'Trônes Wood', a Battle Scene from the Somme

The Capture of Trônes Wood (8–14 July, 1916) was an action in the First World War fought by the British Fourth Army and the German 2nd Army, during the Battle of the Somme.

Trônes Wood lay on the northern slope of Montauban ridge, between Bernafay Wood and Guillemont.

'Coming Home: Conflict & Care' held during 24 Sep 2016 to 07 Jan 2017 was a recent exhibition at Maidstone Museum exploring the experiences of the people in two paintings of 1916 in the Museum’s collections - 'Trônes Wood', a battle scene from the Somme and 'Arrival of a Convoy of Wounded Soldiers at Maidstone East', both by Frank Hyde (1849 – 1937).

The 'Trônes Wood' painting was accompanied by an array of items, sounds and images from the conflict. Uniform and military equipment used by the soldiers was shown, and included a Lewis gun (which enabled the 7th Queen’s Own to hold Trones Wood).

On the 1st July 2016 the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme was commemorated. This battle was one of the worst of the whole war; on the first day alone – the 1st July 1916 – the Fourth Army on the British Front had 57,470 casualties of whom 19,240 men were killed.