DSw99 Posted 24 June , 2019 Share Posted 24 June , 2019 This is a somewhat frivolous enquiry but I have recently be re-watching the 1964 BBC documentary series "The Great War" which I remember watching when I was a kid. In the opening credits an iconic photo is used (attached) which is catalogue number Q1 in the IWM and simply described as "Troops of the Royal Irish Rifles resting in a communication trench during the opening hours of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916". I was wondering if anyone knows if the individual second from the left (sitting and looking at the camera), used in the credits to the documentary was ever identified and what might have happened to him? regards, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 24 June , 2019 Share Posted 24 June , 2019 Doesn't help much, but History Today "The BBC extracted the seated soldier, second from left, and made him the end image of The Great War title sequence; he became a celebrity, with many viewers claiming he was their father."Which suggests there's no conclusive answer to your questionMoonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddyO Posted 24 June , 2019 Share Posted 24 June , 2019 Similar to the chap in the film of the Battle of the Somme carrying the wounded soldier on his shoulders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 24 June , 2019 Share Posted 24 June , 2019 To save discussions in this thread about IDs of TWO soldiers, we've discussed the "chap" more than once, including here Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ServiceRumDiluted Posted 25 June , 2019 Share Posted 25 June , 2019 I have an early paperback of Martin Middlebrooks 'First day on the Somme', from memory as I can't check at the minute, this picture appears and my copy has a hand written annotation - "This man is from Sheffield". I was brought up in Sheffield and would have bought the book second hand locally in the early 1980's. I always assumed a veteran had recognised the man and made the annotation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 25 June , 2019 Share Posted 25 June , 2019 I might have misremembered this, but I though there was a standing order that troops had to be fully equipped within five miles of the front line. If so, whoever they are they are nowhere near the front, half of the mob in the back don't even have their gas hoods with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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