Soldiers captured in art

dersfield in 1878. He later moved to London to study at the Slade School, the Royal College of Art and the Royal Academy.

During the course of the Great War he was commissioned by the Royal Army Medical Corps to paint 120 paintings focusing on medical scenes.

Many of these paintings form part of the collection of the Imperial War Museum.

In addition to capturing medical scenes he caught the atmosphere of the battlefield such as his majestic rendition of the 1/5th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment in Ypres in 1915 – the “Fray Bentos” painting in the drill hall.

Like many of his fellow war artists, Lobley was profoundly affected by his experiences and afterwards presented his painting for display in Huddersfield Town Hall.

It is known that the painting was in Huddersfield Town Hall in 1925, but at some stage subsequently was moved to its current position. Lobley died in 1948.

Captain Chris Hosty, permanent staff administration officer with 4th battalion The Yorkshire Regiment at the drill hall, said the painting was a reminder of the sacrifice that the Dukes made during the Great war.

He added: “It’s also a reminder of where we have come from and what we still have to do.”

The Drill Hall Open Day on November 4 will include an exhibition, music by the Regimental Band of the Yorkshire Regiment and an official unveiling of the memorial boards by Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, a former Colonel-in-Chief of the DWR.