Sketches of First World War soldiers, including some preliminary studies for the oil painting, 'The Battle of Le Cateau, 26 Aug 1914', by William Barns Wollen (1857-1936), 1917 (c)

Charcoal and wash sketches from a sketchbook by William Barns Wollen (1857-1936), 1917 (c).

The sketches include British infantrymen, a mounted officer and artillerymen from the early stages of World War One (1914-1918). Some of the drawings are studies for the painting, 'The Battle of Le Cateau, 26 Aug 1914'. Wollen's resulting oil painting 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 figures of the two mounted Royal Field Artillery drivers, below left and above right of the officer in the centre of the page appear in the painting as members of a horse-drawn field gun team, retreating under the direction of a mounted officer.