Frederick Melton (Derry) Syme discusses his impressions of Official War Artist, Stella Bowen's depiction of his crew in the painting "A Sunderland crew comes ashore at Pembroke Dock" (AWM ART26275) and he also decribes his experiences on Sunderland aircraft during the Second World War

Derry Syme relates his feelings on viewing the painting of he and his crew in Stella Bowen's "A Sunderland crew comes ashore at Pembroke Dock" (AWM ART26275). He explains that although he knew the painting was completed it is not a strong memory against the backdrop of wartime operations. He felt that Stella Bowen was proud of her work. She began by taking a photograph of the scene, then she did preliminary pencil sketches, followed by individual portraits of the crew (see Portrait of Derry Syme AWM ART26281). Bowen faithfully recreated the scene from the photograph. She also researched squadron operations and interviewed the crew about their lives. To the crew she was a delightful middle-aged woman who reminded them of their mums. Syme felt that Bowen was able to get into their soul and was then able to recapture that feeling in her painting. He called this feeling "peace in war". Stella painted a vacant look on Syme but he said it was not so much a stare as utter exhaustion as he had spent long hours preparing and then undertaking the flight. Syme details the rigorous routine of squadron life and the effects this had on his later life.
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Recorded at Big Tuan, Qld.