KING EDWARD VII CLASS BATTLESHIPS AT SHEERNESS C.1907

Bevan’s painting shows 4 of these attractive ships anchored off Sheerness, Kent in 1907. KING EDWARD VII (Captain Henry Pelly MVO RN) was Channel Fleet Flagship of the legendary Vice Admiral The Right Hon Lord Charles Beresford GCVO KCB. Close examination of the Channel Fleet programme for the period suggests that the other ships painted here are BRITANNIA (Captain R M Ommanney RN), HINDUSTAN (Captain The Hon Alexander Bethell CMG ADC RN) and NEW ZEALAND (Captain E G Shortland RN ), though precisely which ship is which cannot be ascertained because Bevan has declined to paint in the distinguishing funnel bands that each ship of the class wore. Bevan was a contemporary of W L Wyllie with whom he jointly illustrated books, Sea Fights of The Great War published in 1918 being perhaps the best known of these joint ventures.

Admire the grandeur of the King Edward VII Class battleships through Bevan’s stunning ship painting depicting these iconic vessels anchored off Sheerness, Kent, in 1907. This detailed watercolor brings to life four of the class’s notable ships, including the HMS King Edward VII (Captain Henry Pelly MVO RN), which served as the Channel Fleet’s flagship under the esteemed Vice Admiral The Right Hon Lord Charles Beresford GCVO KCB.

While Bevan’s painting features the HMS King Edward VII, it also includes three other battleships of the same class: the HMS Britannia (Captain R M Ommanney RN), the HMS Hindustan (Captain The Hon Alexander Bethell CMG ADC RN), and the HMS New Zealand (Captain E G Shortland RN). However, the specific identification of each ship in the painting is challenging as Bevan chose not to include the distinguishing funnel bands typical of each vessel in the class.

Bevan, a contemporary of W.L. Wyllie, collaborated with him on several projects, including the renowned book “Sea Fights of The Great War,” published in 1918. This ship painting reflects Bevan’s skillful portrayal of naval history, capturing the essence of the early 20th-century British naval power.