Circa 1810

Pencil on paper in two sections, a further sketch on the reverse

Inscribed lower left ‘Banda….Cole’

Cole fought in the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary wars and the Napoleonic wars but is perhaps best known for his exploits in the Dutch East Indies in 1810-11, where he was instrumental in the capture of Amboyna and Java.

On 9th August 1810, Cole led and attack on the heavily fortified island of Banda Neira. He had four ships, including the Caroline, under his command. Although the operation started badly for him, Cole personally led a small band of men into the fortress and forced the Dutch into surrender. This drawing depicts the small boats taking this landing force to the fort.

Cole made a number of sketches of the actions on the day of the attack, perhaps in preparation for the engagement. This drawing is an extremely rare survivor of that group which are otherwise known only from the prints which were derived by artists such as William Daniell from Cole’s original sketches (see British Museum 1917,1208.4597 and 1871,1111.662).

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