Mining Messines Ridge

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Mining Messines Ridge

Royal Engineers mine the Messines Ridge under German lines, and place explosives, which when detonated on 7 June 1917, assist the British in taking Ypres

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Media ID 589655

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10178486

Assist Engineers Explosives Laying Lines Messines Mine Mines Mining Ridge Taking Ypres Detonated

FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS

> Historic > World War I and II > Historical events

> Historic > World War I and II > Soldiers

EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the courage and determination of the Royal Engineers as they toiled under enemy lines to mine the Messines Ridge in Belgium during World War I. The scene is set in the spring of 1917, with the date of a momentous event looming on the horizon: the planned detonation of the mines on June 7th. The British forces had been engaged in a long and grueling campaign to retake Ypres, a strategic town in the Western Front. The Messines Ridge, held by the Germans, provided a vantage point from which they could shell the British positions below. To turn the tide of the battle, the Royal Engineers were tasked with mining the ridge and placing explosives deep beneath the German lines. The photograph shows the soldiers at work, their faces focused and determined as they drill into the earth. The air is thick with the smell of gunpowder and the sound of drills echoes through the landscape. The men work in pairs, one man drilling while the other holds a shield to protect against any potential German counterattacks. The scene is one of intense concentration and purpose, as the soldiers know that their actions could make all the difference in the upcoming battle. The successful detonation of the mines on June 7th, 1917, is now known as the Battle of Messines. The explosion was the largest man-made explosion up to that point in history and it took the Germans by surprise, allowing the British forces to make significant gains and eventually retake Ypres. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the bravery and ingenuity of the soldiers who risked their lives to turn the tide of the war.

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