“Young Man in Uniform” by WD Wild (probably William Donald Wild), Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

This young man wears a standard World War One soldier’s uniform, with hat, tunic and breeches.

His hat has a British Army General Service badge. The black lettering on his red armband may be CD, for cavalry division. This would indicate that he is a trooper – a private soldier on horseback. Troopers sometimes carried swagger sticks, as this soldier does. (In infantry divisions, only sergeants and officers carried sticks.)

The British army was the only army to go into World War One in drab uniform. French soldiers were still wearing blue jackets and red trousers for active service until several months into the war.

The artist is probably William Donald Wild, who exhibited paintings at the Artists of the Northern Counties exhibitions at the Laing Art Gallery, and lived locally.

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: WD Wild (probably William Donald Wild)
Date: 1915

Image details
Date: 14 June 2019
Camera body: iPhone 7 Plus
Lens: Wide Camera 28mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 28mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/7s
ISO: 80
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.