Sergeant Fred Darking, Self-Portrait, May 1944

Watercolour over pencil by Sergeant H F (Fred) Darking (1911-1999), Royal Engineers, 1944.

Fred Darking was from Basford, Nottinghamshire and worked as a commercial artist before World War Two (1939-1945). In 1940 he enlisted in the Army and served in the camouflage department of the Royal Engineers.

He saw service in North Africa and took part in the Normandy invasion and the advance into Europe. Whilst not an official War Artist, he sketched and painted in his spare time. Often recreating the sights and scenes he experienced.

From a series of 32 pictures; preparations for D-Day, the Channel crossing, advance through Normandy, Belgium, Holland to the Rhine, World War Two, North West Europe (1944-1945).