Christopher Clarke (Antiques) Limited

JOHN MCNEIL (born 1877)
Antique Watercolours of Officers of the Lancashire Fusiliers by McNeil (1895 to 1896 England)

JOHN MCNEIL (born 1877)

watercolour on paper

Signed by Artist and Subjects and dated either 1895 or 1896.

These six amusing watercolour portraits show eight fellow officers of the artist John McNeil from his regiment the Lancashire Fusiliers. McNeil was a Manchester born, soldier artist who enlisted in the Fusiliers on the 28th October 1890, aged 18 1/2. He took part in the battle of Omdurman in the Sudan and was probably with the 2nd Battalion at Spioenkop. He was awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and Laing’s Nek. He was also awarded the King’s South Africa medal with clasps. He reached the rank of Captain and left the army on 10th October 1903. He did not waste his talent but became a postcard artist. Several of his illustrations were used on the Gale & Polden regimental series of postcards published in 1909. He also contributed to the Falkner series of military cards. His work often has a sense of humour and that is well illustrated by these water colours of his comrades. Of the eight officers shown ‘Roddy’ is the most famous, having won the Grand National in 1892 riding Father O'Flynn. He was known for bunking off to ride at race meetings across the country and became such a personality that Vanity Fair commissioned Spy to draw a cartoon of him which was published on 28th October 1891. Further detail on the other officers is available. The pictures are dated either 1895 or 1896.
Image Sizes vary slightly with the largest given.

gbp 2250.00 (Pound Sterling)