The Artwork of R.A.L Hartman 11th Hussars.

[Toby Brayley]

Thought I would share these with you as they may be of interest to member's. All from the archive of "HorsePower" The Museum of the King`s Royal Hussars Museum in Winchester.

Born in 1896 in Grosvenor Gardens, London and educated at Eton, Robert "Bobby" Alexander Lister Hartman was commissioned into the 11th Hussars in 1914, joining up with the regiment from Sandhurst on the 5th of November. He immediately joined A Squadron taking command of 1 Troop, first seeing action in early May of 1915 near Hooge during the Second battle of Ypres. By 1918 Hartman would command A squadron, and was mentioned in dispatches. He remained with A squadron, and the 11th Hussars accompanying the Regiment into Germany and the subsequent occupation of the Rhineland. In 1919 Hartman sailed with the regiment to Egypt, in 1920 he spent a year at the French Cavalry School at Saumur before relinquishing his commission, and retiring from the Army in 1922. Hartman also had two brothers who served throughout the Great War. They both survived, but one, Charles (who served on attachment to the 11th in 1915) , was wounded and discharged from the Army.

After leaving the Army, Hartman focused on Hunting, Fishing and writing books, he even published a children's book and his autobiography "The Remainder Biscuit" (I am yet to read this!) . He was a keen artist and a member of the Royal Institute of Water Colours having numerous works accepted and displayed in the Royal Academy. During the Second World War Hartman was a Public Relations Officer at G .H .Q. and then spent the remainder of the War with the 54th Training Regiment R.A.C at Perham Down.

He died in 1969 in Surrey.

HorsePower The Museum of the Kings Royal Hussars is fortunate enough to hold a number of items relating to Hartman including his fantastic Great War photo album, that contains various sketches and watercolours of life in the 11th during the war. The museum also holds various documents and Trench Maps from his service. Some of the images featured are available as postcards from the Online Giftshop (had to get a little plug in there!). The archives are available to view by prior appointment.

Enjoy

Above: Major RL Hartman and his mare "LC" (c1918). Prior to the outbreak of the war "LC" was Hartmans own personal hunter. She would carry him through the entirety Great War. “LC” was wounded on August 9th 1918, she would survive the war but died of her wounds in England on November 30th 1919. One of her hooves was converted into an inkwell and can now be see in the museum.

Above: Taken from "LC". The 11th Hussars on the ride from Bonnieres in October of 1916. It shows the large amount of equipment required to be carried by both man and horse. Note the 11th Hussars regimental flash on the helmet!

Below: Selection of watercolours and sketches from his personal album.

[Toby Brayley]

[Steven Broomfield]

Signaller's Horse?

[Steven Broomfield]

I should also add that "Bobby" Hartman has been referenced in a thread on Smart Cavalry regiments: when the 11th Hussars amalgamated with the 10th in 1968, another famous Cherrypicker, Louis Spears, wrote to his friend, Bobby Hartman about the matter, so it is apparent that he retained his links with the regiment up to his death.

[Toby Brayley]

Here is the signallers horse! (sadly not by Hartman but worthy of inclusion!). From the 1916 Journal!

[charlesmessenger]

Many thanks for sharing. LC loks a highly intelligent animal and you can see how he bonds with his owner.

Charles M

[Steven Broomfield]

Many thanks for sharing. LC loks a highly intelligent animal and you can see how he bonds with his owner.

Charles M

She. (LC - geddit?)

But you're right. Interestingly, the CO at the outbreak of war (T T Pitman) took his four chargers with him in 1914 and all survived the war.

[Steven Broomfield]

I noticed that the picture of the cavalryman happily puffing his pipe is now available from the museum as a fridge magnet!

[Ron Clifton]

There is some similarity between Hartman's drawings and those of Bruce Bairnsfather. Did they know each other, I wonder? Who may have influenced whom? Or was it, perhaps, a common style among officer artists whose main introduction to art was "field sketching"?

Ron

[Toby Brayley]

Hi Ron,

Not the first time that the similarity has been made. Looking at nearly all the artwork from the period in the Regimental archive it seems to have a similar style. Its a very period defining style!

Toby

[Ypes research]

Very good info. I hope to visit the museum soon as my relation served in 11th Hussars and was killed near Ypres in May1915.