Group of soldiers, sailors and airmen Accession Number: ART28483

Description

A frieze-like group of nine sailors, soldiers and airmen wearing assorted uniforms. Hele was serving as a private in the AIF, when in January 1941 he was commissioned in the field by General Blamey and given the task of depicting the activities of Australians in North Africa. His appointment was made official in October 1941. From June 1943 until the end of the Second World War Hele worked in a number of locations in Northern Australia and New Guinea, holding his commission until 1947. Hele was again commissioned an official war artist with the rank of Major for the Korean War. From 1953 he executed a number of portrait and painting commissions for the War Memorial and in 1969 was awarded a CBE for his services to art.

Details

Accession Number
ART28483
Classification
Art
Object Type
Work on paper
Physical Description
Medium: red conte crayon, charcoal on blue paper (double sheet)
Measurement
Overall: 37.9 cm x 56 cm
Medium
red conte crayon, charcoal on blue paper (double sheet)
Date Made
1949
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Credit Line
acquired under official war art scheme 1949
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain

Conflicts

Places

Units

Tags

More like this

Anti-aircraft defences, Marsa Matruh

Art ART22868 Second World War, 1939-1945

Depicts unidentified Australian soldiers standing with a Bren gun mounted on a tripod for anti-aircraft defence in the Western Desert during the North African campaign. Hele was serving as a private i

Gunner (Sergeant Frank Craig) with parachute harness

Art ART25891 Second World War, 1939-1945

Portrait of Sergeant Frank Craig from the Royal Australian Air Force, Bombing and Air Gunnery School, wearing a parachute harness. Hele was serving as a private in the AIF, when in January 1941 he was

Pulling out ammunition belts

Art ART40335 Korean War, 1950-1953

Australian infantrymen pulling out ammunition belts. The ammunition belts are fed into the machine guns and then into the Meteor jets. Hele was serving as a private in the AIF, when in January 1941 h

Tin hat

Art ART22872 Second World War, 1939-1945

Portrait of an unidentified soldier from the 2nd Australian Imperial Force, wearing a protective tin helmet, during the North African campaign. Hele was serving as a private in the AIF, when in Janu

Flight Lieutenant Peter Wright, Port Pirie

Art ART21266 Second World War, 1939-1945

Portrait of Flight Lieutenant Peter Wright, commanding officer of 54 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, wearing flying jacket and helmet. Flight Lieutenant Peter Wright was previously of 21 Squadr

Stuck truck, Korea

Art ART40394 Korean War, 1950-1953

A large group of soldiers is depicted pushing hard to release a bogged truck in Korea. A single figure is leaning through the truck window holding the steering wheel. Hele was serving as a private in

See more similar items →

Record information

Last modified: 23 July 2025 - 1.50 am