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 in the upper half of the page include a mounted British officer from the early stages of World War One (1914-1918) 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. Reynolds died in February 1916 after being wounded in action, and was buried at Buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.

The sketches in the lower half of the page are studies of mounted and helmeted German artillerymen from later in the War.