Tens of thousands of these roll-film models were bought by servicemen during the First World War, even after their use on the front line was formally banned in 1915. Amateur photography magazines even offered suggestions to soldiers on how to take pictures without getting into trouble, and both officers and privates became incredibly adept in the art of the surreptitious snapshot. Soldier Gillespie Alexander, for example, recorded how he “took some photos – one along the railway line towards the German trenches – which I hope will come out, for I just held it up on the parapet, and snapped without putting my head up to see the view-finder”. Soldiers were encouraged in their rebellion by the gargantuan rewards offered by newspapers starved of fresh pictures. A scoop image taken at Ypres in 1916 won an officer £600 (£50,000 today). Above: Two unknown soldiers, the man on the right is holding a Kodak 'Vest Pocket' camera Picture: PRIVATE COLLECTION

Credit : PRIVATE COLLECTION