Description
Object description
British NCO served with 2/1st Bn Honourable Artillery Company in GB, 1914-1915; served with 1/1st Bn Honourable Artillery Company, General Headquarters Troops and 190th Bde, 63rd (Royal Naval) Div on Western Front, 1915-1917; officer served as official war artist attached to the General Staff at General Headquarters on Western Front, 1917-1918
Content description
REEL 1: Recollections of period as NCO with 2/1st Bn Honourable Artillery Company in GB, 1914-1915: initial enlistment in 1/28th (County of London) Bn, London Regt (Artist's Rifles) and reasons for transferring to 2/1st Bn Honourable Artillery Company, 11/1914; training and billets; duties guarding German spy Carl Muller in Tower of London and witnessing execution, 23/6/1915. Aspects of operations NCO with 1/1st Bn Honourable Artillery Company, General Headquarters Troops and 190th Bde, 63rd (Royal Naval) Div on Western Front, 1915-1917; posting to France, 1915; service on Somme, France, 9/1916; role as scout and making drawings of German positions; identifying and drawing German sniper position in Oppy Wood. Recollections of period as official war artist attached to General Staff, General Headquarters on Western Front, 1917-1918: attitude to importance of work as war artist; choice of subjects for drawings; reasons for receiving appointment as official war artist from Imperial War Museum; story of borrowing Douglas Staff Car and learning to drive.
REEL 2 Continues: amusing story of staff car and bicycle; opinion of Major Henry Beckles-Willson and General Colin Donald; memories of drawing General Julian Byng; attending post-war regimental dinner; reasons for work being obtained by Imperial War Museum; opinion of how work was displayed in Imperial War Museum.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of artist John Nash; memories of Sir William Rothenstein; description of etching work; story of returning to France to make drawings, 1928; description of Ypres, Belgium and making drawings; equipment and materials used; drawing and painting techniques; type of ink and paints, used; problems of working on battlefield.
REEL 4: Continues: story of being gassed whilst drawing German dugout; story of catching Spanish Influenza and hospital treatment; opinion of Roman Catholic priest in hospital; discussion of drawing 'The Three Graces'; discussion of drawing crashed aircraft; discussion of drawing 'A Penny All the Way'; sight of 'Old Bill' buses on Western Front; drawing German engine in trees in 1916 and later series of drawings of engines; effects of First World War on later work.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of life and work as artist in GB, 1919-1975: influence of battlefield on landscapes; opinion of artists John and Paul Nash; drawing technique; memories of Dame Laura Knight and Harold Sawkins; work for journal 'The Artist' and 'How To Do It' books; attitude to nature of war and role of war artist; effects of contracting tubercolosis and treatment; therapeutic value of art in hospitals; reason for teaching art in hospitals.
REEL 6 Continues: discussion of role played in development of occupational therapy; value of art as therapy; description of lecturing on art to armed forces during Second World War; content of lectures and materials used; importance of visual aids.
REEL 7 Continues: attitude to the teaching of art; experiences of teaching in schools; use of television as medium for teaching art; working with British Broadcasting Corporation on art programme for children 'Sketch Club'; popularity of programme and problems with fans; attitude to teaching in art schools including Westminster School of Art.
REEL 8 Continues: problem of earning living as artist during, 1920s-1930s; attitude to providing book illustrations and special techniques required; memories of studying at St John's Wood Art School; opinion of work of son Anthony Hill; further memories of studying at St John's Wood Art School including life classes.
REEL 9 Continues: illustrations for book 'Basic Anatomy'; techniques of life drawing and attitude to anatomy; opinion on how artists are represented in Imperial War Museum and other collections; opinion of painter JMW Turner; attitude to art as a profession; opinion of art dealers; reflections on art and artists including own work.