Death of Second Lieutenant N J Greig 12 July 1915

This work was commissioned from the artist for 250 pounds. The subject is the death of Second Lieutenant N J Greig of the 7th Battalion who was killed on 12 July 1915 at Gallipoli. CEW Bean suggested the story of Greig's death as a possible subject for Crozier to paint. Summary of the event: "Lieutenant Greig and a small party of volunteers were to seize an old mine crater close to a major Turkish position on Gallipoli, known as German Officers Trench, and to demolish any Turkish defences between there and the crater of a recently exploded mine. It was known, however, that the new explosion had blown away the front wall of the trench, which now opened into the crater, except for a hastily erected barbed-wire grille. The small enterprise therefore constituted an attack on the German Officers' trench. With every man, including himself, wounded, Greig sent the survivors to the rear, covering them with his revolver. His action was seen by the Turkish commandant, who ordered: Don't kill that man; we want to capture him!' His troops replied: 'He will not allow himself to be taken!' The next instant Greig was killed by a bomb."