| Place | Oceania: Australia, Victoria, Melbourne |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART22171 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | framed: 100 x 80 cm; unframed: 77 x 56.6 cm |
| Object type | Painting |
| Physical description | oil on canvas |
| Location | Main Bld: World War 2 Gallery: Gallery 2: Turn Point |
| Maker |
Hanke, Henry |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne |
| Date made | 1943 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Naval Gunner (Able Seaman John Walker)
Description
Able Seaman John Walker wears an anti-flash hood, protective helmet, white gauntlets and life preserver. He served in destroyer escorts of the Arctic Sea convoys, including on the notorious Murmansk route. Despite the harsh weather of this region, the ice-free harbour permitted the supply of manufactured goods and raw materials to the Soviet Union from other Allied nations. Walker was chosen for this portrait as a kind of "everyman" for serving RAN members.