Special Edition Comemorative The WW1 Painting 1914-1918”

Northern Echo

The Conceptual art and idea or symbolism  behind this work is far more important than the finished Painting. One way to understand why I had to create this painting you must firstly understand the levels of violence and slaughter that occurred in the Great War. The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War One, was over 37 million, there were over 16 million deaths and 20 million wounded ranking it among the deadliest conflicts in human history. Exact figures are still in dispute, because of different definitions used each category, the questionable accuracy of the recording system used and the loss or destruction of a number of official documents.  The paintings observer can return time and time again , each time finding something new, and taking away there own interpretation of what they see. This painting commemorates 100 years since The Great War WW1, respectfully portraying the acts of extreme bravery and  bloody obscenity of the War. The effect it had on modern times. symbolic in its approach the painting shows the constant battle between good Peace  and evil being war portrayed by God and the arch Angels Gabriel gathering a host of angels weeping as they collect the dead from the battle field under the watchful eye of death The comradeship of the daily trench life, but also the extreme acts of kindness shown by both sides towards their enemies. Acts of bravery in the face of overwhelming adversary. A focal point at which to remember and mourn comrades, fathers brother and kin rippling through the ages.

Melanie, John Palliser and family

Images of the Zeppelin in the sky, Zeppelin raids were carried out on coastal towns and London during 1915 and 1916. The silent airships arrived without warning and with no purpose built shelters people hid in cellars or under tables. There were a total of 52 Zeppelin raids on Britain claiming the lives of more than 500 people. In addition there is also an aircraft dog fight over NO MANS LAND this area of land between two enemy trench systems to which neither side wished to move openly or to seize due to fear of being attacked by the enemy in the process. this area has been populated with many images, Gas attacks, the roll of the horse, medics joined in one common purpose to save life what ever the uniform and mechanical armour in the form of the MK1 Tank. The bravery of Calvary and rallying of the pipes as they lead men over the top into no man land in Human wave attacks that caused so many casualties. I have also included field executions (SHOT AT DAWN ) that killed so many young men who's only crime was to have there minds destroyed by what they had seen and had to do. A Sentry at the Vickers Machine with a a gun team scanning their arc of fire ,gas rattle and gas mask a the ready. 
At one corner of the memorial stands a Royal Navy Seaman and at the other a lone Soldier at the repose between Innocent causalities of war, heart broken children faces clutching their Fathers last letter from the front  plucked from his fallen body. 

In a German trench a young Adolf Hitler in the half light stares across no man's land, Demons in the darkness whispering in his ear the seeds of an ideology, showing him the image of this horror the Swastika symbol that one day would  inflame the world  carnage and unspeakable horror that had never been seen before once again plunging the world to the brink of destruction ...And so it goes on! 

And finally  Remembering the fallen of "Enemys",the grave of a UNKNOWN SOLDIER As the battlefield spreads down the painting I could not have in all conscience,not have acknowledge the terrible losses to the "The Enemy" suffered .The German Empire In 1934 the official German war history listed 2,037,000 military dead. Confirmed dead from all causes 1,936,897 (Army 1,900,876, Navy 34,836, Colonial troops 1,185); wounded 4,215,662; prisoners and missing 974,977 of which an estimated 100,000 were presumed dead. United States War Dept. figures for German casualties are: Total mobilized force 11,000,000; Total casualties 7,142,558 (including Killed and died 1,773,700; wounded 4,216,058; Prisoners and missing 1,152,800) The UK War Office listed official German figures from 1921 of 1,808,545 killed and 4,247,143 wounded, exclusive of 14,000 African conscript. I have placed a lone wooden cross dedicated the a German unknown soldier decorated with a WW1 Iron Cross. surrounded by barbed wire and wild poppies. And what effect that had on many German people.

The Battle of The Somme commemorative Stone  Designed By John  Palliser

Under which the trench showing the comradeship and daily trench life whilst one section of soldiers rest another prepares to go over the top. Life in World War I trenches marked a man deeply. soldiers spent the better part of the WWI in the trenches of Western Europe. Usually, a day in the trenches began before dawn when the men on the night watch passed the word for 'Stand to' the men would then tumble out of dugouts where they slept using empty sand bags for warmth. After 8am breakfast, the men cleaned rifles, shaved and tidied the trench. Snipers would head out for the day and there would be discussion of what the enemy was up to. "Certain men were always on look-out duty at vantage points with periscope often made from a mirror on the bayonet attached to a rifle..

To mark this event a limited number of signed prints are available to purchase on line.
April 2014
 11 May 2014 British Heritage Art promoted the ww1 painting project to the people of Darlington at the Darlington Arts & Culture Festival.10th June 2014 Painting was finished.

1914-1918 ROLL OF HONOUR TO THOSE WHO's NAME I BEAR

ARCHIE JOSEPH BURY PALLISER 1915 SPTS/426 PRIVATE Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) Great Britain

ARNOLD PALLISER 1916 15/696 PRIVATE Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) Great Britain

HARRY PALLISER 1918 306869 PRIVATE Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) Great Britain

JOHN ALFRED PALLISER 1918 60773 SERGT. Northumberland Fusiliers Great Britain

JOHN CHRISTOPHER PALLISER 1916 3393 PRIVATE Durham Light Infantry Great Britain

JOHN SYLVESTER PALLISER 1918 — MAJOR Alexandra Great Britain

JOHN SYLVESTER PALLISER 1918 — MAJOR Machine Gun Corps Great Britain

THOMAS PALLISER 1916 103404 SPR. Corps of Royal Engineers Great Britain

WILLIAM PALLISER 1917 40747 PRIVATE South Wales Borderers Great Britain

WILLIAM OWEN PALLISER 1918 30356 CPL. Alexandra Great Britain

How can I help
You can help by showing your support for this project and those brave men who fought in the Great War by regularly sharing this page on your social media.

Ex SPR Palliser John RE &  RMP 1976-1986

                                                                                                                                                                                                      ^{Cadet John Palliser on HMS PALLISER c1970}