James Creech was a blacksmith from New South Wales. His war was not an easy one, joining up in 1915 he was part of the 3rd Battalion, an ANZAC. He first served at Gallipoli but had to be evacuated after becoming seriously ill. He recovered in England, and then re-joined his battalion participating in the Battle of the Somme where he suffered a gunshot wound. After another recovery he again returned to the 3rd Battalion, this time fighting at Passchendaele.
He fought on until April 15 1918, when he came under artillery fire whilst leading a patrol. Lying on the ground, James put his arm out to comfort an inexperienced soldier unused to heavy fire. An artillery shell burst killing all those present except James. He suffered serious shrapnel wounds to his arm which ended his war. James arrived at Clandon Park on April 25 1918, where he met a nurse named Norah Ellender.
Norah’s sketch, called Not Prescribed, was actually made before she met James, but it became incredibly personal and autobiographical. The title of the drawing hints that relationships between nurses and patients were not unusual, but that perhaps they were frowned upon.