William Dring (1904-90) earned his reputation as a fine draughtsman and portrait painter whilst studying under Henry Tonks at the Slade School of Art between 1922 and 1925. He worked as a teacher of drawing and painting at the Southampton School of Art until 1940 when he was employed by the War Artist Advisory Committee, first as official war artist to the Admiralty and later to the Air Ministry. He made a large number of portrait drawings of individuals and groups, all remarkable for their informality. Dring travelled extensively to complete his commissions. The drawing is always precise and carefully modelled using pastel, a medium in which he specialised, and which allowed him to capture the likeness and spirit of his subjects quickly and under a variety of circumstances.

John Miller (1903-94), also known as Jack Duppa-Miller, was a temporary Sub-Lieutenant working as mine disposal officer during the early days of the Blitz. On one occasion he and a fellow officer were called to deal with a mine that was stuck in the mud in Roding River. In order to reach the mine they had to leave the relative safety of the fire service float and travel by canoe up the river. They were able to disable one fuse, but in order to reach the other two fuses they had to get into the water and drag the mine out using ropes. As a result, Miller was awarded the George Cross in 1941 for his gallant and brave work.

This portrait was the first portrait of a George Cross holder to be acquired by the War Artists Advisory Committee, who purchased it in 1941. Dring used the pastels in a quick and expressive manner and depicted Miller with a thoughtful expression, the blue ribbon of the George Cross visible on his uniform.