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Portuguese in the trenches during World War I
Summary
Eight soldiers are standing grouped in a small courtyard behind the lines. Ground level is visible above the tops of the trench along with the vegetation which is growing up there. Along the left side of the picture there are ladders and lookouts built up with duckboards and sandbags. There are two soldiers on guard there. There is an archway built across to a building with two soldiers passing underneath it. The building is also created from duckboards and there are two soldiers sitting in the door-way of this. It is thought that John Warwick Brooke took this photograph...Portugal declared its support for the Allies in 1914 although they did not enter the war until 1915. They were drawn in when the Allies asked them to seize and retain German ships. The Portuguese Expeditionary Force was not, however, set up until 1917, in response to Portugal's entry into the war...[Original reads: 'OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN ON THE BRITISH WESTERN FRONT. Portuguese in the trenches.']..digital.nls.uk/74547114 ( http://digital.nls.uk/74547114 )
World War I (WWI or WW1), also known as the First World War, or the Great War, was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. World War I Images From National Library of Schotland. These photographs form part of the papers of Field Marshal (Earl) Haig (1861-1928), held by the National Library of Scotland. More information is available from the Library's Digital Archive. Like many World War I generals, Haig remains a controversial figure. The collection contains diaries, papers and photographs from every part of Haig’s career, the Great War diaries being of special importance to historians. Photographs in the "Official Photographs" series (which were destined for publication and have captions on the back describing the image) are in black-and-white. World War I saw the development of a system of 'official’ reporting by professionals especially recruited into the forces. Initially reluctant to allow cameras near the fighting, it took some time for the authorities to appreciate the propaganda and recording potential of photography. These photographs provide us with an invaluable record of how the Government and Military wanted the war perceived. Official photographers were encouraged to record morale-boosting scenes of victory and comradeship. Despite the restrictions placed on them, official war photographers succeeded in giving the most comprehensive visual account of the war. It is important to remember that these images were propaganda; few that could depict the war in a disheartening or disconcerting way passed the censors. As a result the photograph taken was often posed. They were intended to reassure those at home and boost morale. They were printed in newspapers, and were intended to confirm that 'Tommy' was winning the war.
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