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The ‘Battle of Mud’ 100 years later: remarkable photos of the Battle of Passchendaele restored in color

Goran Blazeski

In order to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele, one of the bloodiest battles of World War I, professional photo colorizer has Tom Marshall restored some remarkable images that reveal the living and fighting conditions of British and Commonwealth troops from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

This is not the first series of historic photographs restored by Marshall, nor will it be the last. About a year ago, he colorized a handful of photos from another infamous World War I encounter, the Battle of the Somme, and last September, The Vintage News asked him to colorize a selection of portraits of immigrants who had arrived in the United States through Ellis Island during the early years of the 20th century.

British officers in a German trench, Messines, Belgium, 1917. Three officers stand outside the mouth of the trench while one sits on top of it and one stands inside it. They all appear relaxed, presumably because they have just captured a German trench and all the supplies in it.
British officers in a German trench, Messines, Belgium, 1917. Three officers stand outside the mouth of the trench while one sits on top of it and one stands inside it. They all appear relaxed, presumably because they have just captured a German trench and all the supplies in it.
The same photo of British officers, colorized. Author: Tom Marshall
The same photo of British officers, colorized. Author: Tom Marshall

Marshall’s most recent selection of colorized photos from the Battle of Passchendaele show soldiers resting, laughing, playing cards, talking to local farm workers, washing clothes. “I decided to colorize these images as a tribute to the men pictured because I believe that color adds another dimension to historic images, and helps modern eyes to connect with the subjects, more than with a black and white photo,” explains Marshall on his website.

Marshall thinks that people, and especially younger generations, ignore black and white images, but he hopes that his work will help change that, fostering more interest in learning about the subjects and what the men went through during the Great War.

A British soldier talks to a local farm worker.
A British soldier talks to a local farm worker.
The same pair,  colorized. Author: Tom Marshall
The same pair,  colorized. Author: Tom Marshall

 

Soldiers build a new dug-out as they advance.
Soldiers build a new dug-out as they advance.
Soldiers, colorized. Author: Tom Marshall
Soldiers, colorized. Author: Tom Marshall

They surely went through a great deal, but there was nothing familiar about the Battle of Passchendaele, which has been described as a vivid symbol of the mud, madness, and senseless slaughter of the First World War.

The scale of casualties in Passchendaele is what makes this battle so infamous, but the fighting conditions and the incredible challenges soldiers had to face is beyond the imagination.

Men of the 6th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, resting beneath a tarpaulin, Ypres-Comines Canal, October 1917
Men of the 6th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, resting beneath a tarpaulin, Ypres-Comines Canal, October 1917
Men, colorized. Author:Tom Marshall
Men, colorized. Author:Tom Marshall

 

New Zealand soldiers in the Ypres Salient. Tom Marshall says, “I was commissioned to colorize this particular image for the cover for ‘Passchendaele: The Day By Day Account,’ ” by Chris McCarthy.
New Zealand soldiers in the Ypres Salient. Tom Marshall says, “I was commissioned to colorize this particular image for the cover for ‘Passchendaele: The Day By Day Account,’ ” by Chris McCarthy.
The finished photo. Author:Tom Marshall
The finished photo. Author:
Tom Marshall

British and Commonwealth troops spent over three months on the muddy battlefield of Passchendaele and heroically managed to overcome almost intolerable levels of hardship before they eventually won an impressive victory in November 1917.

The road to victory was not an easy one and it cost an incredible number of human lives. Records vary, but most agree that during the three months of fighting there were around 325,000 Allied and over 260,000 German casualties.

The village of Passchendaele is located in the Ypres area of Belgium, where several more battles were fought during the war. Officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele, along with the Battle of the Somme,  have come to represent the horrors of World War I.

Men of the 8th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry playing cards near Ypres, October 1917.
Men of the 8th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry playing cards near Ypres, October 1917.

 

. The men, colorized.  Author: Tom Marshall
. The men, colorized.  Author: Tom Marshall

It all started on the morning of July 31, 1917, when the Allies launched the attack. Little did they know that the Germans were not their only enemy at Passchendaele; they were also forced to struggle through stinking mud while being under constant heavy fire from the enemy.

The attack at Passchendaele was Douglas Haig’s decision, the commander of the British armies in Europe. The main goals were to take the pressure off the French forces to the south, to seize strategic German railways, and to destroy the German submarine bases along the coast.

New Zealanders walking wounded at the Battle of Broodseinde ridge, the most successful Allied attack of Passchendaele. A YMCA NZ stall just behind the lines allowed the men to get something to drink.
New Zealanders walking wounded at the Battle of Broodseinde ridge, the most successful Allied attack of Passchendaele. A YMCA NZ stall just behind the lines allowed the men to get something to drink.
The same men, colorized. Author: Tom Marshall
The same men, colorized. Author: Tom Marshall

Check out Marshall’s website or Facebook page to see more of his work.

British soldiers moving forward during the Battle of Broodseinde. Photo by Ernest Brooks.
British soldiers moving forward during the Battle of Broodseinde. Photo by Ernest Brooks.
British soldiers, colorized.  Author: Tom Marshall
British soldiers, colorized.  Author: Tom Marshall

The Allies opened the attack with a pounding artillery barrage, but heavy rains filled the shell holes with filthy water, creating some serious problems. It’s been more than 30 years since the Ypres area suffered heavier rain than the summer of 1917, and many soldiers lost their lives by drowning in the swamp. However, this wasn’t their biggest problem because many soldiers were under constant threat by the German machine gunners.

Royal Garrison Artillery gunners pushing a light railway truck filled with shells, behind Zillebeke,  October 1917.
Royal Garrison Artillery gunners pushing a light railway truck filled with shells, behind Zillebeke,  October 1917.
The same men, colorized. Author: Tom Marshall
The same men, colorized. Author: Tom Marshall

Despite the fighting conditions and the lack of success at the beginning, the Allied forces continued their offensive. However, attacks failed to make much progress, and by September the authorities in London advised Haig to halt the offensive, but he refused.

Read another story from us: Brazilian artist brings the past to life by colorizing old black & white photos

Australian and New Zealand divisions joined the effort in September, but it wasn’t until Haig asked Canadian Forces for help that they managed to capture what remained of Passchendaele and claimed victory.

Goran Blazeski

Goran Blazeski is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News