'Orleans', wounded and loose on the battlefield of Epéhy, France, 1 December 1917

Oil on canvas, signed in monogram and dated lower left 'L H 1927', by Lucy Hargreaves (1862-1945), 1927.

'Orleans' was the horse of Captain (later Brigadier) D E Whitworth MC, 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse), who donated this painting to the National Army Museum. Whitworth's Indian Army regiment served on the Western Front in France as part of the Mhow Cavalry Brigade in the 2nd Cavalry Division: it saw action at a number of battles, including the Somme, Flers-Courcellete and Cambrai.

During the latter battle (November 1917) the Mhow Brigade was ordered to advance in the area of Peziere and Epéhy to reinforce a weakened and disorganized infantry. Following a headlong cavalry charge under direct fire from a number of machine guns, they succeeded in capturing several forward positions and disrupting the enemy advance. Whitworth was one of three officers of the 2nd Lancers wounded in the attack. His horse 'Orleans' was wounded in the neck and flank. Three officers were killed, while 42 Indian other ranks were killed and 62 wounded.