At the Base, WW1 silhouettes by H. L. Oakley
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At the Base, WW1 silhouettes by H. L. Oakley
A curious mixture of English and French types at base in Northern France during World War One captured in silhouette by Captain H. L. Oakley whose work featured in The Bystander. The newly-arrived officer meets the tired Tommy returning on leave, the smart French ladies, curious garbed fishwives, priests and short-socked schoolboys, whilst everywhere is a sprinkling of French sailors and soldiers. V.A.D, nurses and sisters, tabbed staff officers and R.A.M.C. flourish and abound. The military landing officer, in the latest stock and spurs, discusses the latest news of the war brought from England by the Draft-conducting major. Transport ship meets hospital ship; the English terrier turns up his nose at the curiously harnessed French dog: the Entente prevails everywhere. Date: 1916
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Media ID 14128312
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Bystander Figures Leave Oakley Silhouettes Tommy Base
At the Base - A Curious Mixture of English and French Types during World War One
EDITORS COMMENTS
is a captivating silhouette print by Captain H.L. Oakley, showcased in The Bystander in 1916. The image offers a unique and intriguing glimpse into the daily life at the base in Northern France during the Great War. The silhouetted figures include a newly-arrived English officer, engaged in conversation with a weary Tommy, fresh from the trenches and on leave. Nearby, smartly-dressed French ladies, their elegance contrasting with the harsh realities of war, observe the scene. Curious garbed fishwives, priests, and short-socked schoolboys add to the diverse and eclectic mix of characters. The military presence is strong, with V.A.D nurses and sisters, tabbed staff officers, and R.A.M.C personnel all present. A military landing officer, clad in the latest stock and spurs, discusses the latest war news brought from England by a draft-conducting major. In the background, a transport ship meets a hospital ship, symbolizing the ongoing effort to care for the wounded. Even the animals reflect the international nature of the scene, with an English terrier turning up its nose at a curiously harnessed French dog. The Entente prevails everywhere, as the various nationalities and roles coexist in the midst of the war. This evocative print, created by Captain Oakley in 1916, offers a poignant and fascinating snapshot of life at the base during World War One. It invites us to reflect on the complexities and contradictions of this pivotal moment in history.
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