The Great War in colour: Incredible photographs of World War I

Incredible colour photographs have shone new light on life among the ruins of World War I. 

The stunning pictures show French soldiers reading newspapers, pausing for lunch in ruined towns and cities and clearing the rubble after devastating German artillery raids.

Some of the weapons and machinery of the war can also be seen in extraordinary detail, including a British Sopwith fighter plane and 75mm guns used by French artillery. 

The pictures also reveal the human side of the war, as one soldier is shaved by a barber in a French military encampment and another picture shows a girl playing with her doll in the ruins of Reims.  

A little girl plays with her doll next to two guns and a knapsack, in the city of Reims in northern France in 1917 

Captain Robert de Beauchamp stands alongside his British Sopwith fighter in September 1916, after returning from a bombing raid on Essen in Germany's industrial Ruhr area. The picture was taken shortly before his death at Verdun

Captain Robert de Beauchamp stands alongside his British Sopwith fighter in September 1916, after returning from a bombing raid on Essen in Germany’s industrial Ruhr area. The picture was taken shortly before his death at Verdun

French soldiers buying and reading newspapers at a kiosk in Rexpoede, in the far north of France, in September 1917

French soldiers buying and reading newspapers at a kiosk in Rexpoede, in the far north of France, in September 1917

A French soldier has his lunch in front of a damaged library, sitting by a lamp-post after parking his bicycle in Reims, France

A French soldier has his lunch in front of a damaged library, sitting by a lamp-post after parking his bicycle in Reims, France

The French line at Het Sas, north of Ypres in Belgium, devastated by artillery fire with soldiers standing in front of shelters

The French line at Het Sas, north of Ypres in Belgium, devastated by artillery fire with soldiers standing in front of shelters

French soldiers clearing the rubble in the ruins of Reims, in 1917. Almost 60 per cent of the city in northern France was destroyed by German artillery and air raids during World War I

French soldiers clearing the rubble in the ruins of Reims, in 1917. Almost 60 per cent of the city in northern France was destroyed by German artillery and air raids during World War I

The towers of the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Reims can be seen through the damaged windows of another building

The towers of the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Reims can be seen through the damaged windows of another building

George 'Pop' Redding, an Australian soldier from the 8th Light Horse Regiment, picks flowers during the war in Palestine

George ‘Pop’ Redding, an Australian soldier from the 8th Light Horse Regiment, picks flowers during the war in Palestine

A French section of machine gunners takes position during the Battle of the Aisne on the Western Front in 1917

A French section of machine gunners takes position during the Battle of the Aisne on the Western Front in 1917

A soldier is shaved by a barber in a French military encampment in Soissons, while two soldiers wait under a tent, in 1917

A soldier is shaved by a barber in a French military encampment in Soissons, while two soldiers wait under a tent, in 1917

Doctors, nurses and medical personnel in front of field hospital number 55, in Bourbourg in northern France

Doctors, nurses and medical personnel in front of field hospital number 55, in Bourbourg in northern France

A group of French soldiers rest on the grass as they eat their lunch in Aisne, on the Western Front in France, in 1917

A group of French soldiers rest on the grass as they eat their lunch in Aisne, on the Western Front in France, in 1917

Two French soldiers and a young boy look through the window of a shop selling alcohol in Reims, France, in 1917

Two French soldiers and a young boy look through the window of a shop selling alcohol in Reims, France, in 1917

A French soldier stands by a table which has German grenades and an aircraft propeller on it, in Reims, France, in 1917

A French soldier stands by a table which has German grenades and an aircraft propeller on it, in Reims, France, in 1917

Australians from the Imperial Camel Corps line up at Rafah, Egypt, during the war against the Ottoman Empire in January 1918

Australians from the Imperial Camel Corps line up at Rafah, Egypt, during the war against the Ottoman Empire in January 1918

A group of French artillerymen with 75 mm guns on the Western Front in September 1916, during the Battle of Verdun

A group of French artillerymen with 75 mm guns on the Western Front in September 1916, during the Battle of Verdun



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