This pastel study captures a solider smoking a pipe whilst surveying the frozen landscape towards Stuff Redoubt in Northern France in January 1917. Two soldiers are seen patrolling beyond and in just a quick sketch, Maze conveys the devastation of the fighting, with only the jagged remains of trees surviving in a desolate scene.

Stuff Redoubt was a German fortification on the Somme front that was taken by British forces after months of heavy fighting in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Its capture was considered a key tactical success, paving the way for further advances, but came at a high casualty cost.

Maze worked with the British Army as an interpreter and military draughtsman during the First World War. Among his responsibilities was high risk reconnaissance work, often recording enemy lines from positions forward of the British trenches. During the Battle of the Somme he was assigned to General Sir Hubert Gough, a senior figure in command throughout the war. Maze's experiences of the War are documented in his book 'A Frenchman in Khaki' (1934).