A distant port side view, taken from well abaft the beam, of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company cruise ship Strathaird (1932) moored in Grand Harbour, Malta. Accommodation ladders are rigged to shell doors amidships and aft and lifeboat number 18 has been launched. The photographer is looking east from the Upper Barrakka above the Saluting Battery in Valletta showing six 18 pounder quick firing field guns on wheeled carriages in the foreground. Berthed stern-on to Quarry Wharf and seen from off the starboard quarter are two P & O 'B' class passenger/cargo liners that are almost identical sister ships. They are two of Baradine (1921), Ballarat (1921), Barrabool (1922), Balranald (1922) and Bendigo (1922) The nearer of the two seems to have a red ensign at the stern. Ricasoli Breakwater is in the left background with Fort Ricasoli in the centre and Bighi Royal Navy Hospital on the right.