| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART16157 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | sheet: 30.4 x 20 cm; image: 29.5 x 19.2 cm |
| Object type | Work on paper |
| Physical description | watercolour and pencil on paper |
| Place made | France, Western Front |
| Date made | c. 1917-1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Isn't there any flamin, droughts in this country
Description
Depicts a humorous caricature of soldier tramping through mud on the Western Front and dripping with rainwater. This was one of three sketches Dyson gave to machine-gun officer J. C. Dunningham as a thank you for collecting one of Dyson's works from the officers' mess at Henencourt. Dyson had created a caricature of a German on the wall of the mess and Charles Bean requested it for the Memorial's collection. Dunningham arranged for part of the wall to be removed so that the caricature could be preserved. Dyson gave Dunningham this drawing along with ART16155 and ART16156 and Duningham donated all three to the Memorial in 1962. The cartoon from Henencourt is ART00766.
Will Dyson was the first Australian official war artist to visit the front during the First World War, travelling to France in December 1916, remaining there until May 1917, making records of the Australian involvement in the war. Dyson was appointed an Official War Artist, attached to the AIF, in May 1917, working in France and London throughout the war. His commission was terminated in March 1920.