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Notes
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In this three-quarter length portrait, Cameron sits with his arms folded and stares straight ahead to meet the gaze of the viewer. In 1942, as a 27-year-old Royal Naval Reserve lieutenant, Cameron commanded the midget submarine X6, which with three others (each with a crew of four), was towed by conventional submarine from Scotland to make an attack on the German battleship 'Tirpitz', in Kaa Fjord, northern Norway. This involved travelling at least 1000 miles from base and negotiating such hazards as a minefield, nets, gun defences and enemy listening posts. One of the X-craft was lost on the way when the tow parted; another began the attack run down Alten Fjord on 22 September but had to withdraw owing to technical problems and only three reached the Tirpitz in Kaa Fjord.
John Worsley was one of the youngest war artists, and was captured by the Germans in Italy while accompanying an amphibious raid but continued to paint while a prisoner of war, with materials supplied by the Red Cross, assembling such an impressive portfolio that German admirals visited the camp to admire his work.
Both Worsley and Cameron were held in the German naval prison camp, 'Marlag O', where this portrait was painted in 1944. It is painted on a piece of bed-sheet as no canvas was available. See also BHC2954.
Title
Lieutenant Donald Cameron (1916–1961), VC
Date
1944
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 76.2 x W 63.5 cm
Accession number
BHC2597
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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