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Remembrance Day each year is an ideal opportunity to delve into the volumes of well known, and well-regarded art from different warfare. The gender of people involved in the forefront of combat is also broader than generally depicted in much public art. Military women that are displayed are usually shown in auxiliary or domestic roles within international conflict, however the portrait of Commandant Marjorie F. Wagstaff is a rare example of the public face and responsibilities of women in battle.


The auxiliary, yet central, roles of human repair after military injury in early conflicts was carried out by legions of medical staff including Mary Seacole.



More here: https://artuk.org/discover/stories/the-colour-of-war

41 artworks
Commandant Marjorie F. Wagstaffe, CBE, Deputy Director, Auxiliary Territorial Service, Middle East Forces
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Commandant Marjorie F. Wagstaffe, CBE, Deputy Director, Auxiliary Territorial Service, Middle East Forces 1945

Leslie Cole (1910–1976)

Oil on canvas

H 72.3 x W 51.4 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Mrs Laughton Mathews, CBE
Photo credit: Bridgeman Images

Mrs Laughton Mathews, CBE 1943

Anthony Devas (1911–1958)

Oil on canvas

H 101.9 x W 76.2 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart (1878–1959), the Marchioness of Londonderry, DBE
Photo credit: Bridgeman Images

Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart (1878–1959), the Marchioness of Londonderry, DBE 1918

Philip Alexius de László (1869–1937)

Oil on canvas

H 86.3 x W 57.1 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Barbara Mary Rendell, BEM, Auxiliary Fire Service
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Barbara Mary Rendell, BEM, Auxiliary Fire Service 1941

Bernard Hailstone (1910–1987)

Oil on canvas

H 101.9 x W 76.2 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Drivers on Duty at an Ambulance Station
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Drivers on Duty at an Ambulance Station c.1940

Elsie Gledstanes (1891–1982)

Oil on board

H 51 x W 61 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

War Memorial
Photo credit: Stewart Bond / Art UK

War Memorial 1924

unknown artist

Stone & granite

H 140 x W 105 x D 105 cm

Milngavie War Memorial
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: Gordon Baird / Art UK

Milngavie War Memorial 1922

George Henry Paulin (1888–1962)

Bronze & granite

Miss Charity Bick, GM, of West Bromwich, the Youngest Woman Civil Defence Worker to be Decorated with the George Medal
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Miss Charity Bick, GM, of West Bromwich, the Youngest Woman Civil Defence Worker to be Decorated with the George Medal 1941

Alfred Reginald Thomson (1894–1979)

Oil on canvas

H 91.4 x W 71.1 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Tunumiu Woman*
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

Tunumiu Woman* 1937

Eigil Knuth (1903–1996)

Plaster

H 44 x W 22 x D 23 cm

Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

Senior Controller Christian Helen Fraser-Tytler, CBE, Deputy Director of Anti-Aircraft Command, Auxiliary Territorial Service
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Senior Controller Christian Helen Fraser-Tytler, CBE, Deputy Director of Anti-Aircraft Command, Auxiliary Territorial Service 1943

Henry Lamb (1883–1960)

Oil on canvas

H 68.5 x W 55.8 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Aletha Harcourt, Ambulance Driver, Bushey Heath Air Raid Precautions
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Aletha Harcourt, Ambulance Driver, Bushey Heath Air Raid Precautions 1942

George Harcourt (1868–1947)

Oil on canvas

H 90 x W 68.8 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Rape of a Sabine Woman
Photo credit: Walker Art Gallery

Rape of a Sabine Woman

Giambologna (1529–1608) (after)

Bronze

H 57.7 cm

Walker Art Gallery

The Honourable Edith Helen Chaplin (1878–1959), Marchioness of Londonderry, DBE, in the Uniform of the Women's Legion
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: National Trust Images

The Honourable Edith Helen Chaplin (1878–1959), Marchioness of Londonderry, DBE, in the Uniform of the Women's Legion 1937 (?)

Moussa Ayoub (c.1873–1955)

Oil on canvas

H 85 x W 54.5 cm

National Trust, Mount Stewart

Serb and Muslim
© Peter Howson. All rights reserved, DACS 2023. Photo credit: Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums

Serb and Muslim 1994

Peter Howson (b.1958)

Oil on canvas

H 213.5 x W 152.5 cm

Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums

Women's Auxiliary Air Force Drivers of 58 and 502 Squadrons, St David's, 1944
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: Yorkshire Air Museum

Women's Auxiliary Air Force Drivers of 58 and 502 Squadrons, St David's, 1944 1992

D. Frower

Oil on board

H 35 x W 45 cm

Yorkshire Air Museum

Gulf Women Prepare for War
© the artist / Bridgeman Images. Photo credit: The Women’s Art Collection

Gulf Women Prepare for War 1986

Maggi Hambling (b.1945)

Oil on canvas

H 122 x W 145 cm

The Women’s Art Collection

Care of Wounded Soldiers at Cardiff Royal Infirmary during the Great War
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Care of Wounded Soldiers at Cardiff Royal Infirmary during the Great War 1916

Margaret Lindsay Williams (1888–1960)

Oil on canvas

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

A Women's Royal Naval Service Officer
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

A Women's Royal Naval Service Officer c.1940

Elsie Gledstanes (1891–1982)

Oil on canvas

H 60.8 x W 51 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

In for Repairs
Photo credit: Bridgeman Images

In for Repairs 1942

Laura Knight (1877–1970)

Oil on canvas

H 101.5 x W 127 cm

Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library

C Ward, 101 British General Hospital, Louvain
© the artist's estate. Photo credit: British Red Cross Museum and Archives

C Ward, 101 British General Hospital, Louvain 1945

Doris Clare Zinkeisen (1898–1991)

Oil on canvas

H 65 x W 81 cm

British Red Cross Museum and Archives

Corporal J. M. Robins, Women's Auxiliary Air Force
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Corporal J. M. Robins, Women's Auxiliary Air Force 1941

Laura Knight (1877–1970)

Oil on canvas

H 91.4 x W 60.9 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Corporal J. D. M. Pearson, GC, Women's Auxiliary Air Force
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Corporal J. D. M. Pearson, GC, Women's Auxiliary Air Force 1940

Laura Knight (1877–1970)

Oil on canvas

H 91.4 x W 60.9 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Assistant Section Leader E. Henderson, MM, and Sergeant H. Turner, MM, Women's Auxiliary Air Service
Photo credit: The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies

Assistant Section Leader E. Henderson, MM, and Sergeant H. Turner, MM, Women's Auxiliary Air Service mid-20th C

Laura Knight (1877–1970)

Oil on canvas

H 114 x W 81 cm

The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies

Boer War: A Full Ward in the Military Hospital at Wynberg, South Africa, with Nurses Attending the Wounded
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: Wellcome Collection

Boer War: A Full Ward in the Military Hospital at Wynberg, South Africa, with Nurses Attending the Wounded c.1900

P. Spence (active c.1900)

Pen, ink, gouache & wash on paper (?)

H 20.5 x W 37.3 cm

Wellcome Collection

Boer War: Queen Alexandra at Devonshire House, London, Presenting War Medals to the Nurses of the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, South Africa
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: Wellcome Collection

Boer War: Queen Alexandra at Devonshire House, London, Presenting War Medals to the Nurses of the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, South Africa 1902

Oliver Paque (W.H. Pike) (1846–1908)

Pen & pencil on paper (?)

H 27.4 x W 38.8 cm

Wellcome Collection

Florence Nightingale (1820–1910)
Photo credit: Tracy Jenkins / Art UK

Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) 1911–1915

Arthur George Walker (1861–1939) and Fiorini Foundry and T. H. Wyatt

Bronze & red granite

H 275 cm

Convalescent Nurses Making Camouflage Nets
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Convalescent Nurses Making Camouflage Nets 1941

Evelyn Mary Dunbar (1906–1960)

Oil on canvas

H 45.8 x W 61 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Mary Seacole (1805–1881)
© Martin Jennings. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2023. Photo credit: Colleen Rowe Harvey / Art UK

Mary Seacole (1805–1881) 2016

Martin Jennings (b.1957) and Pangolin Editions (founded 1985)

Bronze, Cumbrian black slate & Portland stone

H 490 cm

Martin Jennings (b.1957) and Pangolin Editions (founded 1985)

Women's Auxiliary Air Force Store
Photo credit: Glasgow Life Museums

Women's Auxiliary Air Force Store c.1940–1945

Evelyn Mary Dunbar (1906–1960)

Oil on canvas

H 40.6 x W 50.8 cm

Glasgow Life Museums

The Women's Land Army and German Prisoners
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

The Women's Land Army and German Prisoners 1918

Randolph Schwabe (1885–1948)

Oil on panel

H 48.2 x W 57.1 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Auxiliary Fire Service Girl, City Fire Station
Photo credit: Southwark Art Collection

Auxiliary Fire Service Girl, City Fire Station 1940

Ethel Léontine Gabain (1883–1950)

Oil on canvas

H 78.7 x W 66 cm

Southwark Art Collection

Portrait of a Wren
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: Fleet Air Arm Museum

Portrait of a Wren

unknown artist

Oil on canvas

H 46 x W 38 cm

Fleet Air Arm Museum

Princess Mary, The Princess Royal (1897–1965), Controller Commandant, WRAC
© the artist's estate. Photo credit: National Army Museum

Princess Mary, The Princess Royal (1897–1965), Controller Commandant, WRAC 1959

Aubrey Claud Davidson-Houston (1906–1995)

Oil on canvas

H 76.2 x W 63.5 cm

National Army Museum

Women's Royal Air Force Workers Drilling at Andover Aerodrome
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Women's Royal Air Force Workers Drilling at Andover Aerodrome c.1917–1918

Fairlie Harmar (1876–1945)

Oil on canvas

H 50.8 x W 71.1 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Princess Mary, The Princess Royal (1897–1965), Controller Commandant, WRAC 1949

Edward Brian Seago (1910–1974)

Oil on canvas

H 101.5 x W 88.4 cm

National Army Museum

Women's Royal Air Force Transport
© the copyright holder. Photo credit: Royal Air Force Museum

Women's Royal Air Force Transport 1919

Gertrude A. George (active 1919–1940)

Oil on canvas

H 38.5 x W 22.5 cm

Royal Air Force Museum

Land Girl Memorial
© the artist. Photo credit: Duncan McDowall / Art UK

Land Girl Memorial 2012

Peter Wallwork Naylor (b.1951) and W. Campbell & Son

Corten steel

Corporal Lilian Levy, Women's Auxiliary Air Force
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Corporal Lilian Levy, Women's Auxiliary Air Force 1943

Alfred Reginald Thomson (1894–1979)

Oil on canvas

H 54.2 x W 39.6 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Captain E. P. Forster, Women's Royal Army Corps, Director of Music for the Women's Royal Army Corps Staff Band
© IWM (Imperial War Museums). Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Captain E. P. Forster, Women's Royal Army Corps, Director of Music for the Women's Royal Army Corps Staff Band 1984

Maggi Hambling (b.1945)

Oil on canvas

H 56 x W 46 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Dame Katherine Furse, CBE, RRC, Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service (1920)
Photo credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)

Dame Katherine Furse, CBE, RRC, Director of the Women's Royal Naval Service (1920) 1918

Glyn Warren Philpot (1884–1937)

Oil on canvas

H 60.9 x W 50.8 cm

IWM (Imperial War Museums)