Our Soldiers: How They Are Made - and Mended, First World War, June 1916

Our Soldiers: How They Are Made - and Mended, First World War, June 1916. A Field Ambulance; Stretcher-Bearers; The Casualty Clearing Station; Off to the Base; Sister; On the way to Blighty; Hospital in England. Silhouettes by Harry Lawrence Oakley from The Bystander, 21 June 1916, ten days before the battle of the Somme. Oakley himself was wounded and spent several months recuperating - he may be the man in the deckchair. Oakley perfected the technique of speedily cutting folded paper with scissors, with no prior drawing. During his time as a soldier in the First World War he designed posters for the army as well as providing magazine illustrations. After the war he continued to earn his living from silhouettes and made portraits of many famous people including royalty. ©SSPL/H L Oakley