IN MEMORIAM – a D-Day Veteran

James Kirkwood (1922-2017)
courtesy of Andrew Jamieson

On 6thJune 2015 I published a blog about the exhibition The Last of the Tide at the Queen’s Gallery.  In it I mentioned my partner’s father who had served on the landing craft taking Canadian forces to Juno Nan Beach in June 1944.  Last year he was awarded the Légion d’honneur by the French government and even though somewhat frail he was able to attend the ceremony at Glasgow City Chambers. In recent months he became much frailer and it is with profound sadness that I have to tell you that he passed away in the early hours of 28th March 2017. The day after his 95th birthday.

 

In late 2010 he gave the Ensign from the landing craft and his Operational Orders to the Imperial War Museum in London (http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30106688) together with an account of his naval service which you can access through the link.

 

He was a really good, kind and humble man and was very proud of his country. I am so honoured to have known him. It is a great thing that his war service though is remembered through his generous donation to the museum and I thought it may be of some interest hence my sharing of it.

WWII WAR PICTURES

WWII War Pictures by British Artists, Morley Gallery, Morley College, 62 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1, until 23rd November 2016

James Hammond Harwood (1904-1980) Barrage Balloon, 1940 Framed (ref: 7674) Signed and dated Watercolour 14 ¼ x 17 ¼ in. (36 x 44 cm)

James Hammond Harwood (1904-1980)
Barrage Balloon, 1940
Framed (ref: 7674)
Signed and dated
Watercolour
14 ¼ x 17 ¼ in. (36 x 44 cm)

It is appropriate that Liss Llewellyn Fine Art should hold this exhibition at the Morley Gallery for the College had some very beautiful British murals which were destroyed in the Blitz during the Second World War.

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995) Farmers ploughing, Study for The World's Food mural, c. 1942 Framed (ref: 5282) Signed, squared in pencil Watercolour over pencil 4 3/8 x 7 1/2 in. (12.2 x 19 cm)

Mary Adshead (1904 – 1995)
Farmers ploughing, Study for The World’s Food mural, c. 1942
Framed (ref: 5282)
Signed, squared in pencil
Watercolour over pencil
4 3/8 x 7 1/2 in. (12.2 x 19 cm)

In 1939 the Ministry of Information set up the War Artists Advisory Committee (WAAC) under the chairmanship of Kenneth Clark who was the National Gallery’s Director and the WAAC were asked to ‘draw up a list of artists qualified to record the war at home and abroad’. In the end some four hundred and three artists were commissioned to record all aspects of the War.

Hubert Arthur Finney (1905-1991) Self portrait, 1945 Framed (ref: 7654) Pastel, 17 5/8 x 14 1/8 in. (45 x 36 cm)

Hubert Arthur Finney (1905-1991)
Self portrait, 1945
Framed (ref: 7654)
Pastel,
17 5/8 x 14 1/8 in. (45 x 36 cm)

An eight volume series of pocket-sized pamphlets – War Pictures by British Artists – was published in two sets of four in 1942 (War at Sea, RAF, Army, and Blitz ) and 1943 (Soldiers, Production, Air Raids and Women) to great success despite the poor quality of the printing.  This exhibition includes many of these WAAC artworks as well as those produced by other artists and illustrators who were working privately.

Ethel Leontine Gabain (1883-1950) Captain Pauline Gower of the Women’s Air Transport Auxiliary Framed (ref: 7607) Lithographic print from the series Women’s Work in the War (Other than the Services), published by The Ministry of Information: His Majesty’s Stationery Office 14 7/8 x 19 3/4 in. (37.8 x 50.2 cm.) Reference: Wright supplement 314

Ethel Leontine Gabain (1883-1950)
Captain Pauline Gower of the Women’s Air Transport Auxiliary
Framed (ref: 7607)
Lithographic print from the series Women’s Work in the War (Other than the Services), published by The Ministry of Information: His Majesty’s Stationery Office
14 7/8 x 19 3/4 in. (37.8 x 50.2 cm.)
Reference: Wright supplement 314

The combination of these works provides us with an exhibition that embraces all aspects of the War and brings the period to life before our eyes.  It reminds us of the debt we owe those people in the forces and at home who did their bit unflinchingly. The exhibition is accompanied by an excellent catalogue.

James Walker Tucker ((1898-1972)) Letters from Home Framed (ref: 7671) Signed Watercolour on paper 14 ¼ x 20 ½ in. (36 x 52 cm)

James Walker Tucker ((1898-1972))
Letters from Home
Framed (ref: 7671)
Signed
Watercolour on paper
14 ¼ x 20 ½ in. (36 x 52 cm)

http://www.llfa.gallery

James Woodford (1893–1976) Dawn Chorus, 1946-7 Unframed (ref: 7581) Original plaster maquette, with a dark green finish, signed and dated 1946-7, and (titled on a label) 17 x 16 ins. (43 x 40.5 cm)

James Woodford (1893–1976)
Dawn Chorus, 1946-7
Unframed (ref: 7581)
Original plaster maquette, with a dark green finish, signed and dated 1946-7, and (titled on a label)
17 x 16 ins. (43 x 40.5 cm)

D-Day Remembered – The Queen’s Gallery

The Last of the Tide, The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London SW1, 6th – 17th June 2015

Laurence ‘Laurie’ Weeden, Pilot with the Glider Pilot Regiment

Laurence ‘Laurie’ Weeden, Pilot with the Glider Pilot Regiment

Martin Yeoman,  Laurence ‘Laurie’ Weeden,  Pilot with the Glider Pilot Regiment  © Martin Yeoman  Photograph: © Royal Collection Trust

Martin Yeoman,
Laurence ‘Laurie’ Weeden,
Pilot with the Glider Pilot Regiment
© Martin Yeoman
Photograph: © Royal Collection Trust

This very special exhibition was commissioned by HRH The Prince of Wales after attending last year’s events marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy. It comprises twelve portraits of D-Day veterans who are depicted wearing their medals and in some cases their regimental berets. The sitters all served in regiments with which The Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall have a formal association. Each of the twelve portraits was painted by a different artist among whom were Jonathan Yeo, James Lloyd, Ishbel Myerscough and Stuart Pearson Wright.

Eileen Hogan,  Robert Antony ‘Tony’ Leake,  Corporal with the 8th Battalion The Parachute  Regiment  © Eileen Hogan  Photograph: © Royal Collection Trust

Eileen Hogan,
Robert Antony ‘Tony’ Leake,
Corporal with the 8th Battalion The Parachute
Regiment
© Eileen Hogan
Photograph: © Royal Collection Trust

Robert Antony ‘Tony’ Leake, Corporal with the 8th Battalion The Parachute  Regiment

Robert Antony ‘Tony’ Leake, Corporal with the 8th Battalion The Parachute Regiment

It is right and fitting that this exhibition should open on this anniversary of D-Day. The extraordinary men – and they truly are, as I know personally through my partner’s father who served on one of the landing craft bringing the Canadian troops to Juno Nan Beach – were part of the Allied invasion on 6th June 1944 which was the largest amphibious invasion in history and resulted in the liberation of France from the Nazi occupation.

Brian Stewart, Captain with the 1st Battalion, Tyneside Scottish

Brian Stewart, Captain with the 1st Battalion, Tyneside Scottish

Paul Benney,   Brian Stewart,   Captain with the 1st Battalion, Tyneside Scottish  © Paul Benney  Photograph:  © Royal Collection Trust

Paul Benney,
Brian Stewart,
Captain with the 1st Battalion, Tyneside Scottish
© Paul Benney
Photograph: © Royal Collection Trust

Admission is free. Tickets are available from the Gallery, on the day only.

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk