Portrait of Private Charles Deeks, by Henry Tonks, 1916-1918
Reproduction
Object numberRCSSC/P 569.1
CollectionSpecial collections
CategoryVisual works
Object nameReconstructive Surgical Procedures, Wounds, Gunshot, Portraits, Clinical subjects (visual works), Pastels (visual works)
TitlePortrait of Private Charles Deeks, by Henry Tonks, 1916-1918
DescriptionThis is part of a series of portraits made by Henry Tonks (1862-1937) showing patients treated by Harold Gillies and colleagues at Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot and Queen's Hospital, Sidcup, during and after the First World War.
Private Charles Deeks, of the 1st King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, was injured on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916, aged 25, and admitted two days later to the Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot. A large piece of shell had struck Deeks’ mouth and came out through the opposite side, destroying his lower lip and a portion of the upper. His first operation was on 11 September, when surgeons tried to bring his lower lip back into position with sutures and mucous flaps. However, the right-hand corner of his mouth did not heal and, on 31 October 1916, New Zealand surgeon Claude Tudehope excised the scar and sutured again. Once more the scar broke down and Deeks endured another operation on New Year’s Day 1917. This time the result on his right side was ‘very satisfactory’ and he returned to active duty in April 1917. Deeks survived the rest of the war. He was treated at the Queen’s Hospital, Sidcup, in 1919 for the underlying damage to his jaw and teeth. An X ray taken on 26 November 1919 established the extent of Deeks’ dental injuries. X-rays, discovered by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895 and used for medical purposes soon afterwards, became widely used during the First World War. Deeks had dentures fitted and left for home in December 1919. He returned to Sidcup again in August 1922 when dental surgeon Alexander Fraser fitted a new set of dentures. Deeks was discharged for the final time on 26 August 1922, able to eat solid food.
Production date 1916 - 1918
Artist
Tonks, Henry, 1862-1937, artist, Sidcup
Sitter/subject
Surgeon/clinician
Associated institution
transferred
War Office (1921)
Related objectsMS0513/1/1/10
Physical Location
Location
Not on public display: contact museum for access conditions
Physical Information
Physical descriptionPastels on paper, 26.8cm by 20cm. Mounted in set of 4 with P 569.2, 3 and 4. Frame dimensions: 890mm height by 680mm width by 20mm depth.
Dimensions
paper height: 268 mm
paper width: 200 mm
paper width: 200 mm
Bibliography
SourceBennett 1986
NotesThe article contains a biographical account of Tonks and a description of his work with Harold Gillies, and colour reproductions of all of the drawings in this series.
SourceChambers 2002
16
SourceMeikle 2013
SourceBiernoff 2010
31
276
SourceGillies 1920
130-131
