A depiction of sailors at rest in the forecastle (fo'c'sle) of the ship, the raised deck at the bow below which the crew were housed. The artist has used compositional elements to emphasize the content. The inclusion of the two stanchions in the central foreground positions the sailors in two groups on either side of them, and their vertical axis centres the painting. On either side of these uprights, the sailors sit on benches with their backs leaning on tables. The exaggerated perspective informs and underscores the nature of the sailors' space, since it tapers as in the bow of the ship. Although the men have been depicted adopting positions of repose, they manifest an underlying tension. The presence in the top right of the hammock indicates their cramped living conditions. They are dressed in a variety of overalls and working uniforms. The mugs provide a rhythm to the image, which shows more sailors in the background to the left and coats hanging on pegs on the fore-bulkhead. A freestanding stove, with its chimney, in the background between the two groups unites the composition.

At the beginning of the Second World War, Henry Lamb was one of the official war artists employed to record the war at sea. He mainly produced portraits, often of the troops. The picture is signed and dated, lower right.