Paul Lucien Maze DCM MM (1887-1979) was born in Le Havre and learnt the rudiments of painting from family friends including, Georges Braque, Raoul Dufy, Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro. Aged fourteen, Maze was sent to school at Haendel College in Southampton and it was during his time there that he began a life-long affair with all things English. When war broke out in 1914 Maze joined the Royal Scots Greys initially as an interpreter and was later transferred to the British 5th Army Headquarters’ staff where he was a liaison officer and artist. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal with bar as well as the French Croix de Guerre and later on the Legion d’honneur. In 1934 Heinemann published Maze’s recollections of the First World War – A Frenchman in Khaki with a preface by Winston Churchill. In 1920 he was naturalised as a British subject when he married Margaret Nelson. He divorced in 1950 and married Jessie Lawrie and moved to Mill Cottage, Treyford in West Sussex. Maze exhibited in London, Paris and New York and his work is held in major British and US private collections and public institutions including, Tate, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum, Henley River & Rowing Museum and The Government Art Collection.
