[Working entry only] Framed and glazed set of three watercolours, which comprise part of a set with PAJ3097 and PAJ3099. They make up a narrative sequence of views of the Battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914, and were probably painted fairly shortly afterwards. Labels on the back of the frame here have the following titles: 'IV A Hit on the Gneisenau's Waterline about 5/30', 'V A Hit on the Scharnhorst about 3/40' and 'VI The Gneisenau Sinks about 6 o/c. A label marked '49b' on the glass at bottom right is an old lot or inventory number of no other significance. Another label attached to the frame has the address of the previous owner: 'STAVELEY 19 Liskeard Gardens Blackheath S.E.3.'

At the time of the Battle of the Falklands, Lieutenent-Commander Bennett, the artist, was a lieutenant and the navigating officer on board the battleship 'Canopus', which for practical reasons (essentially her inadequate speed) was acting as temporary guardship at Port Stanley and remained there, despite firing the opening salvoes of the action at von Spee's scouting cruisers 'Gneisenau' and 'Nurnburg'. These images are therefore based more on eyewitness accounts than what he saw himself. The captions here are self-explanatory, though it is worth noting that item 'V' clearly shows that the third funnel of the 'Scharnhorst' is missing, having been shot away by 15.30. For other detail see PAJ3097. [BTodd/PvdM 1/13]