HISTORIANS are looking for help tracing the identity of First World War soldiers captured on photographs as they waited to go over the top 100 years ago.

As the Battle of the Somme raged in 1916, men from the Durham Light Infantry queued to have their pictures taken to be turned into postcards home from the battlefield.

The poignant images were taken by a French photographer in a village 10 miles behind the frontline before the soldiers went into action in a battle which claimed more than one million casualties. In many cases, it seems likely it was the last photograph of the soldiers ever taken.

More than 600 of the glass plate images have been discovered, but the identity of many of the soldiers is unknown including 28 wearing DLI uniforms.

Experts believe they served with either the 6th, 8th or 9th Battalions of the DLI and it is hoped that local people may be able to help trace their identities by checking the pictures against family photos.

On Monday (June 27), John Lichfield, The Independent’s correspondent in France, will present a free talk about these photographs entitled “Selfies of the Somme” at Palace Green Library, Durham.

The talk is free, but booking is essential on 0191-334 2887 or via dur.ac.uk/conference.booking. The images can be seen in advance of the talk on Durham County Record Office’s ‘Durham at War’ website durhamatwar.org.uk.

The talk forms part of the exhibition Somme 1916: From Durham to the Western Front which runs until October 2 at Palace Green Library.

Admission is £7.50 for adults, £6.50 for children and free for under fives.