Nenke, or with his camera. Cpl Nenke was a despatch rider in the 1st Divisional Signal Company (1DSC). Soldier photographers taking photographs in active service areas in France or Belgium are rare, as discovery usually resulted in Court Martial. It is considered that this photograph was among the personal effects of 3120 Sergeant N M Pontin, who served in the 14th and 46th Battalion, and repatriated to his next-of-kin in Australia, after he was killed in action on 11 April 1917. Cpl Nenke was also killed in action on 10 August 1918.