WWI Sapper Drew Sketches of German Forts

[WolverineBlue]

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1071349/Revealed-No-mans-land-sketches-hero-British-WWI-artist-crept-enemy-lines-gather-intelligence.html

Unbelievable story.

"In another mission, the sapper with the Royal Engineers Special Branch crawled to within a few yards of an enemy HQ and drew a tree so accurately that his comrades were able to create a hollow steel replica.
The real tree was then removed under cover of darkness and replaced by the replica - with a soldier stationed inside who was able to report back on German activity."

[ZARDOZ]

Nice find!

I recall another artist (spy) from that period who acted as an Arborist and drew leaves as part of his research. The Germans left him alone for he only drew leaves and plants. However when looked at closer the leaf drawings lines were exact copies of the trench lines.

[Cobber15-08]

Nice link these sketch artists did much brave and honourable work on both sides during this war. Esp early in the war before aerial photography was better understood, as it was even in late 1917/18. When the sketch and aerial phography were used together to make extremly accurate mud or clay scale models of German lines allowing the Allie's Officers and NCO's to know pretty much in advance what to expect where and when in their advance.

[Eoin666]

What a quote :)

"I would rather have a WC than a VC" http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/a...elligence.html

Seems like that Blackadder sketch of sending the artist into no-man's land wasn't that far removed......amazing story

[Faecal Agitator]

A very courageous and lucky man to survive the whole war from the beginning to the end.