F/L James Nicolson VC painting ...

[chicoartist]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Wade: Nice painting but any reason why you have ranked him as a Fg Off?

Thanks, Chris. I think I see where you are coming from - let me explain: Not that I spent a lot of time researching the 'rank' part, because it's not a primary factor in my portrait of the man and his service, but according to one site I linked to from Wiki his dates of rank are:

(A) P/O (prob)
21.12.1936 [39329]
P/O
12.10.1937
F/O
12.05.1939
F/Lt.
03.09.1940
(T) Sq.Ldr.
01.12.1941
(WS) Sq.Ldr.
19.01.1945, seniority 17.06.1942
(A) W/Cdr.
11.08.1944e

In other words, it appears he attained F/Lt. rank (two stripes, rather than the one I depict) on 03.09.1940, which would be after the VC action, which I infer is the basis of your comment. The September date of rank would also explain why the award refers to him as a F/L when the action occured when he was a Fg/O.

That being said, nowhere do I say he's suiting up on 16th August, so he could be wearing any officer rank up to and including W/C ... the main point of the portrait is to honor Nicolson, period.

Cheers!
Wade

[Andy Saunders]

Wade

Wonderful painting, but he certainly held the rank of Flt Lt (even substantive) as at 16 August 1940 and certainly had Flt Lt rings on his sleeve at that time. It sounds like nit-picking as well, but his mae-west that he habitually wore was certainly one that had been doped yellow over the khaki canvas. It still exists.

Anyway, not being critical for the sake of it - just trying to help you get it right!

[chicoartist]

Thanks Andy - and Chris again.

As I mentioned, the date of the portrait was not a primary factor in my painting, only a representation of the man to go along with his story. As for the rank, my source was (correct or not):
http://www.unithistories.com/officer...icers_N01.html

I did completely miss the painted yellow vest! Next time! That said, the main concept of the piece has demonstrably carried forth successfully - "A representation of the man to go along with his [more important] story."

Wade