'34th Pioneers', France, 1915

Charcoal drawing by Paul Sarrut (1882-1969), 1915.

A group of soldiers of the 34th Sikh Pioneers in camp.

Paul Sarrut served in the French Army during World War One (1914-1918) and was posted to the British Army as a Military Liaison Officer and interpreter for the French, Indian and British troops on the Western Front.

The 34th Sikh Pioneers formed part of the 3rd (Lahore) Division. The Indian Army Corps started to arrive in Marseille in late September 1914, and from 1 October 1914 Sarrut sketched their arrival, life in camp and departure for the Western Front. In 1915 Sarrut moved up to the front and continued to sketch the Indian soldiers there. The Indian corps was sent to Mesopotamia in November 1915.

After the War, Sarrut had a selection of his drawings engraved and issued as a portfolio, 'British and Indian Troops in Northern France, 70 War Sketches, 1914-1915', published by H Delépine of Arras, France, in about 1919.