U.S. soldiers showcasing a camouflaged Springfield sniper rifle and ghillie suits, May 18, 1918.







U.S. soldiers showcasing a camouflaged Springfield sniper rifle and ghillie suits, May 18, 1918.

These photographs, one colourised by Colourised PIECE of JAKE, were all taken 105 years ago at Badonviller. The pictured soldiers were from the 168th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 42nd 'Rainbow' Infantry Division.

Snipers were a constant threat to soldiers on frontline duty during the First World War. If one was not careful and accidentally peaked their head above the trench parapet for just a second, a skilled enemy sniper could make them pay dearly.
The following is the account of British Lieutenant-Colonel Randolph Arthur Chell from the 10th Battalion, Essex Regiment on his first time on sniper duty on the Western Front in September 1915: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
"After about fifteen minutes quiet watching - with my rifle in a ready position - I saw a capless bald head come up behind the plate. The day was bright and clear and I hadn't the slightest difficulty in taking a most deliberate aim at the very centre of that bright and shiny plate - but somehow I couldn't press the trigger: to shoot such a 'sitter' so deliberately in cold blood required more real courage than I possessed.

After a good look round he went down and I argued with myself about my duty. My bald-headed opponent had been given a very sporting chance and if he were fool enough to come up again I must shoot him unflinchingly. I considered it my duty to be absolutely ready for that contingency.

After about two minutes he came up again with added boldness and I did my duty. I had been a marksman before the war and so had no doubt about the instantaneousness of that man's death. I felt funny for days and the shooting of another German at 'stand-to' the next morning did nothing to remove those horrid feelings I had."

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