Oil on canvas (H. 73 cm, W. 62 cm) Signed and dated upper right: Oswald Birley 1943
Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell (1883-1950) was a Scholar of Winchester College, 1896-1900, before entering the army. He served in the Second World War and World War I. In World War II he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, and then Commander-in-Chief, India, 1941-1943. He served as Viceroy of India from 1943 until his retirement in 1947.