Joseph Alphonse Marie English (

Bruges Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the countr ...

, 5 August 1882 –

Vinkem Veurne (; french: Furnes, italic=no, ) is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of , , , , , Houtem, , , Wulveringem, and . History Origins ...

, 31 August 1918) was a

Flemish Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...

draughtsman A draughtsman (British spelling) or draftsman (American spelling) may refer to: * An architectural drafter, who produced architectural drawings until the late 20th century * An artist who produces drawings that rival or surpass their other types ...

and painter.

Life and work

His father was an

Irishman The Irish ( ga, Muintir na hÉireann or ''Na hÉireannaigh'') are an ethnic group and nation native to the island of Ireland, who share a common history and culture. There have been humans in Ireland for about 33,000 years, and it has been c ...

, Henry English, who married a Flemish woman, Marie Dinnewet.
Belgian War Dead Register, accessed 19 February 2022. Later on, Joe was naturalised as a Belgian subject, did initial military service with the Belgian Land Component, Belgian Army in 1902, and collaborated closely with the

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

artist Juliaan Devriendt.

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

was at that time the centre of the

Flemish Movement The Flemish Movement ( nl, Vlaamse Beweging) is an umbrella term which encompasses various political groups in the Belgium, Belgian region of Flanders and, less commonly, in French Flanders. Ideologically, it encompasses groups which have sought ...

. In 1914, he was mobilised. At the end of 1915, he worked as an artist in

Veurne Veurne (; french: Furnes, italic=no, ) is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of , , , , , Houtem, , , Wulveringem, and . History Origins up ...

, where he became a prominent front soldier. He designed the typical gravestones honouring the Flemish soldiers who died in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. English died at the age of 36 from an untreated

appendicitis Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a rup ...

in the military hospital L'Océan at

on the night of 31 August 1918. He was initially buried in the Belgian military cemetery at Steenkerke. The very first

IJzerbedevaart The Yser Pilgrimage ( nl, IJzerbedevaart) is an annual gathering at the Yser Tower (''IJzertoren'') in Diksmuide, West Flanders in Belgium. This pilgrimage remembers the Flemish soldiers who died while serving in the Belgian Army during the Fi ...

took place there at his sepulchre in 1920. In 1930, his corpse was placed in the crypt of the

IJzertoren The Yser Towers ( nl, IJzertoren) are a monument complex near the Yser river at Diksmuide, West Flanders in Belgium. The first tower was built in 1928–30 to commemorate the Belgian soldiers killed on the surrounding Yser Front during World War ...

(the Yser Tower, named after the River Yser) in Diksmuide. Through his friend , a number of English's oil paintings and water colours, which depict Veurne during the war, were permanently exhibited in the town hall there.

References

External links

The ‘AVV VVK‘-headstone Joe English

joe-english-kunstschilder.be
a website maintained by a granddaughter of the painter
Website on the Great War in Flanders Fields
{{DEFAULTSORT:English, Joe 1882 births 1918 deaths Artists from Bruges Belgian Army personnel of World War I Flemish activists Prix de Rome (Belgium) winners Belgian war artists Belgian people of Irish descent Deaths from appendicitis World War I artists 20th-century Belgian painters Belgian military personnel killed in World War I