British soldiers towing a 1320kg howitzer on caterpillar tracks through a muddy road near Pozières, September 1916.
British soldiers towing a 1320kg howitzer on caterpillar tracks through a muddy road near Pozières, September 1916. Colourised by @dougbanksee. Today 107 years ago, on July 23, 1916, the Battle of Pozières began as part of the Battle of the Somme, as Australian and British units stormed the village of Pozières following a several day-long artillery bombardment including phosgene and tear gas shells. The Australian 1st Division successfully captured Pozières on July 23, but their British counterparts on their flanks struggled to advance against stiff German resisitance. The Germans then went on the counter-attack for the recapture of Pozières with intense artillery bombardments, which at their peak were equal to the highest concentration of artillery seen on the Western Front thus far. The first German counter-attacks were repulsed but, combined with the artillery, severe losses had been inflicted on the Australian defenders, forcing the Australian 1st Division to be relieved by the Aus...