Williams visited the scene in November 1916 and later made studies from a soldier supplied for the purpose.

The painting is in the collection of the National Museum of Wales, to whom it was presented by Sir Archibald Mitchelson in 1920.

On 7 July the men formed the first wave intending to take the wood in a matter of hours.

However, strong fortification, machineguns and shelling killed and injured over 400 soldiers before they reached the wood.

While in Mametz Wood painting this work Christopher Williams was arrested after being mistaken for a German Spy.