A beautifully executed painting enhanced by the fact that the colour element is
hand painted and with body colour added for the steam escaping from the sirens
on no. 2 funnel of this torpedo boat destroyer. It’s a filthy day, blowing a stinker
and raw and cold too: the figure on the bridge wing with megaphone is togged
up in his oilskins, souwester and leather gloves and is clearly trying to get some
recalcitrant merchantman to get into formation as his ship rolls and plunges in
the unpleasant sea. The remarques in the borders show the captain or officer of
the watch (probably the former judging by his girth and weather-beaten face!) in
duffle coat and sea boots at the binnacle; and in the lower margin a destroyer
patrolling the convoy on a slightly more pleasant day with more moderate sea
and wind.
