villers-carbonel

Updated: May 4, 2025

We passed through the ruined villages of Foscaucourt and Estrées and brought our car to a standstill about two kilometres from the village of Villers-Carbonel, it being impossible owing to the fearful road conditions to proceed further. We left the car and started off to explore the unknown.

Geoffrey H. Malins - How I Filmed the War: A Record of the Extraordinary Experiences of the Man Who: Filmed the Great Somme Battles, etc.

"This is about the most charming joy-ride I have had for many a day," I replied, "but let me introduce myself. I am Malins, the Official Kinematographer, and my friend here is the Official 'still' picture man. We are here to get scenes of the German retreat, but it seems to me that one cannot see Bosche for dust. That is Villers-Carbonel, is it not?" I said, pointing up the road in the distance.

Geoffrey H. Malins - How I Filmed the War: A Record of the Extraordinary Experiences of the Man Who: Filmed the Great Somme Battles, etc.

Exploring the Unknown A Silence That Could be Felt In the Village of Villers-Carbonel A Cat and Its Kittens in an Odd Retreat Brooks' Penchant for "Souvenirs" The First Troops to Cross the Somme.

Geoffrey H. Malins - How I Filmed the War: A Record of the Extraordinary Experiences of the Man Who: Filmed the Great Somme Battles, etc.

B joined me; the day had been a great one for us, and we mutually agreed that it was a fitting sequel to the first British battle that had ever been filmed which I took at Beaumont Hamel on July 1st, 1916. Weary in body, but very much alive mentally, we returned via Villers-Carbonel to our car. On my way back I wondered how the cat and her kittens were getting on.

Geoffrey H. Malins - How I Filmed the War: A Record of the Extraordinary Experiences of the Man Who: Filmed the Great Somme Battles, etc.

We stopped on the way and purchased a good supply of white bread and French sausages, thinking that these two commodities would be most useful. Through Foucacourt Estrées and Villers-Carbonel the roads were lined with troops, guns, and transport of every description, all making their way forward. Engineers were hard at work on the roads; shell-holes were filled in and road trenches bridged.

Geoffrey H. Malins - How I Filmed the War: A Record of the Extraordinary Experiences of the Man Who: Filmed the Great Somme Battles, etc.

I explained the situation to my companion, who had also presumably reached a decision very similar to my own, which was to return to the village of Villers-Carbonel as quickly and as carefully as possible. Keeping to the side of the road we trudged back, and half-way up the hill we ran into one of the things I expected an advance party.

Geoffrey H. Malins - How I Filmed the War: A Record of the Extraordinary Experiences of the Man Who: Filmed the Great Somme Battles, etc.