A passenger liner transformed into an armed merchant cruiser, the 'Jervis Bay' was the sole protection of a convoy of 37 ships attacked by the German cruiser 'Admiral Scheer'. Captain Fegen of the Jervis Bay ordered the convoy to scatter and turned towards the enemy. 'Jervis Bay' and several other ships were sunk but 31 escaped and Fegen’s sacrifice was recognized by a posthumous Victoria Cross. A noted contributor of marine subjects to the illustrated press, Pears created clear and accurate depictions of ships and actions, easily understandable to the public.