As an official war artist to the Admiralty during the Second World War, Eurich painted the war effort at home, epic maritime engagements, and stories of survival at sea. Although he did not witness action himself, he received confidential intelligence from the Ministry of Information. Living near Southampton, he was close to the centre of naval operations, studied the ships in harbour, and interviewed men involved in the conflict. Eurich’s war paintings were at once works of imagination and historical records: his distinctive vision of the sea merged with thoroughly researched depictions of the events.
Eurich was fascinated by stories of survival at sea. This painting is not based on an actual incident but takes inspiration from several. The crew of a torpedoed merchantman is huddled together in the ship’s boat. The meticulous depiction of their activities and attitudes – a boy with the ship’s cat, a man being attended by another, some in a despondent mood, another stretched with a photograph of his sweetheart, others playing cards – shows Eurich’s predilection for colourful details.