Purchased by the Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College on August 12, 2020 from Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

End of the Battleship HMS Barham: A picture made November 25, 1941, and just released by the censor, shows a black pall of smoke hanging over the water off the Libyan coast. It marks the grave of the 31,000-ton British battleship HMS Barham, which blew up when hit by four enemy torpedoes. The vessel sank 4 minutes and 45 seconds after the first torpedo entered her sides. Only 303 of her complement of 1172 men were saved. This photo was made from an Australian destroyer.

On the afternoon of November 25, 1941, the 1st Battle Squadron--- Barham, Queen Elizabeth, and Valiant--- with an escort of eight destroyers, departed Alexandria to cover the 7th and 15th Cruiser Squadrons as they hunted for Italian convoys in the Central Mediterranean. The Barnham was sunk by the Germans. In an effort to conceal the sinking from the Germans and to protect British morale, the Board of Admiralty censored all news of Barham's sinking. After a delay of several weeks the War Office notified the next of kin, but they added a special request for secrecy. The notification letters included a warning not to discuss the loss of the ship with anyone but close relatives, stating it was "most essential that information of the event which led to the loss of your husband's life should not find its way to the enemy until such time as it is announced officially..." Following repeated claims by German radio, the Admiralty officially announced the loss on January 27, 1942. It explained that it was clear at that time that the enemy did not know that Barham had been sunk, and it was important to make certain dispositions before the loss of the ship was made public.

Ferrotyped prints are processed in such a way that they are shiny. The print has a sensitive surface, usually thinner, because it was put through a press while still wet.

On recto: Label in bottom right corner, "DISPATCH / PHOTO NEWS / SERVICE / INC. / NEW YORK".

On verso: Typewritten label attached in center, "END OF THE BATTLESHIP 'BARNHAM' / A picture made November 25th, 1941, and just released by the censor, showing the black pall of smoke / hanging over the water off the Libyan coast, marking the grave of the British 31,000-ton battleship / 'Barnham' which blew up when hit by four enemy torpedoes. The vessel sank 4 minutes, 45 seconds / after the first torpedo entered her sides. Only 303 of her complement of 1172 men were saved. This / photo was made from an Australian destroyer. Produced Exclusively by Dispatch Photo News Service, New York City". Handwritten in graphite in top left corner, "DP-WW2-070".

Ferrotyped prints have a sensitive surface, usually shiny and thinner, because they are put through a press while still wet. Ferrotyping makes the surface of the photograph smoother. Light does not scatter as much on a smoother surface, so this increases contrast. That makes ferrotyped images better for press photography.

This object has the following keywords:

• British First Battle Squadron
• Coastal Scenes
• European Theater
• Germany
• HMS Barham
• Italy
• Libya
• Sinking ships
• Torpedoes
• World War II

This object is a member of the following portfolios: