Field Artillery in action at the Battle of Le Cateau, 1914

Charcoal drawing by William Barns Wollen (1857-1936), 1914 (c).

This may be a preliminary drawing for Wollen's oil painting, 'The Battle of Le Cateau, 26 Aug 1914'. Wollen depicts an action at Le Cateau on 26 August 1914 when officers and men of the 37th Battery Royal Field Artillery recaptured a gun from advancing German troops. Captain Douglas Reynolds and Drivers Frederick Luke and Job Drain were awarded Victoria Crosses for gallantry under fire.

The scene is a very similar composition to another drawing by Wollen in the National Army Museum Collection (NAM. 1959-11-305-1) which depicts a gun team wearing steel helmets, in action later in World War One (1914-1918).