Canada, CEF. Two First War Ink on Paper Paintings, by Pte. Jukes 1918

A large artwork, brown ink on paper, entitled “NIGHT RAID BLACK FACES LIGHT EQUIPMENT” featuring multiple soldiers going over the top of a trench at night across no-man’s land of flat mud with barbed wire and tree trunks, signed “Jukes 18” in the bottom right corner, adhered to a pressed board presenting a matte frame, measures 500 mm (w) x 393 mm (h), corners of matte frame have been worn/torn, and offers discolouration, minor wear to corners of painting, remains very fine. 

A small artwork, brown ink on paper, untitled, featuring two soldiers walking down a street at night with a damaged house, and multiple tree stumps and crosses, unsigned but in the style of Pte. Jukes, adhered to a pressed board presenting a matte frame, measures 197 mm (w) x 148 mm (h), minor wear to edges of matte frame, two small pin holes in painting, remains extremely fine. 

Footnote: Reuben Jukes (Jucksch) was a Canadian soldier and artist who served in the First War, and is known for his unique watercolours, presenting soldiers, buildings, and sights from the first hand experience of an individual at war and on the front lines. 

Jukes was born July 5, 1887 in Hanover, Ontario.  Prior to enlisting at the age of 27, he listed his trade as an artist. He joined the 20th Battalion in Toronto on November 10, 1914, with previous service experience in the 31st Regiment. 

He was hospitalized in March 1916 for shell shock and was not discharged until October 16, 1916. He was struck off strength to the 5th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott on January 31, 1917. He returned to the 20th battalion, and active service in May 1917. 

While serving with the 20th battalion overseas, relieving the 20th battalion, he was wounded by shell gas. He was admitted to the No. 56 General Hospital at Etapes on April 25, 1918. The records state he “vomits occasionally, particularly on bending, some headache, stitch in R. breast, some loss of appetite and weakness.” He was evacuated to England and remained hospitalized until July 26th. 

Jukes returned to the 20th battalion in October, 1918, at Thun-Levesque. When the war ended on November 11th, he was in Saint-Symphorien. The advance from La Bouverie resulted in the loss of 1 officer, 11 other ranks killed and 30 wounded. About 10 soldiers were taken prisoner, just before the cease-fire. 

The battalion rested in Mons, France for roughly a week following the Armistice. They then continued the March to the Rhine. 

Jukes was demobilized in May 1919, ultimately returning to Canada. After the war, he worked in Vaudeville both as a set painter and in various acts. In 1924, he married Amelia Louisa Hagen. In 1940, he opened his own business painting signs in Kitchener, Ontario. Jukes died in May 1959, at the age of 71, in Kitchener. 

His watercolours have been exhibited in multiple museums and offer a unique first hand account of the front lines, and life as a soldier during the Great War.