The Appointment of Official War Artist Dennis Adams

Dennis Adams was selected as an official war artist during the Second World War to document the activities of the Royal Australian Navy and Merchant Navy.

Adams put himself forward for an appointment. His recently digitised application and appointment file contains numerous letters expressing his interest. His campaign for the position began in May 1940, with eight letters on file expressing his interest. One of two letters of recommendation was written by Mr. M. H. Ellis to former Australian prime minister Billy Hughes. Having received a letter from Australian artist Normal Lindsay, Ellis sought to raise Adams’ profile:

Mr Lindsay’s standards of judgement are so high, that it is unlikely he would recommend anybody who has not unusual talent; and a couple of photographs which he send me of Mr Adam’s work prove that he has the talent rare among naval artists of people able to paint a ship without making it look like a tin washtub.

Adams’ letters, which became increasingly frequent over time, show his enthusiasm for the role, and his self-assuredness in his abilities:

… I am a young man (27) and have not yet had the opportunity to make my work more generally known here, because of several years absence in London, where I studied at the Royal Academy Schools, where incidentally I was a medalist …

My knowledge of ships has been gained through a life-long and intimate knowledge of the sea … If I should be given the opportunity of serving as an Official Artist in the Navy or Merchant Navy I would more than appreciate the honour and would give my best to produce a good pictorial record of the life and activities of the service.

His campaign proved successful and he was appointed as an official war artist on 20 July 1942. At the time of his offer, Adams had been called up for Militia training and had to be discharged from the Militia before he could be appointed an official war artist.

Subject to the same enlistment conditions as everyone serving, official war artists were required to undergo a medical examination. Adams’ complexion is listed as “medium”, colour of hair “brown”, and colour of eyes “grey”.

Adams was “granted a commission in the Australian Military Forces with effect from 5 Oct 43” with the rank of captain, “following upon a decision that the Official War Artists may have military status”. He was given the army number VX93486.

During his time as an official war artist, Adams was assigned to the Australian and New Guinea theatres of war from 1942-43, starting with a four-month posting to the naval base on Garden Island in Sydney. In 1943 he worked in Middle Eastern and European theatres, concentrating on the activities of RAAF aircrews in Britain before being transferred to the Mediterranean and British operational areas in 1944. In the latter stages of the war, he recorded surrender ceremonies in Rabaul and Japan, as well as the activities of the Allied occupation forces. 

During his appointment, Adams celebrated a significant event in his personal life, albeit one that was recorded in a short sentence. In a memo to Acting Director of the Australian War Memorial Arthur Bazley, John Treloar recorded on 26 February 1945, “will you please note that Capt. Dennis Adams, War Artist, arrived in Melbourne on 20 Feb 1945. He applied for leave, was married within two or three days of his arrival, and has gone to Sydney.”

Approached by the F.H. Johnston Publishing Company to provide some small drawings for “The Boy’s R.A.N. Book”, Adams again took a period of leave. As per the terms of accepting an appointment as an official war artist, artists are required to “devote” themselves “entirely to your duties as an official war artist … and do no private work whatsoever.” Given the nature of the request, leave without pay was granted for Adams to complete this work, before he returned to complete paintings of his sketches made while serving abroad.

A gifted draughtsman and a man of great determination – as reflected in his artwork and steadfast campaign for appointment – Dennis Adams’ perseverance has been of great benefit to the Memorial. His appointment and subsequent commissions have led to the Memorial holding more than 450 of his works, with details of around 200 available online. The application and appointment file for Dennis Adams as an Official War Artist (AWM93 50/4/2/12) will be available online shortly.