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 and artillerymen from the early stages of World War One (1914-1918). The latter are 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 in the top left and bottom right are mounted Royal Field Artillery driver. The three figures in the lower left are artillerymen seated on a limber and they appear in the painting as members of a horse-drawn field gun team, retreating under the direction of a mounted officer.