{"product_id":"gun-shield-graffiti-in-the-battle-of-the-atlantic-stories-and-artwork-from-allied-and-merchant-navies-in-wwii","title":"Gun Shield Graffiti in the Battle of the Atlantic: Stories and Artwork from Allied and Merchant Navies in WWII","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExplore the vivid navy gun shield graffiti artwork that adorn the walls of the historic Crow’s Nest Officers Club, reflecting sailors’ stories of courage, humour, loss, and the enduring World War II naval heritage of Newfoundland.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA feast of colourful artwork adorns the walls of a Second World War-era officers club in the North Atlantic city of St. John’s—cartoons painted onto ship gun shields that convey stories of courage and cowardice, resolve and resilience, triumph and tragedy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sea-Going Officers’ Club (now known as the Crow’s Nest Officers’ Club) opened its doors in 1942. It served as a war-time retreat where allied naval and merchant officers from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States could unwind, share stories of victory and loss, and have a home-cooked meal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Crow’s Nest has survived as both a cozy meeting place and a vibrant time capsule of the war years. Gun shield art, or gun shield graffiti, are informal badges designed by those aboard warships and merchant navy vessels and painted on a ship’s forward gun shield. The often-irreverent artwork includes references to an event, an attribute of the ship, or its namesake community. Most gun shields were destroyed as ships were scrapped or sold at war’s end. In some cases, however, smaller versions were painted and presented by ship’s crews, during the war, to the Crow’s Nest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stories behind gun shield graffiti, collected for the first time in this book, are as varied and intriguing as the images themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis collection, located at the Crow’s Nest, is specifically included in the designation of the club as a National Historic Site by the Government of Canada.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAUTHORS\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGary Green is a past president of both the Crow’s Nest Officers’ Club and the Crow’s Nest Military Artifacts Association.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMargaret Morris, a retired naval officer and fisheries observer, is a past president of the Crow’s Nest Officers’ Club and regularly conducts presentations on the history of the institution.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDon Soulsby is an artist and photographer whose work captures the rugged beauty of Newfoundland, Antarctica and maritime life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGlenn Warner is a photographer and cameraman who became fascinated with military history and, in particular, Newfoundland’s participation in World War II.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Boulder Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67697266589792,"sku":"9781998220229","price":34.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0255\/2771\/3888\/files\/9781998220229.jpg?v=1793038841","url":"https:\/\/shop.thebeeskneesstore.com\/products\/gun-shield-graffiti-in-the-battle-of-the-atlantic-stories-and-artwork-from-allied-and-merchant-navies-in-wwii","provider":"The Bee's Knees \u0026 The Travel Bug","version":"1.0","type":"link"}