Archive Appreciation: D-Day to VE Day

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The Wartime art of Birkin Haward, 82 Assault Squadron, Royal Engineers.




  • Several of the amphibious LVTs (landing vehicle tracked) are being prepared during the Battle of the Scheldt.


  • Here we can see an SBG (Small Box Girder Bridge) attached to the front of an AVRE.
Lieutenant Birkin Haward smiles at the camera.
Lt. B Haward, 82 Squadron RE

The drawings you can see here are examples of the wartime art of Lieutenant Birkin Haward.

The images represent his Squadron’s experiences in Northern Europe from D-Day through to the end of the War. Haward later compiled his drawings in a commemorative album which was donated to the Museum in 2001 by Mr Haward’s son.

Haward was born in 1912. He trained as an architect, qualifying in 1934. He worked for German émigré architect Erich Mendelsohn and was devoted to promoting the modern movement in Britain in the early-mid Twentieth century.

When the War began, Haward designed workers hostels, before volunteering for the Royal Engineers in April 1943. Upon his arrival in Normandy he acquired a thin sketch book and pencils from an abandoned post office, using this to create his sketches. In quiet moments he drew what he and his squadron members had seen. These were then later developed into the beautiful and detailed works you see below.

Wartime Art: D-Day to the Scheldt

Below are Haward’s sketches which depict scenes from the beach landings on D-Day to the taking of the Scheldt. Haward landed on Gold beach where his squadron helped clear the area of obstacles and defences. The taking of the Scheldt came after the Normandy campaign. The object of this operation was to secure the Scheldt River estuary and therefore the port of Antwerp. This then allowed the Allies to bring in more supplies.

The first of Birkin Harward's wartime art pieces, this sketch shows the approach to the Normandy beaches. Smoke and steam billows into the sky and artillery shells fire at the approaching ships.
Haward depicts moments before the Allies hit the Normandy beaches. Notice the landing ships full of specialist Sherman and Churchill tanks and the swimming DD Shermans. 
Here we see Gold Beach from the perspective of a Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers). These were Engineering tanks used to destroy enemy fortifications and obstacles. 
Here we see Gold Beach from the perspective of a Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers). These were Engineering tanks used to destroy enemy fortifications and obstacles. 
The amphibious LVTs (landing vehicle tracked) or "buffalo" are full of troops ready to assault the banks of South Beveland in October 1944.
The assault of South Beveland, shown here, was the first objective of the allies during the Battle of the Scheldt. The amphibious LVTs (landing vehicle tracked) or “buffalo” are full of troops ready to assault the bank. 

Wartime Art: The advance into Germany

The drawings that follow represent what Haward experienced when 82 Squadron advanced into Germany. The squadron saw active service in north western Germany, but had travelled to eastern Germany by the time of the ceasefire in May 1945.

This sketch shows events in late February 1945. 82 Squadron are approaching Weeze in North-West Germany equipped with AVREs (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers).
Here we can see an SBG (Small Box Girder Bridge) attached to the front of an AVRE. These were used for getting over tank ditches and other small gaps. 
A Churchill AVRE fires upon a block in Bocholt, March 1945.
The Churchill AVRE’s high explosive rounds were often used to clear road blocks and other obstacles. The Churchill AVRE would have been the most common vehicle in Haward’s unit. 
One of the last wartime art pieces shows 82 Assault Squadron resting and waiting for the ceasefire in a timber-framed barn.
By May 19145, 82 Squadron had crossed Germany and were awaiting the official ceasefire. Here we see the Squadron enjoying a rest.
 The fighting is at and end and VE day is soon to follow on the 8th of May, when the Allies officially accept the Nazi surrender. 

Other Wartime artworks

The majority of the drawings in Haward’s sketch book are all intricately detailed pencil drawings. However, as you delve further through the pages it is possible to see different techniques, medium and artistic influences. Pastels add flashes of colour, unfinished watercolours show a softer style and the effect of early Twentieth Century art movements can be seen.

The style of this sketch is more like a modern cartoon. Several members of the squadron ride in an AVRE which has a plough on the front. They appear to be flying flags and raising glasses and a small caption reads 'VE, N. Europe'.

In this section, you can see the influence of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the cubist-inspired drawing of 82 Assault Squadron moving along behind a tank, with enemy fire to the right and searchlights in the sky, as well as a deceased cow in the bottom right hand corner. The tanks and buildings are depicted from a multitude of viewpoints, whilst other areas are flat emphasizing the surface of the paper and its materiality.

You can explore our Second World War collection further via our Online Catalogue.

9 August 2021