A New Zealand artillery company passes through the newly liberated village of Bertincourt, in northern France on September 8, 1918 (exactly 97 years ago today).
The artillery piece is a BL 60 pounder gun, whose main role was counter battery fire, meaning that it was tasked with suppressing and destroying enemy artillery batteries.
The gun is being drawn by a large team of horses because it is so heavy. Some support troops are walking with the rest of the column. On the right there is a damaged building with the name of the town, testifying to the recent fighting.
Below are some magnifications and closeups of the picture, giving better detail of the cannon as well as the team of horses pulling it. Credit for the original picture goes to Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association :New Zealand official negatives, World War 1914-1918. Ref: 1/2-013580-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22901789
