Harold Gresley was a British artist, following his father and grandfather. He was a painter of landscapes and portraits in watercolour and oil. He served in the Royal Fusiliers in the First World War and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal

Distinguished Conduct Medal

The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...

. He has a substantial number of paintings in Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Derby Museum and Art Gallery was established in 1879, along with Derby Central Library, in a new building designed by Richard Knill Freeman and given to Derby by Michael Thomas Bass. The collection includes a whole gallery displaying the paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby; there is also a large...

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Biography

Gresley was born in Derbyshire and studied at Derby School of Art. He was the son of Frank Gresley

Frank Gresley

Frank Gresley was a British artist. He painted mainly landscapes, most famous are those of the river Trent in Swarkestone, Barrow and Ingleby. His father was the artist, James Stephen Gresley and his two sons Harold and Cuthbert also became artists.Gresley lived most of his life in Chellaston,...

 and grandson of James Stephen Gresley

James Stephen Gresley

-Biography:Gresley was born in Sandiacre in Derbysire. His son was Frank Gresley who had, in turn, two sons, Harold and Cuthbert who were noted artists...

 both of whom were notable artists. He interrupted his studies when the First World War broke out, joining 1st Battalion The Royal Fusiliers. During the war he fought in the Balkans and in France. For his gallantry in France in late 1918, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, a British award second only to the Victoria Cross. His citation reads:

" G/16514 Sjt. H. Gresley, 1st Bn., R. Fus.(Derby).

Throughout the operations in October and November, 1918. he repeatedly went forward well in advance of our troops and brought back very valuable information. On 7th November, 1918, after the battalion had been held up at St. Vaast La Valee, he went forward with the leading wave under a barrage and pointed out their objectives."

After the war he continued his studies in Nottingham under Arthur Spooner, and became a teacher at Repton School

Repton School

Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...

. Though the Gresleys are principally known for their landscapes, Harold was a highly accomplished portrait painter too. He lived at Chellaston

Chellaston

Chellaston is a suburb of the City of Derby, which is in the East Midlands in England in the United Kingdom. It is on a natural hill, and has recently expanded due to several new housing estates....

, near Derby until he died in 1967.

Some of his work is presented in Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Derby Museum and Art Gallery was established in 1879, along with Derby Central Library, in a new building designed by Richard Knill Freeman and given to Derby by Michael Thomas Bass. The collection includes a whole gallery displaying the paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby; there is also a large...

 after 77 of his paintings were donated by art collector Alfred E. Goodey

Alfred E. Goodey

Alfred E. Goodey was a collector of paintings, prints and photographs, especially those connected with the English Midlands town of Derby.-Biography:...

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External links

• Harold Gresley Auction Price Results Invaluable. (contains pictures of his paintings)