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Thought I would put this up. Its a picture i've not seen before. An RWF friend posted it on F/Book. He obtained it from the US. Its purportedly shows Mametz Wood from the the line of advance of the 38th Div prior to the commencement. Its believed the picture was taken by an RWF Officer. I have yet to visit the location, but my friend has. It definitely has a covert feel to the style/position of the picture.
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After playing with google, I found a bit more, on a website called: http://greatwarphotos.com/tag/mametz-wood/
"This incredible photo is part of a collection taken by an officer of the Royal Welch Fusiliers who became a professional photographer after the war. The image was taken up a tree near Caterpillar Valley just before the first attack and is simply entitled “looking towards Mametz Wood”. It is arguably the only known image taken in combat during the fight for Mametz Wood and the circumstances of taking it are unbelievable to say the least! When we think of the Somme, we think of smashed ground and crater zones; in July 1916 it was full summer and much of the Somme was still untouched, as this photo clearly shows."
Well, it's difficult to prove or disprove this...it could be up a tree looking at the "Hammerhead" with the lower ground of fields in front (roughly where the Dragon memorial is now), and the rise up towards Sabot & Flatiron Copses and the high ground of the Bazentin Ridge in the right background I suppose. The angle of the photo makes it look at first as though the Wood is on a slope, which it isn't.
Not sure how many trees were left on the British line at that time, though Mametz was still densely wooded. I think that trench maps of Caterpillar Valley do show woods.
Yes i remember the dragon we transported the dragon out to france