Sketches of First World War soldiers, including some preliminary studies for the oil painting, 'The 42nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada, in action at Sanctuary Wood, 1916', 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 lower right half of the page are studies for the oil painting, 'The 42nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada, in action at Sanctuary Wood, 1916'. They depict men of the 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Expeditionary Force, in action, wearing kilts, on the Western Front during World War One (1914-1918). In the first half of June 1916, the Battle of Mount Sorrel was fought near the town of Ypres. Canadian forces bore the brunt of a fierce German assault. Sanctuary Wood was the scene of bloody fighting at close quarters. The 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) were part of a reserve force brought in to hold the line and counterattack the Germans.

The sketches in the upper half of the page are of British infantrymen fighting from the early stages of World War One (1914-1918) and are similar to the figures Wollen included in his painting, 'Our "Little Contemptibles"', which is part of the National Army Museum Collection (NAM. 1998-04-49).