Diary extracts for Mar to April 1943

31st Mar 1943:

To Admiralty

Dieppe Landing (48x68), HMS Revenge leaving Portsmouth (30x50), MGBs Attacking at Night (13x30), Survivors on Upturned Boat(14x24)

To Redfern

Yorks. Landscape with Waterfall (13x19), Sewing Box with Caroline’s Photo (12x14), Nude with Cat (12x16), Yorks. Coast Scene, Evening (7x16), Swans at Abbotsbury (12x13 1/2), Fisherman (or ‘men’?) Landing Coble (10x14), Crucifix (61/2x10).

31st Mar 1943:

Framing is a problem as professional framing is not allowed. So I am either cutting old ones down, or making them out of odds and ends of scrap wood from the Power Boat Co.

2nd Apr 1943:

Rex N.K. thought the ‘Dieppe’ should go to the RA so phoned up about getting frame cut down [during the War, frame-making was not allowed] and let the Censor see it and get it delivered on Monday.

2nd Apr 1943:

Took large Dieppe painting, and a number of others up to London on [the roof of!] the car.

22nd Apr 1943:

. . . went to the RA and saw the hanging.’Dieppe’ is hung and framed well, and looks better than I expected it to look. Everyone is in a good humour. Was introduced to Laura Knight, L. Birch, Harold Knight etc. Found Laura more pleasant than I expected her to be.

23rd Apr 1943:

RA Elections

We had a terrific struggle to keep James Gunn out . . . we managed to get Wadsworth and Edward Le Bas elected . . . The winking and back-slapping at the back was entertaining.

30th Apr 1943:

Preview at the Royal Academy

Met and chatted to all sorts of people. Kelly says he wants the Chantry Bequest to buy Port Musgrave. John Rothenstein supports this.