£320
δ RICHARD WILLIS (BRITISH, B. 1924)
M.T.B. '758' at speed
Signed and dated 'Richard Willis 1988'
Oil on canvas laid on board
16½ x 23¾in. (42 x 60.5cm.); together with Arthur Briscoe (British, 1920-1997), H.M.S. 'Achilles' and H.M.S. 'Exeter' with H.M.S. 'Ajax' 1939 South Atlantic
(2)
Willis: Believed commissioned by Edward du Cann M.P. (1924-2017)
MTB 758 was a 'Fairmile D' class torpedo boat built by Alex Robertson & Sons Ltd. Ordered in 1942, it was commissioned in October 1944 and sold from the service in 1956. Du Cann was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Navy in World War II serving as a Lieutenant in motor torpedo boats. Based in East Anglia he patrolled the North Sea and served alongside both Owen Aisher (later a yachtsman and entrepreneur) and David Wickins. In 1956, he was elected MP for Taunton in a by-election and became Chairman of the Conservative Party 1965-67. It was at du Cann's home when the 1922 Committee met and dropped Edward Heath in favour of Margaret Thatcher in 1974.
fine overall condition
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