Walter Ernest Spradbery (1889-1969) was an artist and pacifist. Refusing to take up arms in the First World War, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and became a paramedic and stretcher bearer on the Somme battlefield. Here he earned many citations for bravery including the awarding of a Distinguished Conduct Medal. On the day the Armistice was signed, he wrote from the trenches to his Mother: "Hostilities ceased on all fronts at 11am today. Oh happy mothers, happy sweethearts, happy wives, whose loved ones will come safely back... and those lone souls who have lost their very own; today is too unkind to them - how can they face our joy? 'Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards men' - an unseen choir sings it in our breasts - prompting men to evolve a better world more worthy of our ideals and aspirations. Let us begin." He went on to produce a significant body of work, much of it for London Transport with his famous posters. Married to opera singer, Dorothy d'Orsay, they lived an idyllic existence at their home, 'The Wilderness' in Epping Forest.
This is part 4 of a 4-part series on the works of Walter E. Spradbery:
 |
| 1935 Jordan's Meeting House: London Transport: At London's Service colour lithograph poster for London Transport |
 |
| c1935 Epping Forest: Beauty Spots In Essex: L.N.E.R. colour lithograph poster 102 x 64 cm |
 |
| 1936 Autumn Hues: Fungi: Falling Leaves & Glories in Decay colour lithograph poster for London Transport |
 |
| 1936 Blossom Time in Woods & Orchards: Crab Apple colour lithograph poster for London Transport |
 |
| 1936 Fragrance in Woodland Shade and Sunny Lanes: Honeysuckle colour lithograph poster for London Transport |
 |
| 1936 Summer Garlands on Hedge and Thicket; Convolvulus colour lithograph poster for London Transport |
%20watercolour%20on%20paper%20%C2%A9%20William%20Morris%20Gallery,%20London%20Borough%20of%20Waltham%20Forest.jpg) |
| c1936 High Wood (Epping Forest) watercolour on paper © William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest |
 |
| c1936 Nunney Castle, Somerset watercolour on paper © William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest |
 |
| 1937 Mill House at Tilty, Essex watercolour on paper 28 x 38 cm © Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
 |
| c1940 Kilns and Maltings on the Canal Bank, Bishop's Stortford watercolour on paper 33.7 x 41.9 cm ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
 |
| c1940 Old Houses, Stroud watercolour 26 x 26.7 cm ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
.jpg) |
| 1944 The Proud City A new view of the Tower of London across Water Lane colour lithograph poster for London Transport |
 |
| 1944 The Proud City A New View of St. Paul's Cathedral from Bread Street colour lithograph poster for London Transport 102 x 63 cm |
 |
| 1944 The Proud City Chelsea Power House from Meek Street colour lithograph poster for London Transport 101 x 64 cm |
 |
| 1944 The Proud City St. Thomas's Hospital and The Houses of Parliament colour lithograph poster for London Transport |
 |
| 1944 The Proud City The Temple Church and Library after Bombardment colour lithograph poster for London Transport 102 x 64 cm |
 |
| 1944 The Proud City A New View of St. Pauls Cathedral from Broad Street colour lithograph poster for London Transport |
 |
| 1944 The Proud City A new View of the Tower of London across Water Lane colour lithograph poster for London Transport 102 x 64 cm |
 |
| 1945 Renascence colour lithograph poster for London Transport |
%2098%20x%20125%20cm.jpg) |
1946 Thames Valley: GWR: SR colour lithograph poster 98 x 125 cm |
%20colour%20lithograph%20poster%20102%20x%20137%20cm.jpg) |
| 1946 The South Downs: Southern (Railway) colour lithograph poster 102 x 137 cm |
 |
| 1948 Ilfracombe On Devon's Ocean Coast Southern & Wester Regions: British Railways colour lithograph poster 102 x 84 cm |
%20Christmas%20Card%20(lino-cut%3F).jpg) |
| 1956 The Wilderness, Buckhurst Hill (Spradbery's Home) Christmas Card lino-cut or woodcut |
 |
| n.d. Postcard: The Bridge of Sighs, Cambridge postmarked 1948 |
 |
| n.d. Postcard: Trinity Avenue, Cambridge postmarked 1953 |
 |
| n.d. West Gate, Canterbury Postcard |
 |
| n.d. The Weavers, Canterbury Postcard |
 |
| n.d. Interior of Canterbury Cathedral Postcard |
 |
| n.d. West End of Infirmary Ruins, Canterbury Postcard |
 |
| n.d. The North Transept and Baptistry, Canterbury Postcard |
 |
| n.d. King's College Bridge with Clare College Bridge beyond, Cambridge Postcard |
 |
| n.d. Trinity Bridge, Cambridge Postcard |
%20colour%20lithograph%20poster%20for%20London%20Transport.jpg){kind=spacer}
%20colour%20lithograph%20poster%20for%20London%20Transport.jpg){kind=spacer}
