Kennington's task in The Great War project was to draw lithographs that described the "Making of Soldiers." Some deal with basic training in camp, but others, such as this view of trench warfare, record the front-line troops.

Kennington had fought in France a a private in the 13th Battalion of a London Regiment known as the "Kensingtons." He was invalided out of the army in 1915, but returned to France in December, 1916 to make drawings at the invitation of Adjutant General Macready. These sketches provided the source material for his reportorial lithographs.