P.O. [Petty Officer] A.W. Armishaw, DSM and Bar

William Dring (1904-90) earned his reputation as a fine draughtsman and portrait painter at the Slade School of Art between 1922 and 1925. In 1940 he was employed by the War Artist Advisory Committee, first as official war artist to the Admiralty and later to the Air Ministry.

As an Able Seaman, Augustus William Armishaw (1908-79) received the Distinguished Service Medal whilst serving on HMS ‘Sunfish’, a medal which was awarded for bravery and resourcefulness on active service at sea and whilst under fire. In April 1940 alone the ‘Sunfish’ torpedoed and sank or damaged four German vessels. By 1942 Armishaw had  been promoted up a rank and was serving as Leading Seaman on the HMS ‘Torbay’ when he gained a Bar (the award being bestowed a second time) to his DSM. By the time of this portrait, he had been made Petty Officer, a supervisory non-commissioned role, ranking between naval officers and enlisted sailors.

This portrait is an excellent example of the way that Dring skilfully and sympathetically represented the personality and spirit of his sitters. The full length portrait depicts Armishaw at work on HMS Torbay, standing tall and boldly facing the viewer straight on, proud to represent the Navy and of the role he is playing in the war.

Object number: PAJ2889

Date: 1943

Original size: 406 mm x 171 mm