Birds were Collingwood's passion

Collingwood's war diary is full of birds. His ornithology during the war was a continuation of research for a book on the birds of France. Before the war he had for several years motored across the country, stopping here and there to record the birds, now he was able to explore a small area in great detail. The numerous aerodromes at which he worked were spread across north-east France behind the trenches: travelling between them as he did, he was able to say that apart from a strip near the coast he had 'traversed almost every lane and road to the front line trenches'. It was the ideal job for studying the birds behind the lines.

Aerodromes in NE France and Belgium visited by Collingwood Ingram during 1916-18 in the course of his work. Locations of aerodromes are indicated by the aeroplane symbols and are approximate. The broad grey line shows the Western Front at the end of 1917.