As the war dragged on month after month, year after year, soldiers faced countless hours of idle time in the underground shelters that were their protection from the battle occurring above. They produced carvings on a variety of subject matter into the soft limestone. Among the most common were recognition of their units and expressions of patriotism.
Over a period of several years, photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This is an example of some of that artwork.
Over a period of several years, photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This is an example of some of that artwork.
Over a period of several years, photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This is an example of some of that artwork.
Over a period of several years, photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This is an example of some of that artwork.
Over a period of several years, photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This is an example of some of that artwork.
Over a period of several years, photographer Jeff Gusky made numerous excursions into a forgotten world of underground WWI soldiers' living spaces and documented the stone carvings of the soldiers with high-end art photography. This is an example of some of that artwork.
This German carving was made by tunnel miners as a morale booster for soldiers passing through the tunnel to the trenches. It translates as “God Strike England.” “Good Luck.”
This German carving was made by tunnel miners as a morale booster for soldiers passing through the tunnel to the trenches. It translates as “God Strike England.” “Good Luck.” The German phrase “Glück auf” is actually uniquely an expression miners use for good luck. The more common German phrase is Viel Glück.
Photographs by Jeff Gusky