G. J. Giddins Studio of Military Art
Military paintings and prints
The Gathering Storm, 3rd Ypres, Royal Horse Artillery
The Gathering Storm, 3rd Ypres, Royal Horse Artillery, by G.J. Giddins
The Royal Horse Artillery setting up a 18lb field gun in preparation for the opening bombardment of 3rd Ypres.
Oil on canvas, 54" x 36"
The 3rd battle of Ypres at Passchendaele was planned to take advantage of the brief three week seasonal dry spell at the end of July. Once initiated the action would be impossible to stop.
The deluge, however, started early and continued, causing the battlefield to become a quagmire. The massive artillery bombardment only added to the churning of the ground on which the British would have to fight. Tanks and men sank without trace, some 40,000 British soldiers were never found.
At the end of the battle on the 7th November casualties from both sides accounted for close to 600,000 men with gains, at best, of about five miles.
