Williamson, Corporal H S

Williamson was recommended to the Ministry of Information, by Dr H C Orrin of the Red Cross Hospital at Balham, where Williamson was convalescing. Orrin had seen Williamson's drawings 'The Life of the Infantry Man'. He also sent a letter of recommendation from Charles Sims. Williamson subsequently came to see Yockney, and three months' leave was requested for him. Sims wrote again, outlining the work which Williamson proposed to do (25), but the War Office were slow in responding. Eventually, in December 1918, Williamson wrote that he was marked for discharge and would subsequently be free to work on the picture (IWM:ART 1986). Williamson had also submitted a series of drawings and some of these (IWM:ART 1470-1477) were acquired. The large picture (IWM:ART 1986) was completed in the Spring of 1919. There are descriptions of its subject matter at (3), (46) and (65). The first of these was written in connection with the Royal Academy exhibition in 1919 and should come towards the end of the file. The picture was much praised. The file also includes correspondence relating to a request from Colonel Cotton that Williamson should paint a picture of Lt F Lester, VC, in action.

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