Given Charles Dixon’s obvious liking for H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth judging by the several depictions of her which are known, coupled with the fact that this painting is dated 1915 and originally emanated from the same source as the other view of her elsewhere in this catalogue, it is probable that the leading capital ship in the centre column in this work is also her.  Apart from the numerous similarities when comparing photographs of Queen Elizabeth as she looked upon completion (her appearance was much altered in later years), the logic of another depiction of her in the year she entered service is compelling. 

Even if it is a different but similar battleship however, this scene of British capital ships at sea under fast torpedo boat escort is a powerful image and the artist’s own title is very suggestive of a commission for a wartime publication as yet unidentified.