Unexploded First World War artillery shells, near Gommecourt, France.

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Even after 100 years the First World War battlefields still produce an 'iron harvest' of unexploded artillery shells and other ordnance. This is typical of the fieldside dumps awaiting collection for safe disposal. The Gommecourt salient, at the northern end of the Somme front, was the scene of a diversionary attack during the Somme offensive which began on 1 July 1916. The 46th (North Midland) and 56th (London) Divisions suffered terrible casualties in this attack.

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Size: 5115px × 3410px
Location: Near Gommecourt, Pas-de-Calais, France
Photo credit: © Brownlow Brothers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: artillery, duds, great, harvest, iron, munitions, ordinance, rounds, shells, somme, unexploded, war, world