German ammunition wagons destroyed by British shellfire, Mametz Wood, July 1916. Another way to render German artillery ineffective was to wreck the supply system. Here, a small shell dump has been bombarded and several ammunition wagons severely damaged, although few shells seem to have exploded. The lack of permanent damage shows why the BEF focused, where possible, on destructive counter-battery fire. While this was doubtless a successful small bombardment, its effects would have been purely transitory, unless the British infantry happened to capture a particular position because some German batteries were short on shells at the key moment.

Source: IWM photo Q874.