The war art of Eric Ravilious
Having uploaded a daily calendar sample of the art of Eric Ravilious (1903-1942) and learned about his appointment as an official war artist and subsequent death, I took a deeper dive. His work included this portrayal of the unlucky aircraft carrier, HMS Glorious, off the coast of Norway in June 1940. It is an altogether tragic scene.
In an effort to roll back the Nazi invasion of Norway in April 1940 and the attempt to procure iron ore and other strategic resources, a combined Anglo-French expeditionary force was dispatched to the north of the country. Whilst there were local tactical successes, the Nazi forces prevailed, and the Allies were forced to retreat.
The Royal Navy aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal and Glorious were dispatched to assist the evacuation. HMS Glorious was given the task of rescuing the RAF squadrons of Hawker Hurricanes and biplane Gloster Gladiators that had fought in the Norwegian campaign. This was a huge gamble, as the RAF pilots had no prior experience of carrier landings - nor had such a fast monoplane ever previously attempted a landing at sea. Eric Ravilious showed the aircraft wheeling around HMS Glorious, and every plane landed safely - a wonderful feat.
But the success turned to tragedy a day or two later. In very controversial circumstances, the captain of HMS Glorious insisted on an early return to British waters, ahead of the main fleet, and with minimal protection. Escorted by just two destroyers, and inexplicably failing to mount aerial reconnaissance missions, HMS Glorious sailed directly into the path of the German battlecruisers, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Their firepower quickly overwhelmed the Royal Naval force. Only 40 people survived the sinking of the three ships, including a sole RAF pilot.
The war art of Eric Ravilious
Having uploaded a daily calendar sample of the art of Eric Ravilious (1903-1942) and learned about his appointment as an official war artist and subsequent death, I took a deeper dive. His work included this portrayal of the unlucky aircraft carrier, HMS Glorious, off the coast of Norway in June 1940. It is an altogether tragic scene.
In an effort to roll back the Nazi invasion of Norway in April 1940 and the attempt to procure iron ore and other strategic resources, a combined Anglo-French expeditionary force was dispatched to the north of the country. Whilst there were local tactical successes, the Nazi forces prevailed, and the Allies were forced to retreat.
The Royal Navy aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal and Glorious were dispatched to assist the evacuation. HMS Glorious was given the task of rescuing the RAF squadrons of Hawker Hurricanes and biplane Gloster Gladiators that had fought in the Norwegian campaign. This was a huge gamble, as the RAF pilots had no prior experience of carrier landings - nor had such a fast monoplane ever previously attempted a landing at sea. Eric Ravilious showed the aircraft wheeling around HMS Glorious, and every plane landed safely - a wonderful feat.
But the success turned to tragedy a day or two later. In very controversial circumstances, the captain of HMS Glorious insisted on an early return to British waters, ahead of the main fleet, and with minimal protection. Escorted by just two destroyers, and inexplicably failing to mount aerial reconnaissance missions, HMS Glorious sailed directly into the path of the German battlecruisers, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Their firepower quickly overwhelmed the Royal Naval force. Only 40 people survived the sinking of the three ships, including a sole RAF pilot.