New Zealand soldiers in the front line near Le Quesnoy

New Zealand soldiers in the front line, near Le Quesnoy, prior to their attack on that town. A dead soldier is lying in the sunken road. Photograph taken 4 November 1918 by Henry Armytage Sanders.

Various authorities present different views on the identfiication of the subject matter depicted in this image.

It has been noted that the military personnel in the image may be either New Zealand or British, and that one of the subjects in the image is either Harold Lee Spark (British) or John Leo 'Jack' O'Keefe (New Zealand) [December 2018].

Alan Holdaway states that these are not New Zealand troops, but are in fact the 13th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (his grandfather is the man sitting down middle right looking back to the left with his rifle lying beside him). He quotes the caption for this image published in "The New Zealand Division 1916-1919," Stewart H, 1921, which identifies this group of soldiers as "support troops." He also suggests "Royal Fusiliers in the Great War," O'Neill, C, pages 332 and 333, for more information. (Info recieved September 2008).

Source of descriptive information - Franck Bruyere, a citizen of Le Quesnoy, identified this as being at a location called "linden" on the road between Le Quesnoy and Beaudignies, May 2008.

Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - H.1122. 4 Novr. 1918. Near Le Quesnoy. The New Zealand front line, from where they commenced their attack on Le Quesnoy.

This location is on the embanked road between Le Quesnoy and Beaudignies, about three km from Le Quesnoy, at a place locally known as "linden" (or "tilleul"in French). A house nearby had a linden or lime tree in it's garden.

Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).

Physical Description: Gelatin silver print 11.4 x 15.5 cm

Alternative form available: See also PA1-f-092-1122