Richard Taylor print signed by 4 WW2 Band of Brothers
SIGNED by 4 Easy Company, Band of Brothers World War 2 veterans as seen in the famous epic TV series
This is a great item. It is 1 of only 50 limited edition prints just issued by the world renowned artist Richard Taylor. This new pencil drawing features a group of paratroopers outside the Café de Normandie enjoying a break in the intense fighting, during the Allied advance shortly after D-Day.
What makes this already superb print really special though, is the fact that I got it signed by 4 World War 2 US veterans that heroically served in Easy Company made famous as The Band of Brothers. Now all well into their 80’s, these remarkable men were flown over from America especially for the launch of this and another print by the artists world leading artist father, Robert Taylor.
Signatures
CORPORAL HERB SUERTH - 18 year old Herb Suerth enlisted as a volunteer for the Reserve Engineer Corps in November 1942, but after a change of heart in 1944 he was assigned to 101st Airborne Division, beginning the parachute school training in August that year. After final combat training in Holland, Herb was trucked into Bastogne in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge, also fighting in Foy. In January 1945 Herb was wounded by the artillery fire and his legs were severely injured but ultimately saved. He was shipped back to the US on during April 1945.
PRIVATE BILL WINGETT - Bill Wingett originally enlisted on 9th December 1941, two days after Pearl Harbour was attacked, but after a car crash, hospitalisation and subsequent discharge from the forces meant he had to try again on August, 1942. Bill was with Easy Company until 5 days before D-Day where he was transferred to Headquarters Company. He fought in the campaigns of Normandy, Holland and Bastogne receiving the Purple Heart in each. Discharged in November 1945, Bill returned 10 months later to join the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg Airfield.
COLONEL ED SHAMES - Enlisting in September 1942 at the age of 19, Ed Shames was to become one of the most respected officers in the 101st Airborne Division. A stickler for detail, he always got the job done, and brought his men home. Originally assigned to I Company in the 3rd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment he was transferred to Headquarters Company receiving a battlefield commission during the taking of Carentan in Normandy. He joined Easy Company in July 1944 as a 2nd Lieutenant prior to Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.
SERGEANT ED TIPPER - In August 1942 Ed Tipper joined the Paratroopers and jumped on D-Day, but was dropped about 10km from his objective into total chaos. One by one he met up with other paratroopers becoming an effective fighting force of 18 men despite all being strangers and with no officers and it was almost a week until he met up with his unit again. During the taking of Carentan, Ed got badly wounded when a mortar shell landed at his feet as he cleared a house and subsequently spent a year in Army hospitals.
There is a great deal more about all of them on the Internet – simply google their names. They are all also featured in the best selling book and on the DVD set ‘The Band of Brothers’
THE ARTIST RICHARD TAYLOR - Richard’s work is simply superb and yet another reason why he is regarded as one of the best pencil artists in the industry.
This print comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity from the publishers and measures approx. 13.5 x 12.5 inches. It is a great size to get mounted and framed and ideal if you got the chance to get additional WW2 signatures added to it especially with 2009 being the 65th anniversary of D-Day, Arnhem etc.
