A war artist's interpretation of the Drifter Pier at Lyness, Hoy, in the Orkney Islands. Lyness became the centre of Boom Defences, where the massive pier portrayed here was erected. Its complexity and cost earned it the name 'Golden Wharf'. Due to the vulnerability of the surface oil-storage tanks it was decided, in 1939, to construct underground tanks. Highly skilled Norwegian miners from Spitsbergen were employed to work on this massive excavation. The painting creates an impression of the numbers of people involved, both sailors in navy blue and soldiers in khaki. The sailors carrying kitbags are probably draftees. There are numerous small boats at the end of the pier and larger warships can be seen further to the left of the picture, with coastline and hills beyond. The artist's viewpoint, above the scene, has enabled him to emphasize the length of the pier, and the extent of the activity involved.

Although the artist is notable as a painter of crowd scenes and royal occasions, during the Second World War he worked for the War Artists' Commission. The artist is mainly remembered as a painter of crowd scenes and royal occasions. During the Second World War he worked for the WAAC with both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. The painting has been signed by the artist and is dated '1942'.