The idea of the site is to try and bring to a wider audience the skills and art of my great uncle. As a result I am hoping that a regular blog will provide some background detail on his life and how it shaped his artistic endeavours.

It seems appropriate to start at the first major event in his life.

Grenadier Guards

He was born 8th October 1897 at Caterham, Surrey and joined the Grenadier Guards 17th January 1912 so aged only 14. He was then appointed as Drummer 12th July 1912. This would have been an important position within the Battalion as he would have been one of the main parties to communicate instructions to the soldiers during the fighting. In order to establish some context to his part in the first battle of Ypres this is a review of the conflict involving his Battalion.

Battle of Gheluvelt (Geluveld)

The first battle of Ypres commenced on 28th October 1914. On the second day the 1st Grenadier Guards were in position across the Menin to Ypres road at Gheluvelt (Geluveld) some eight miles to the south east of Ypres. The German attack commenced at 07.30 hours on 29th October 1914. The British line was composed of the 1st Coldstream Guards to the north of the road with the Grenadiers across the road and the 2nd Gordon Highlanders immediately to their south. The line was completed by 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers at the southernmost point. The expected German assault was considered to be coming from the south of the road however it was the 1st Coldstream Guards at the northern edge who were out flanked by the German advance. Due to the heavy fog which had descended during the early morning, the 1st Grenadier Guards were unaware of the manoeuvre and suddenly found themselves in the centre of the fighting. Around this time Charles Connor, Drummer of the 1st Grenadier Guards, was shot and wounded. He was evacuated behind the lines and then to a hospital where his injuries were assessed. He lost his right leg below the knee as well as suffering damage to his right arm. On 5th June 1916 he was discharged from the Army as medically unfit for duty.