A Field Kitchen

Depicts three soldiers wearing tin (protective) helmets and waterproof capes attending a field kitchen (travelling field cooker) in a wet, war-damaged landscape. With the field kitchen, the forepart or limber carries rations, fuel and equipment, while the body or rear limber has a stove with four boiler compartments and tall stove chimney (which can be lowered to go under bridges or when not in use). The food can be cooked while moving or kept hot for long periods. H.Septimus Power was an official war artist, attached to the 1st Division, A.I.F. from September 1917 until March 1920. He was in France between September to December 1917 and again in August 1918. He was subsequently commissioned to work for the Australian War Memorial until 1938. This is one of five works lent to the Australian Government on long term loan for an exhibition at Australia House in London. The work was not originally acquired under the official war art scheme, but was presented to the Commonwealth Government in 1960 by the residents of London, and from there travelled to Australia as part of the property of the Prime Minister's Department, before becoming part of the National Gallery of Australia's collection during the 1980s.