Overall: 44cm (17in) x 35cm (13.7in)
Provenance: Artist’s studio
Watercolour with gouache on paper. Uniform studies of Private Byrne mounted in full campaign kit and a dismounted Squadron Sergeant-Major (Rough-Rider) by Douglas N Anderson, signed. An original plate work for ‘The Last Charge: The 21st Lancers and the Battle of Omdurman 2nd September 1898’, page 70, by Terry Brighton, illustrated by Douglas N Anderson.
Private Thomas Byrne VC (1866-1944) was born in Ireland and served with the 8th Hussars in India. He transferred to the 21st Lancers in Egypt in 1898 and was awarded Victoria Cross at the Battle of Omdurman during the Re-Donquest of the Sudan. “He turned back in the middle of the charge and went to the assistance of Lieutenant Molyneaux, who was wounded, disarmed and being attacked by several Dervishes. Private Byrne, already badly wounded, attacked these, receiving a second wound, but by his gallant conduct enabled Lieutenant Molyneux to escape.” Winston Churchill said it was the bravest act he had ever witnessed. In September 1899 Byrne was posted to South Africa as servant to Capt de Montmorency. Byrne had to be restrained from trying to recover de Montmorency’s body after the latter was shot dead. Byrne brought back the grey polo pony Montmorency rode at Omdurman and handed it to his father, General Viscount de Montmorency. Byrne was employed as groom in Ireland and rejoined the army in 1914, serving at the Cavalry Remount Depot, Canterbury & in the Garrison Police. In later life he settled in Kent where he was a keen gardener & a regular winner at Canterbury Allotment Holders’ Association shows.
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Douglas Napier Anderson Jr., (b.1927) was the son of Douglas Napier Anderson, a commercial artist and illustrator. Born in Glasgow, he trained at Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 1952. He was called up for National Service with the Highland Light Infantry. He became well known as an illustrator military books including the Rev Terry Brighton’s ‘The Last Charge: the 21st Lancers and the Battle of Omdurman’ (Marlborough: Crowood, 1998); ‘Masters of Battle: Monty, Patton and Rommel at War’ (London: Penguin, 2008) ‘Winston's Charge: Lieutenant Churchill and the British Army's Last Cavalry Charge’ (Hard Corps Books, 2020).
