SERGT. J. A. WARD, V.C.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 293, 12 December 1941, Page 4

SERGT. J. A. WARD, V.C.

PAINTING BY MR. BIRLEY PBESENTED TO GOVERNMENT. Ixtndun. Nov. 4. A portrait of New Zealand s> first V.C. of this war. Sergeant J. A. Ward. V.C. Wanganui i. painted by -Mr. Oswald Biriex. M.C.. the well-known artist, born in New Zealand, is at present hung at the Royal Academy in the annual exhibition of the Royal Society ot Portrait Painters. it has been presented to the New Zealand Government by Mr. Birley. and it will be sent to the Dominion after the war. It is an excellent likeness of the young Wanganui boy, who is shown wearing his dying kit a light khaki fur-lined suit and brown gauntlets. Ward gave five sttings to Mr. Birley at the artist's London studio, and the portrait was one of the last painted by Mr. Birley before he lost the sight of an eye. He was on Home Guard duty at the time an explosion occurred. •We both became most attached to Jimmy Ward." Mrs. B.rley said. "We took an immediate liking to him. He was an unusual boy, with an enlightened and charming outlook on life. We were broken-hearted when we heard that he was missing. We had long talks with him during the sittings. and he told us much about New Zealand and his family.” Mrs. Birley said that her husband was making a good recovery from his injury. His medical advisers say that he will be able to continue painting.