A painting showing a destroyer in West India Dock, London during WWII. Viewed from the path on the opposite side of the water, a tall crane dominates the skyline immediately behind the ship. The guns of another ship moored in the dock are also visible. With economy of line, vivid colours and the immediacy of the brushwork the artist has captured the sunlit scene.

In 1940, 1941 and 1944 the artist was employed by the War Artists Advisory Committee to undertake a few specific works. This is one of several paintings he produced of the West India Dock. Several are now in the Imperial War Museum. After the war, in 1946, one third of the collection was allocated to the Imperial War Museum. The rest was distributed to museums and galleries across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Over 300 artists were involved, in the scheme and the pictures were exhibited in London and in shows touring nationally and internationally. Much of the work produced went beyond documentation into the realm of art which is evident in this strong work by Lord Methuen.