When war was declared in 1914 Gilbert Holiday travelled to France
as an unoffical war artist for The Graphic. The following year, claiming he was under thirty despite being thirty-five, he managed a commission into the Royal Field Artillery as a Forward Observation
Officer on the Western Front. Before long his artistic talents were
recognised by Lieutenant General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston, who
appointed Holiday as a 'Reconnaissance Officer'. Amongst other
things he was assigned with, at high risk, sketching enemy positions
in 'No Man's Land'. With this in mind, often having to work quickly,
it is not surprising his style developed the fluidity and spontaneity for
which he is acclaimed. Holiday is noted as serving with distinction
at Arras, Passchendaele and the Third Battle of Ypres. A collection of
works made during this time were purchased by the Imperial War
Museum in 1918 but are now sadly presumed lost.