Pair of World War II British Military & Civil Defence Portraits

An evocative pair of original British wartime oil portraits, dating from the Second World War period and depicting a Royal Engineers officer together with a Civil Defence officer, the latter being an unusual signed self-portrait by A. G. Malcham. The first is an oil on canvas portrait of a British Royal Engineers officer, shown in khaki service dress and peaked cap. The distinctive Royal Engineers insignia can be seen to the cap and collar, while the shoulder insignia appears consistent with the rank of Lieutenant. The portrait is signed “M. C. Pollock” lower right. Executed in a direct and characterful manner, it has the intimate quality of a privately commissioned or personally painted wartime portrait rather than an official military portrait. The second work is particularly interesting: an oil on Winsor & Newton Artists' Rathbone canvas board depicting a British Civil Defence officer in wartime uniform. It is signed “A. G. Malcham” to the upper right and is additionally signed in pencil verso. Most importantly, the reverse bears the handwritten inscription: “Self portrait in mirror” This establishes the work as a self-portrait by A. G. Malcham. The sitter wears the distinctive dark Civil Defence battledress with crowned Civil Defence breast badge and wartime rank/service insignia. The uniform details are consistent with the latter years of the Second World War, and a date of circa 1944–45 would be reasonable. The paintings were acquired together and have remained together as a pair. Their precise original relationship is unknown, but their similar size, wartime subject matter and shared provenance make them particularly appealing displayed together. A fascinating and highly atmospheric pair of original British WWII portraits combining military, Royal Engineers, Civil Defence and social-history interest. DIMENSIONS Royal Engineers Officer – M. C. Pollock Approximately 28 × 19.5 cm Civil Defence Self-Portrait – A. G. Malcham Approximately 30 × 22.5 cm ATTRIBUTION / SIGNATURES M. C. Pollock (British, 20th century) – signed lower right. A. G. Malcham (British, 20th century) – signed upper right and verso; inscribed verso “Self portrait in mirror.” Neither artist has presently been conclusively identified with a listed professional artist.