Portland Bill by Richard Eurich, oil on board

This is one of two paintings of Portland harbour made retrospectively by the epic seascape painter and Official War Artist to the Admiralty, Richard Eurich, representing a day in September 1940.

In July 1940 Hitler’s operation ‘Kanalkampf’ attempted a Channel invasion, targeting shipping convoys, ports and RAF fighter aircraft, marking the beginning of the Battle of Britain. That summer the Portland naval base sustained 48 air attacks and heavy losses. Eurich, who based his paintings on newspaper reports and later visits to the harbour, celebrated a momentous day in September when allegedly ’40 German planes’ were brought down within minutes. After his 'Air Fight Over Portland' (Imperial War Museums, 1940) was accepted by the War Artists' Advisory Committee, in February 1942 Eurich painted this smaller version of the subject for the officers' mess at RAF Portland (which became non-operational in 1958). Purchased in 1976 from the Leva Gallery. Copyright: the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images, and RAF Museum.