(Updated, May 2014) This scene apparently depicts a coastal convoy arriving at Falmouth, Cornwall, during 1942, the warship escort on the left probably being a Hunt Type 1-class escort destroyer, with the coasting vessels under convoy flying kite balloons to discourage enemy dive bombers. Falmouth saw considerable wartime activity between 1942 and 1943, since there was a naval base on Beacon Hill, the Battle of the Atlantic was underway and the port facilities was mainly being used as a repair base for deep sea ships and only being served by coasters: it was not (as mistakenly stated in the previous description of this painting) used by transatlantic convoys. Saint Anthony's Head Lighthouse, situated at the eastern side of the entrance to Falmouth Harbour and here shown painted in camouflage, warns ships of the Black Rock in the centre of the channel into the harbour and of the Manacles, the more distant rocks south of the harbour entrance. In the background to right and left is the harbour of Falmouth with shipping an Pendennis Castle on the headland to the left, above the town. A large bell, serving as a fog signal, hangs from the tower of the lighthouse which also flies the Trinity House flag. Two signallers have been positioned on the balcony and on the right an army patrol prepares to descend the steps towards the lighthouse.

The painter, John Edgar Platt, was an official war artist, 1939-45, working for the Ministry of War Transport for whom he undertook numerous commissions. He was briefed to record naval craft and the naval engagements of wartime Britain, which he executed by applying an inventive approach to the use of colour. During his career, he worked in a variety of media including mural painting, stained glass, poster and book production, tapestry design, metalwork and jewellery, lettering and illuminating, wood-carving and architectural woodwork. The painting is signed 'John Platt', lower right, and dated 1942. The Imperial War Museum has a similarly themed painting by Platt (also 1942) showing a convoy passing the Lizard Point lighthouse, Cornwall.