PAINTINGS and drawings created by a Marlborough army officer during his time as a First World War prisoner of war have been made available online 100 years after they were produced.

The artwork was created by Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Bond after he was captured and transported to Magdeburg, Germany.

The paintings – along with the officer’s story – have been made available for free as part of the Soldiers’ Stories series on the National Army Museum’s commemorative portal, First World War in Focus.

Lt Cl Bond spent more than six months in 1915 observing both his fellow prisoners and his captors, recording them in a series of watercolours and sketches.

His artwork includes depictions of fellow prisoners from all over Europe, including French, Belgian and Russian officers, as well as unflattering watercolours of overweight guards.

He also drew several images of the Magdeburg skyline, or at least what he could see of it over the walls of the prison.

Lt Cl Bond was the son of a vicar born and was born in Marlborough on April 28 1866.

He was commissioned into the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at the age of 22 and was a 48 when war broke out in 1914.

He was in command of the regiment’s second battalion at the outbreak of war and led them during the Battle of Mons, before being captured at Le Cateau on 26 August 1914.

His family was told that he was dead and held a memorial service in his honour before they found out the truth.

He was taken to Magdeburg six months later where he remained for the duration of war until Armistice Day on 11 November 1918.

A spokesperson for the National Army Museum said: “Such personal accounts are being unveiled each month on the Soldiers’ Stories series.

“They piece together the development of the war from the point of view of those directly involved – 100 years from the time that they describe.

“We hope that in sharing these personal stories, the human scale and impact of The Great War can be better felt and understood.”

First World War in Focus is part of the National Army Museum’s Building for the Future project which is supported by an £11.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.