Christopher Richard Wynne Nevinson (1889 – 1946) was the son of the War
Correspondent Henry Nevinson.
On the outbreak of the First World War, as he was a pacifist,
Christopher refused to become involved in combat duties, and volunteered
instead to work for the Red Cross. Posted to the Western Front in November
1914, he worked as a driver, stretcher-bearer and hospital orderly. Christopher
returned home in January 1915.
The following month he wrote in “The Daily Express” newspaper:
"All artists should go to the front to strengthen their art by a worship
of physical and moral courage and a fearless desire of adventure, risk and
daring and free themselves from the canker of professors, archaeologists,
cicerones, antiquaries and beauty worshippers."
Christopher then joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. On 1st November
1915, he married Kathleen Knowlman at Hampstead Town Hall. His Mother, Margaret Nevinson later recalled:
"My son informed me, suddenly, one evening that, though not engaged, he
meant to get married before he was killed." Instead of being sent to
France he helped nurse soldiers being treated at the Third General Hospital in
London. After contacting rheumatic fever in January, 1916, he was invalided out
of the army.
Painting "La Mitrailleuse" by Christopher Richard Wynne
Nevinson in 1915
