London Midland & Scottish Railway steamers Princess Maud and Duchess of York evacuating troops from St Valery under shell-fire

Painting, oil on canvas, LMS steamers Princess Maud and Duchess of York evacuating troops from St Valery under shell-fire, by Norman Wilkinson, c1945. Depicts the London, Midland & Scottish Railway Irish Sea passenger steamers in war service. They are close inshore, with water spouting as shells land in the sea near by. A Royal Navy motor torpedo boat sails towards the coast, while a tug steams in the opposite direction. In the background are Royal Navy destroyers and cliffs, partially obscured by large columns of smoke. The painting represents the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from St Valery-en-Caux during the fall of France, May and June 1940. Signed by the artist at bottom right. Created for The LMS at War series. Unframed.