A GROUNDBREAKING film featuring the first ever scenes of First World War tanks in battle is to be shown at The Hive history centre in Worcester today (Thursday).

The Imperial War Museums and the Worcestershire World War One Hundred team have combined to screen a free viewing of The Battle of the Ancre and Advance of the Tanks, which was made in 1917.

Composer Laura Rossi, who was commissioned to create the score by the Imperial War Museum, will give a talk about her work and her on-going collaboration with IWM before the film starts at 5.30pm.

It is a little-known masterpiece of British non-fiction cinema which documents the autumn and winter stages of the Somme campaign on the Western Front. Including the first ever movie clips of tanks in battle, the film also conveys, with power and artistry, the difficulties experienced by the British Army as it fought on over ground turned into a sea of mud. More than one hundred years later the unique film from IWM’s collection is being shown to commemorate the centenary of the end of WW1.

Adrian Gregson, Worcestershire World War One Hundred project manager, said: “This is an opportunity for people across the county to watch a film that gives a unique insight into the final stages of the Great War. We are delighted that for this first screening we will be joined by Laura Rossi whose wonderful score brings the film to life. As part of our programme this screening is free and we hope to see a full house at The Hive.”

Led by the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, the Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme received one of the largest Heritage Lottery Fund Grants outside of London, and over the last four years has been commemorating the role Worcestershire played in World War One, telling the stories of Worcestershire people, their involvement with and personal legacy from the War.

For tickets for The Battle of the Ancre and Advance of the Turks click here