description
Object description
A portrait of Air Vice-Marshal A T Harris in uniform.
Label
Arthur 'Bomber' Harris was in charge of the Allied bombing campaigns of the Second World War. The controversial
technique of 'saturation' or 'area' bombing of German cities caused countless civilian losses and enormous destruction.
Kennington's work is distinctive for the intense colours used in his Second World War portraits that give his sitters an almost 'film star'
status.
Label
Born in Cheltenham in 1892, this officer was educated at Gore Court, Sittingbourne, and All Hallows, Honiton. In the
last war he served in the ranks of the Rhodesian Regiment in South and South West Africa before he ws commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in
the Royal Flying Corps in 1915. He subsequently served in France and in 1918 was awarded the Air Force Cross. Between Wars he served in
Iraq and the Middle East as well as at home. In 1938 he was promoted to Air Commodore in command of No.4 Group and in 1939 he went to the
USA and Canada as a member of the Air Ministry Mission. In July 1939 he was appointed to command the RAF Headquarters in Palestine and
Transjordania. He was promoted Air Vice Marshal at the same time and in June 1940 he was appointed C.B.
History note
War Artists Advisory Committee commission
Inscription
E H K 1940
