Marlag 'O' Feb '44 S.W. Corner of Naval Officers Prison Camp, Westertincke, Germany, in winter
Image information
Marlag 'O' Feb '44 S.W. Corner of Naval Officers Prison Camp, Westertincke, Germany, in winter
John Worsley joined the Royal Navy in 1939. His depictions of life on board ship were soon acquired by the War Artists Advisory Committee (WAAC), and he was quickly made an official war artist. In 1943, he was captured in the Mediterranean and spent the rest of the war in a naval officer's prison camp, Marlag ‘O’ at Westertimke, near Bremen in north Germany.
In captivity, daily exercise was vital, both in physical and social terms. The prisoners’ main pastime was to plan escapes. Here their hunched postures suggest both the stinging February cold in northern Germany, and their plotting. Although not properly ratified until 1949, some of the rules of the Geneva Convention were already in effect, and the basic human rights of PoWs were observed. One clause allowed them to attempt to escape without fear of retribution if later recaptured, though they risked being shot during any attempt.
Original size: Mount: 607 mm x 833 mm; Primary support: 498 mm x 650 mm
Date: February 1944
Object n: PAI0527
- Image reference: PZ0527
- National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Discover more
More by this artist
Search for similar images
Product images of Marlag 'O' Feb '44 S.W. Corner of Naval Officers Prison Camp, Westertincke, Germany, in winter
Our prints
We use a 240gsm fine art paper and premium branded inks to create the perfect reproduction.
Our expertise and use of high-quality materials means that our print colours are independently verified to last between 100 and 200 years.
Read more about our fine art prints.
Manufactured in the UK
All products are printed in the UK, using the latest digital presses and a giclée printmaking process.
We only use premium branded inks, and colours are independently verified to last between 100 and 200 years.
Delivery & returns
We print everything to order so delivery times may vary but all unframed prints are despatched within 2-4 days via courier or recorded mail.
Due to the coronovirus pandemic and Brexit situation, current shipping times may be longer, particularly for destinations outside the UK.
Delivery to the UK is £5 for an unframed print of any size.
We will happily replace your order if everything isn’t 100% perfect.
