• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Naval Historical Society of Australia

Preserving Australia's Naval History

  • Events
  • Account
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Show Search
  • 0 items
Hide Search
Menu
  • Home
  • Research
    • Where to start
      • Research – We can help!
      • Self help
      • Naval Service Records
      • Library
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Resources
      • Articles
      • Videos
      • On This Day
      • Podcasts
      • Australian Military Ship Losses
      • RAN events on a  Google Earth Map
      • RAN Vessels – Where are they now?
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Other
      • Newsletters: Call The Hands
      • Occasional Papers and Historical Booklets
      • Books
      • HMAS Shropshire
      • Book reviews
    • Close
  • Naval Heritage Sites
    • World Heritage Listings
      • Cockatoo Island
    • National Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites
      • HMVS Cerberus
    • Commonwealth Heritage Listings
      • Garden Island NSW
      • HMAS Watson
      • HMAS Penguin
      • Spectacle Island Explosives Complex NSW
      • Chowder Bay Naval Facilities
      • Beecroft Peninsula NSW
      • Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications
      • HMAS Cerberus
      • Naval Offices QLD
      • Garden Island WA
      • Royal Australian Naval College ACT
      • Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT
    • NSW Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Rushcutter
    • Close
  • Naval Art
  • Tours & Cruises
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, East
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, West
    • Anniversary Cruise: Sydney under Japanese Attack
    • Tour Bookings
    • Close
  • About us
    • About Us
      • What we do
      • Our People
      • Office Bearers
      • Become a volunteer
      • Our Goals and Strategy
    • Organisation
      • Victoria Chapter
      • WA Chapter
      • ACT Chapter
    • Close
  • Membership
  • Shop
  • Become a volunteer
  • Donate
You are here: Home / Artworks / HMAS Cessnock (l) / HMAS Cessnock (l) after a collision with a dhow in the Red Sea between Aden and Suez on 8 May 1943

HMAS Cessnock (l) after a collision with a dhow in the Red Sea between Aden and Suez on 8 May 1943

by John McBryde

HMAS Cessnock (l) after a collision with a dhow in the Red Sea between Aden and Suez on 8 May 1943 by John McBryde
Dimensions:
18.3 cm x 26.4 cm
Medium:
Watercolour on paper
Setting:
WW II (1939-1945)
Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial (AWM ART92898)

It was in 1943 that HMAS Cessnock escorted convoys between the Persian Gulf and Alexandria. The painting shows the corvette’s searchlights shining on a two-masted dhow.

  • About John McBryde

    Little is known of John Smyth McBryde who was born in Port Logan, Scotland on 30 May 1896.

    During World War 2 he served in numerous ships including HMAS Ipswich.

    At the time of Cessnock’s collision on 8 May 1943 HMAS Ipswich was serving in the same theatre of operations. That is, on escort and anti-submarine patrol duty in the western Indian Ocean and between the Persian Gulf and India. In May 1943 she was transferred to the Mediterranean for service as a unit of the 21st Minesweeping Flotilla. In the Mediterranean she took part in the Sicily campaign and on escort and patrol duty she steamed over a wide area of the Mediterranean.

    There is a strong possibility that John McBryde either witnessed the collision or had first-hand knowledge of this event in the Red Sea.

    More paintings by John McBryde
  • About HMAS Cessnock (l)

    HMAS Cessnock was one of sixty Bathurst Class, Australian Minesweepers (commonly known as corvettes) built during World War 2 in Australian shipyards. Cessnock was engaged escorting convoys throughout WW 2. Cessnock was constantly in service as an escort vessel over the entire length of the Mediterranean including participation in the Allied invasion of Sicily. She was involved in a collision with a dhow in the Red Sea between Aden and the Suez.

More reading

  • Additional resources for John McBryde
    • HMAS 'Kalgoorlie' and 'Whyalla', Ulithi, Caroline Islands, Philippines, March 1945, Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au)
    • Hydrographer Ranges from Oro Bay, New Guinea, 1944 | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au)
  • Additional resources for HMAS Cessnock (l)
    • HMAS Cessnock (I), The Sea Power Centre (navy.gov.au)
« Previous
Next »
Explore all Naval Art
  • Research – We can help!
  • Naval Heritage Sites
  • Explore Naval Art
  • Dockyard Heritage Tour
  • About us
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Members Area
  • Privacy Policy

Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. Copyright © 2025

Notifications