H.M.S. Jervis Bay engaging the German pocket battleship 'Admiral Scheer' 1940

Depicts the ship H.M.S. 'Jervis Bay' engaging the German pocket battleship, 'Admiral Scheer' on 5 November 1940, during the Second World War. On 31 October 1940 the 'Admiral Scheer' entered the north Atlantic undetected to begin a destructive commerce-raiding cruise of five months. Unaware of the danger, a convoy of thirty-seven ships escorted only by the armed merchant cruiser HMS 'Jervis Bay', in the area bound from Halifax to the United Kingdom. On the same day, the 'Admiral Scheer' encountered the convoy, 'which immediately scattered and made smoke'. The 'Jervis Bay' placed itself between the fleeing ships and the German ship, before being pulverised and sunk, with her captain, E.S.F. Fegan on board. For his gallant actions, Captain Fegan received the Victoria Cross posthumously. Montague Dawson (1895-1973) was the son of a keen yachtsman and the grandson of the marine painter Henry Dawson (1811-1878). Much of his childhood was spent at Southampton Water where he was able to indulge his interest in the study of ships. In 1910, Dawson worked briefly for a commercial art studio in London, but with the outbreak of WWI, he joined the Royal Navy. Dawson was present at the final surrender of the German Grand fleet and many of his illustrations depicting this event were published in the 'Sphere'. After the First World War, Dawson established himself as a professional marine painter, concentrating on historical subjects and portraits of deep water sailing ships . During the Second World War he was employed as a war artist and again worked for the 'Sphere'. He exhibited regularly with the Royal Society of Marine Artists of which he was a member 1946-1964. By the 1930s he was considered one of the greatest living marine artists, whose patrons included two American Presidents, Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon B Johnson and the British Royal family.