Never-before-seen WW1 pictures reveal British soldiers relaxing away from the trenches playing cricket and having a kickabout
The poignant collection show the battle-hardened men laughing as they enjoy different sports, including football, badminton and boxing
THESE incredible never-before-seen pictures reveal British soldiers relaxing away from the trenches, playing cricket and having a kickabout during World War One.
The collection of black and white photographs show the battle-hardened men laughing as they enjoy different sports, including football, badminton and boxing.
Another image shows the Red Cross women's ambulance drivers having a tug-of-war competition against the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps at an RAF sports day in 1918.
Another poignant image shows soldiers swimming near Aveluy Wood in 1916 – where the devastating Battle of the Somme would take place only a few months later.
The famous football game played during the Christmas truce of 1914 between the allies and Central powers has since become one of the most mythologised events of the war.
On Christmas Day, British and German soldiers met in No Man's Land, which was a safe zone where both sides could come together and played an impromptu game of football.
Sports and games were incredibly important to those serving in the forces and many soldiers would use sports in the trenches to pass the time.
Sport - both organised and on a whim - kept them fit and provided a welcome distraction from the unspeakable terrors of the Great War.
And when soldiers of all ranks played games or matches together, the strictures of military discipline were temporarily relaxed.
Troops would enjoy sporting activities ranging from a game of rugby to organising a boxing match to taking part in a military gym class.
The arrival in Britain of American troops also brought new sports such as basketball to the soldiers.
As these pictures illustrate, sport momentarily provided relief for these soldiers, yet war was still never very far away for these brave men.
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