'Locon', 21 February 1915

Pencil drawing, signed and dated lower right, by Paul Sarrut (1882-1969), 1915.

Indian soldiers with wagons and mules in the town square of Locon. Locon is located in the Pas-de-Calais in France, 8 km (5 miles) north of Béthune. The church in the background of this drawing was destroyed during fighting on the Western Front and was rebuilt after the First World War.

Paul Sarrut served in the French Army during World War One (1914-1918) and was posted to the British Army as a Military Liaison Officer and interpreter for the French, Indian and British troops on the Western Front.

The Indian Army Corps started to arrive in Marseille in late September 1914, and from 1 October 1914 Sarrut sketched their arrival, life in camp and departure for the Western Front.

In 1915 Sarrut moved up to the front and continued to sketch the Indian soldiers there. The Indian corps was sent to Mesopotamia in November 1915.

After the War, Sarrut had a selection of his drawings engraved and issued as a portfolio, 'British and Indian Troops in Northern France, 70 War Sketches, 1914-1915', published by H Delépine of Arras, France, in about 1920.

Purchased with the assistance of the Art Fund.