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Caption: Field artillery bound for the front, circa 1916-18

The horse was still a crucial part of all armies during the First World War, even on the Western Front. Trucks with gasoline or steam-powered engines were starting to become practical and reliable enough for use on good roads, but moving heavy objects cross country required the use of a team of horses. In this watercolour, two six-horse teams draw a pair of British or Imperial field guns over some rolling terrain. Note the steel helmets worn by the men, which dates the painting to after 1916. (Parks Canada)