World War I: Private Fynn V.C., S.W. Borderers. Oil painting by Ugo Matania, 1916.

Matania, Ugo, 1888-1979.

Date:: 1916

Reference:: 46014i

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Credit

World War I: Private Fynn V.C., S.W. Borderers. Oil painting by Ugo Matania, 1916. In copyright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Also known as

Published with caption : "He could not bear to see the wounded left unattended"-- Officer's report

Published with caption : How Private Fynn of the South Wales Borderers won the Victoria cross

Description

James Henry Fynn (also called Finn) was a Cornishman who fought as a private in the 4th Battalion, The South Wales Borderers, British Army, during the First World War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing wounded men under heavy fire on 9 April 1916 at Sanna-i-Yat, Mesopotamia

Publication/Creation

1916

Physical description

1 painting : oil on canvas (?) ; canvas (?) 38 x 30.3 cm

Contributors

Matania, Ugo, 1888-1979.

Lettering

Ugo 1916

Reference

Wellcome Collection 46014i

Reproduction note

Reproduced in The sphere, vol. LXVII, no. 882, 16 December 1916, p. 99. Text above: '"He could not bear to see the wounded left unattended"-- Officer's report.' Text below: 'How Private Fynn of the South Wales Borderers won the Victoria cross. The very gallant conduct for which Private Fynn was awarded the V.C. is thus described by an officer of his regiment. "My first sight of him was when he was running across the open under heavy fire. Bullets were as thick as bees around an overturned hive. He crossed and recrossed with materials to dress the wounds of the men he went to assist." Subsequently Private Fynn carried in one of the wounded men, and afterwards returned with a comrade under very heavy fire from the enemy.'