Boy First Class Austin, sight setter, 1942 (paper, pastel)

Creator: William Dennis Dring In 1940 when Dring was employed by the War Artist Advisory Committee, first as official war artist to the Admiralty and later to the Air Ministry. He made a large number of portrait drawings of individuals and groups. Dring created this vivid portrait on a visit to Londonderry in May or June 1943, as part of a series of portraits of naval captains. Boy First Class Austin was a ‘Sight-Setter in 5.25 turret, King George V’ As a sight-setter Boy First Class, or Able Seaman, Austin, was responsible for helping to make sure the guns were accurately aimed at their target.