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First World War Pictures Show Life In The Trenches, Captured By Soldier George Hackney In 1915 And 1916

Recently Discovered Pictures Show Life In The Trenches Of WWI
Paul Vale
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These incredible pictures taken by a soldier during the First World War were recently published having only been discovered two years ago within a collection of diaries. The images are the work of Lance Corporal George Hackney, who smuggled a camera into the trenches of France, capturing a raft of remarkable moments, including the surrender of German troops to the 36th (Ulster) Division at the Battle of the Somme.

The amateur photographer, who would have faced a court-martial had he been seen using a camera without permission, took the pictures in 1915 and 1916. Hackney, from Northern Ireland, is believed to have used a Vest Pocket Kodak camera to take the poignant shots, which were first aired by the BBC in a show entitled The Man Who Shot the Great War.

Director of the documentary Brian Henry Martin described the photographs as a “unique collection” that offers “a window into what it was like to live, and die, on the Western Front”. He said: “Who was this man? How did he manage to capture these remarkable scenes from a range of sites at a time when unofficial photography was illegal on the Western Front?"

Hackney, who signed up to fight in October 1915, lived until 1977, after which the pictures were donated to the Ulster Museum where they sat in the archives until a curator showed them to filmmaker Martin two years ago. As well as the documentary, the pictures will feature in a forthcoming Ulster Museum exhibition.

George Hackney: Unseen WW1 photos
(01 of09)
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A photograph of George Hackney, taken at Poulainville, Picardy, Northern France, October 1915. Hackney was made a Lance Corporal the day before the Battalion left for France, along with his friend John Ewing. Before advancing to the Front, the men were billeted in a barn in the village of Poulainville. (credit:George Hackney/Ulster Museum)
(02 of09)
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Sgt James Scott, photographed at Seaford, East Sussex at some point between July and October 1915. (credit:George Hackney/Ulster Museum)
(03 of09)
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Mark Scott, whose great-grandfather was Hackney's sergeant, comments on the rare photograph of scouts/snipers taken in France during the winter of 1915/16: "One photograph in particular George Hackney has described as a sentry post at Hamel - when we look at it more closely there are one or two important points we can pick out of it. There is a rifle to the left of the frame and there is a modified cheek rest attached to the butt of the rifle. This would have been used to help the shooter align his eye to a telescopic sight." (credit:George Hackney/Ulster Museum)
(04 of09)
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Photograph taken English Channel, 4 October 1915. The Battalion sailed from Southampton to Boulogne on the former Isle of Man paddle steamer Empress Queen. Some men are seen sleeping on the deck while others look overboard for the threat of German U-boats. (credit:George Hackney/Ulster Museum)
(05 of09)
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Photograph taken at Randalstown Camp, County Antrim 1915. The 14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles moved to Randalstown from Finner Camp in January 1915, where they remained until moving to England in July. In Randalstown, they stayed in wooden huts, and Hackney photographed the interior and exterior of these huts. (credit:George Hackney/Ulster Museum)
(06 of09)
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Photograph taken during the Battle of the Somme: One of three photographs taken by George Hackney during the advance of the 36th Ulster Division on 1 July 1916. In the foreground we can see German soldiers surrendering as the 36th Ulster Division advanced upon German lines. (credit:George Hackney/Ulster Museum)
(07 of09)
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Photograph taken at Randalstown Camp, County Antrim 1915. Hackney's friend John Ewing from Belfast writes in a diary or a letter home, while his comrade lies sleeping in his bunk. Ewing was later promoted to sergeant and won the Military Medal for bravery in the field. (credit:George Hackney/Ulster Museum)
(08 of09)
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Photograph taken at Thiepval Wood May/June 1916. Paul Pollock, standing and smoking, was the son of the Presbyterian Minister at St Enoch's Church in Belfast, where George Hackney worshipped. He was killed on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. His body was never found and name was only added to the Thievpal Memorial to the Missing in 2013. (credit:George Hackney/Ulster Museum)
(09 of09)
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Photograph taken in July/August 1916 at Ploegsteert Wood near Messines in Belgium. This is where the 14th Batallion were redeployed after the devastation of the Battle of the Somme. (credit:George Hackney/Ulster Museum)

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