Bash Shawish A G; Ramadan, Animal Transport

Bash Shawish was a rank in the Sudan Defence Corps. 'A G' were probably this man’s initials. Bawden drew him at a camp at Omdurman in the Sudan, during the Second World War. British soldiers were training recruits for the Corps. It was drawn during Ramadan, a period of religious fasting. The artist noted that he had to draw quickly or his subjects would faint in the heat.