While in New Guinea, one of Lieut. Nicholls’ duties was to inspect each of the signal stations along the Kokoda track at regular intervals.  This required him to walk the track between sections of the line; between Kokoda and Effogi, then between Kokoda and Wairopi - a distance of approximately 60 miles or 100K.  Completing the circuit took him three months.  He estimates that, over the twelve months he was stationed there, he’d have walked about 500 miles.  

On each of these journeys, it was his habit to make as many drawings as possible.  He used Wolff’s Carbon pencils, and he thinks the paper he used may have been ordinary army stationary - in any case, he drew on whatever came to hand.

In the absence of cameras, John frequently duplicated drawings by hand in order for his men to have copies.  He also gave away many originals so there are now only 60 left in his collection.

They are grouped here for viewing as:

Portraits (of both New Guineans and servicemen), the actual signal stations, the landscape through which he walked, and some incidental sketches which convey aspects of army life in a remote location.

An extract of the written journal is also included.

 

Click to view catergories

All works © John Arthur Nicholls 2007