Containing over six million images, the Photograph Archive is an enormously rich source of material on the two world wars. In addition, its coverage spans the entire twentieth century and is international in scope.

The First World War was the first war to be covered by official, press and amateur photographers. All these contributed to the Museum's collection. The 40,000 British, Canadian and Australian official photographs formed the basis of the national record. The relatively small number indicated the limited number of official photographers appointed. They nevertheless compiled a striking visual account, especially of the second half of the war on the Western Front. A fine series of photographs covering women's work on the home front in 1917 - 1919 was also taken under official auspices by professionals, Horace Nicholls and G P Lewis.

The Second World War was the war of the black and white photographer. Official coverage proliferated but not, this time, at the expense of other professional reportage. The official photographers stayed with particular campaigns and had the opportunity to build up a visual narrative. Some well known professionals became official photographers; Bill Brandt produced his famous series of shelter photographs, Bert Hardy covered the campaign in Europe 1944-45, and Cecil Beaton travelled round Britain, the Middle East, India and China.

Coverage of the post-war era is weighted in favour of the army and navy.  There is notable material on British withdrawal from Empire, NATO, the Falklands and the Gulf conflicts. Official, private and professional sources are all represented.