English bronze portrait bust of Colonel Francis Duncan C.B. (1836-1888), by Conrad Dressler (1856-1940)

Francis Duncan died whilst serving as an MP for Holborn in 1888, having only three years prior become a Colonel whilst serving in the Egyptian Army between 1883 to 1885. He started his career in the Royal Artillery, as he journeyed up through the ranks he instructed at the School of Gunnery (Royal Military Academy, Woolwich) from 1877 to 1882. Alongside Surgeon-Major Peter Shepherd he established the concept of teaching first aid skills to civilians and strongly supported the principle of battlefield ambulances. Conrad Dressler (1856-1940) studied at the Royal College of Art and became a sculptor and ceramist. He was highly influenced by the Arts and Craft movement.