| Accession Number | AWM2019.974.7 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Framed: 22 cm x 26 cm x 1.8 cm; Unframed: 18.5 cm x 22.5 cm x .3 cm |
| Object type | Painting |
| Physical description | oil on cardboard |
| Maker |
Norton, Frank |
| Place made | Netherlands East Indies: Halmahera Island, Morotai Island, Netherlands East Indies: Halmahera Island, Morotai Island |
| Date made | 22 September 1944 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Unlicensed copyright |
not titled [HMAS Warrego]
Description
Frank Norton (1916-1983) official war artist painted this work of HMAS Warrego U73 on 22 September 1944. Norton has depicted the ship with its camouflage colours in a disruptive pattern of brown and green leading a fleet. Its namesake is the Warrego River which flows thought both Queensland and NSW and is the northernmost tributary of the Darling River.
HMAS Warrego is a Grimsby Class Sloop and was built by Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co Ltd, Sydney and was laid down on 15 May 1939, then launched on 10 February 1940 by Mrs Pattie Menzies, wife of the then Prime Minister Robert Menzies.
Warrego served during the Second World War as an escort and patrol vessel escorting convoys in Australia and South-Western Pacific Waters. During the latter half of 1944 when Norton painted this work HMAS Warrego was transferred to the US Seventh Fleet Survey Group (TG 70.5) for survey duties in New Guinea waters. HMAS Warrego earned several Battle Honours including Pacific 1941-45, Darwin 1942-44, Lingayen Guff 1945 and Borneo 1945 before being decommissioned on 15 August 1963.