Image: Picturesque view of the ruined town of Bethune (4688609382)

Description: British soldier in the ruins of Bethune, France, during World War I. A British soldier stands in the shell of a building in the French town of Bethune. In the distance behind him is the belfry or clock tower, built in 1376. The belfry was one of the few buildings in Bethune's Grand Place to survive with only minor damage, and it still dominates Bethune today. Most of the town had to be rebuilt in the 1920s and 30s. This is one of a series of photos of Bethune taken by Tom Aitken during and after the heavy German bombardment of the town in April 1918. Bethune was an important strategic link on the Western Front, and British forces ultimately defended it from recapture by German troops. [Original reads: 'OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON THE BRITISH WESTERN FRONT IN FRANCE. The successful advance of 18/9/18. A picturesque view of the ruined town of Bethune.'] http://digital.nls.uk/74549190
Title: Picturesque view of the ruined town of Bethune (4688609382)
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nlscotland/4688609382/
Author: National Library of Scotland
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