Painting links two historic voyages through the Northwest Passage

Navy News / December 8, 2021

By Elizabeth Murray

Marine artist John Horton could not have imagined his painting of Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Erebus of the historic Franklin Expedition would one day hang aboard Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf.

In 2014, inspired by discovery of the wrecked Franklin ship, Mr. Horton painted a rendition of HMS Erebus which would have unexpected special significance to Harry DeWolf’s crew.

During its recent port visit to Vancouver – part of a larger circumnavigation of North America – Mr. Horton presented his painting to the ship’s company. As part of the northern leg of its journey, Harry DeWolf completed the first Northwest Passage transit of a Canadian naval vessel since 1954.

“Hearing how the ship anchored near the wreck sites, enabling visits to graves of the (Erebus) crew, was an unparalleled privilege,” Mr. Horton said. “It was gratifying to learn that the ship’s company of approximately 87 sailors had become fully engaged with the history of the 1848 Expedition and gained a huge respect for those who had gone before”.

To record this historic voyage, Mr. Horton is now working on a painting of Harry DeWolf in an Arctic setting.

Harry DeWolf is the lead ship of its class and one of six new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships built or under construction to ensure Canada’s Arctic interests are secure. These patrol vessels are designed to operate anywhere in the world, including in first-year ice of up to 1.5 metres thick.