This photograph, probably taken at dawn, shows three Canadian soldiers with camouflaged faces coming out of the line following a night trench raid at Avion in July 1917. The soldiers have camouflaged their faces, most likely with pieces of burnt cork. From late 1915, Canadians participated in hit-and-run assaults on German trenches, known as trench raids, to gather intelligence, capture prisoners, and kill the enemy.
George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19920085-595
Canada and the First World War
