Australian artillery passing through Bapaume

Places
Accession Number ART92983
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 32.6 x 44.2 cm
Object type Work on paper
Physical description watercolour, pencil on paper
Maker Waller, Napier
Place made United Kingdom: England
Date made c 1917
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright

Description

Depicts a number of Australian artillerymen, wearing tin helmets and great coats moving through the streets of Bapaume after the town was occupied in March 1917, with horses carrying artillery on loaded carts. M Napier Waller (1893-1972) enlisted in the 22nd Infantry Battalion, AIF in August 1915 and in 1916 left for active service in France. He was severely wounded at Bullecourt in May 1917, losing his right arm, and during his convalescence in France and England learnt to draw and write with his left hand. He completed a series of war sketches and paintings, mostly done while a Bombardier on active service and in camp, some made after his injury and based on earlier sketches. These works were exhibited in 1918 and he began to work almost exclusively in watercolours. During the 1920s and 30s he experimented with linocuts and began to be commissioned to produce mosaics.