ARMY LIFE IN DESERT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 197, 18 May 1944, Page 5

ARMY LIFE IN DESERT

Show Of Pictures By N.Z. Artist In London (Official News Service.) LONDON, Muy 16. Mrs. Fraser, wife of the New Zealand Prime Minister, opened a New Zealander's one man show of pictures that portray Army life in the deserts of the Middle East. The artist. James Boswell, was born in Hokitika and studied at the Elam School of Art. Auckland. He came to Britain several years ago. lie has been serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps since 1941 iu Britain, Iraq. Algiers, Malta und Sicily. The New Zealand Government has bought two of the best paintings,. They show better than photograph or printed word the drabness and monotony of desert and Army life behind the line. Mrs. Fraser commented on the excellence of such work by men in the forces who were not. official war artists, but actually serving soldiers, sailors and airmen. She referred particularly to work which had gone back to New Zealand from men on duty in the South I acihc theatre and the Middle Last, and also paintings und drawings sent forward from prisoners of war in Germany, notably Austin Deans. Christchurcn. and James Welch, Masterton. A. number ot Deans’s paintings and Welch’s drawings reached London through the Red Gross and some of Welch’s work was published recently by the “Daily Express.’ A consignment of wafer-colours and oil traits also came from Captain John Maeindoe, Dunedin, another New Zealand prisoner of war who found art a means pt bridging the monotony of three years in enemy hands. ~ _ , The High Commissioner. Mr. Jordan, and Mrs. Jordan were also present at the opening of Boswell’s show.