The Wild Colonial Boy

Depicts the body of an unidentified soldier, lying supine on the ground in a war damaged landscape, while shell bursts can be seen in the background. In Dyson's large collection of war works, this is the only one to feature an image of a dead Australian soldier. He captioned this work with a longer title than usual; 'The Wild Colonial Boy: Sooner than dwell in slavery bowed down by iron chains', words taken from the ballad commemorating the legendary bush rangers of Australia's past.

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. He was formally appointed as 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.