The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
Sir Oswald Birley
Portrait of Norton Cecil Michael Knatchbull, 6th Baron Brabourne (1922-1943), half-length wearing the uniform of an Ensign in the Grenadier Guards
Auction Closed
March 24, 08:41 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Sir Oswald Birley
1880 - 1952
Portrait of Norton Cecil Michael Knatchbull, 6th Baron Brabourne (1922-1943), half-length wearing the uniform of an Ensign in the Grenadier Guards
signed and dated upper right: Oswald Birley/1942
oil on canvas
76.8 x 64.1 cm.
The sitter was the eldest son of Michael, 5th Lord Brabourne and his wife Lady Doreen Browne. He was educated at Eton and then Sandhurst after which he initially joined The Buffs (The Royal East Kent Regiment) before being commissioned into the Grenadiers during the 2nd World War. He served in Italy where he was wounded, then captured by the Germans, in 1943. Whilst on a train to a prisoner of war camp in Germany he and a fellow officer escaped at Bronzolo but were recaptured and were both executed by the SS in September 1943. He was succeeded to the title by his brother John who at that time was serving in the Coldstream Guards. The portrait was painted by Sir Oswald Birley, a friend of the family, whilst Lord Brabourne was on leave in 1942.