HMAS Voyager off Crete 1942
This painting shows Voyager just off the coast of Crete. Her operational service in the Mediterranean was primarily escorting convoys from Malta to Marseille. This work was donated to Veterans for fundraising.
- About John Ford
The following information is from the Australian Society of Marine Artists.
John Ford OAM is a renowned marine artist whose artwork displays the subtle hues and intricate detail of the watercolour style. While his works are substantially based on maritime themes, his portfolio also includes historical buildings, steam locomotives, military subjects and animals.
John arrived in Australia from the UK after serving 18 years in the Royal Air Force. He served in two areas of conflict, the Middle East and Northern Ireland. During his first seven years in Australia he was employed in various roles - working in a tool room, car air conditioning and even juke boxes and pinball machines to name a few. In 1982 he joined the inaugural committee to build South Australia’s sail training ship, One and All. He is still a member of the Board.
With numerous exhibitions and art awards to his credit, John is one of South Australia’s leading artists. John’s work has been commissioned for many Australian and international, private and corporate collections. These include Make a Wish Foundation, S.A. Maritime Museum, Royal Australian Navy, Australia Post, Encounter 2002 Official Event and the ABC series “The Navigators”, SA Aviation Museum and the National Cancer Council Research Foundation. His works have been used in numerous family history books.
John Ford was awarded The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the Arts and the Community. The award was made in 2013 on Australia Day by the Port Adelaide Enfield Council.
- About HMAS Voyager (l)
HMAS Voyager was a V and W Class, Destroyer. In 1933 the Admiralty agreed to loan the Flotilla Leader Stuart and four V and W Class destroyers (Vampire, Vendetta, Voyager and Waterhen to the Royal Australian Navy as replacements for the S Class destroyers. These ships formed the Australian Destroyer Flotilla, later to become famous as the 'Scrap Iron Flotilla'.
More reading
- Additional resources for John Ford
- Additional resources for HMAS Voyager (l)
