The great photograph
The great photograph is of a British soldier kneeling, as he is lifting up a pet dog in his shrapnel helmet.
It was taken on the 22nd of December 1917, on the Western Front during WW1.
During WW1, dogs were often used to deliver vital messages during battle.
They were turned loose to move silently to a second handler.
This required a dog that was very loyal to two masters, otherwise, the dog would not deliver the message on time or at all.
Some messenger dogs also performed other communication jobs, such as pulling telephone lines or cables from one location to another.
Dogs also carried aid to the wounded and sniffed out enemy soldiers.
Dogs were often used as unit mascots for military units.
The presence of a mascot was designed to lift morale, and many were used to this effect in the trenches of WW1.