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In this work, Kennington captures the moment soldiers scramble ‘over the top’, out of a trench into no man's land to attack the enemy trench line. Many were met almost immediately by a hail of gunfire, causing great loss of life. Kennington’s works have a particular human interest. Having been a soldier, he was able to draw the images with knowledge and accuracy. Showing soldiers in training and at the Front, these prints were described by one journalist as capturing ‘the spirit of our new, young army’. Kennington was probably chosen for this subject as he had himself enlisted with the 13th (Kensington) Battalion London Regiment and fought on the Western Front in France in 1914–1915. He was wounded and discharged as unfit in 1915.
This work forms part of the portfolio ‘The Great War: Britain’s Efforts and Ideals’, a series of 66 lithographic prints commissioned by the Ministry of Information in 1917. The series provides a broad and fascinating representation of Britain’s war objectives, military activities and effort on the Home Front.
National Museum Wales, National Museum Cardiff
Title
Over the Top
Date
1917
Medium
lithograph on paper
Measurements
H 50.9 x W 38.2 cm
Accession number
NMW A 13169
Acquisition method
gift from H. M. Ministry of Information, 1919
Work type