An aerial view of the Bridoux Salient, a prominent feature in the British frontline 1.6 ...

An aerial view of the Bridoux Salient, a prominent feature in the British frontline 1.6 kilometres east of Bois Grenier, British map reference 36.I.31. The road from Bois Grenier to the small village of le Bridoux runs through the centre of the salient in the British frontline trenches, across no man's land, through the German frontline trenches just below the small prominent feature pointing toward the British trenches. The road continues past the German Bridoux Fort onto le Bridoux, situated at the very prominent left hand bend in the road. This area of the German trench line was attached by the British 8th Division on the opening day of the Battle of Loos on 25 April 1915. When I Anzac Corps arrived in France in April 1916 the Australians were assigned to the British frontline west, and to the south, of Armentieres. The 5th Infantry Brigade was assigned to the frontline that included the Bridoux Salient. Between 28th April and 5th May the salient was subjected to intense enemy bombardment and attack by German infantry. After the German attack the salient remained in Australian hands although the enemy shelling had destroyed much of breastworks and parapets. The salient has been heavily shelled suggesting this aerial photograph was taken during or after the action in April and May. See also G01534BA and G01534BE for another aerial photographs of the Bridoux Salient and the opposing German trenches illustrating the developing artillery bombardment on this position at this time. This part of the British frontline is where Australians first saw action in France in 1916. One of a series of 62 photographs acquired by C.E.W. Bean from a number of sources in the 1920s. None were taken by Bean, but acquired to augment his own photographs. All were registered in his personal (C.B.) series and carry a C.B. number. All were subsequently registered in the AWM G Series under one accession number, G01534, and use a series of alphabetic extensions, commencing with G01534A, to accommodate the 62 items.