The Lost Tommies: Amazing trove of 4,000 incredibly detailed pictures found in northern France show faces of First World War soldiers on the eve of battle (and most look remarkably relaxed)

Posing with their comrades, this is just one of the photographs which capture British soldiers putting on a brave face on the eve of battle

The never-before-seen images of Western Front troops were uncovered almost a century after they were taken having lay hidden in an attic in a farm house in northern France

Lancashire-born boxer and sapper Arthur Vanderstock (pictured left), who served with the Australian 1st Division Signal Company, striking a pose in the Thuillier farmyard. The picture is just one of 4,000 uncovered and appears in a moving new book Lost Tommies

Now the amazing trove of 4,000 pictures have been restored and feature in a moving new book Lost Tommies - written by investigative journalist Ross Coulthart

These three soldiers from an unidentified regiment are among those who appear in the photos, which were uncovered in northern France

 For much of the First World War, the small French village of Vignacourt was always behind the front lines – as a staging point, casualty clearing station and recreation area for troops of all nationalities moving up to and then back from the battlefields on the Somme

It was in Vignacourt that one enterprising photographer took the opportunity of offering portrait photographs, which were captured on glass, printed into postcards and posted home

The photographs capture what military life was like for the troops as well as some of the friendships and bonds formed between the soldiers and civilians

The photographs, including this one of soldiers wrapped up warm, allowed troops to maintain a fragile link with loved ones at home

Light relief: Posing for the camera, these amazing photographs capture British soldiers putting on a brave face on the eve of battle

Found: The never-before-seen images of Western Front troops were uncovered almost a century after they were taken in northern France

Having their photo taken: Now the amazing trove of 4,000 pictures have been restored and feature in a moving new book Lost Tommies

For much of the First World War, the small French village of Vignacourt was always behind the front lines. This picture shows 9th Battalion York and Lancaster commander Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Addison (left) with his second-in-command Major Harry Lewis (right) in 1916

It was in Vignacourt that local couple, Louis and Antoinette Thuillier (pictured right), hit on the idea of taking portrait photos of soldiers passing through the town to send home to their worried families

Piece of history: Lost Tommies by Ross Coulthart is available now, published by William Collins, £40 in hardback and £19.99 eBook

Louis Thuillier (pictured left) and his wife Antoinette came up with the idea of taking photos (right) of soldiers passing through the town