Somme selfies: Tommy in a ‘stolen’ German helmet

In the run-up to July’s centenary of one of the bloodiest battles in human history, The Independent is publishing a different Tommy’s picture every day

A British stretcher bearer wearing a “stolen” German helmet during or before the battle of the Somme, which began 100 years ago next month. This image is part of a series of photographs taken in late 1915 and in 1916 for a few francs by a local photographer, Alfred Depire. The headgear worn in this portrait was ceremonial and not used in battle. Similar helmets appear in many of the images – suggesting that Mr Depire kept them as props to amuse or impress the soldiers’ families when they sent the photographs home.