1941: The battle for mainland Greece and Crete, through the paintings of Peter McIntyre from New Zealand

WW2, WW2 in Greece

By Pierre Kosmidis

Images © Archives New Zealand

Source 

Self-portrait of Peter McIntyre
Self-portrait of Peter McIntyre

Peter McIntyre was born in Dunedin on 4 July 1910, the son of Peter McIntyre and his wife, Isabella Edith Cubitt. Peter McIntyre was educated at Otago Boys’ High School, and also received art lessons from the Dunedin artist Alfred O’Keefe.

He attended the University of Otago in 1930, studying for a BA with the intention of becoming a journalist. German artist Hans Liska offered his artistic point of view from McIntyre’s adversaries’ side.

German glider troops, killed while exiting their machine, sprawl beside the fuselage in a painting by New Zealand combat artist Peter McIntyre. Produced by New Zealand Micrographic Services Ltd. April 2007 Equipment: Lanovia C550 Software Used: Adobe Photoshop CS2 9.0. This File is the property of Archives New Zealand
German glider troops, killed while exiting their machine, sprawl beside the fuselage in a painting by New Zealand combat artist Peter McIntyre.
Produced by New Zealand Micrographic Services Ltd. April 2007 Equipment: Lanovia C550 Software Used: Adobe Photoshop CS2 9.0.
This File is the property of Archives New Zealand

However in 1931 he left his studies to travel to England, where from 1931 he studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, London. McIntyre graduated in 1934 with prizes in composition and figure drawing.

Forward Dressing Station Near Meleme (Crete)
Forward Dressing Station Near Meleme (Crete)

From 1935 until 1939 he worked as a free-lance commercial artist in Britain, while also exhibiting contemporary art works, influenced by the English avant-garde and French cubism.

Another painting by McIntyre shows German aircraft attacking New Zealand positions at Canea, Crete. German air superiority severely limited British ships unloading supplies except at night, and also provided “aerial artillery” for the German attackers once on the ground. Produced by New Zealand Micrographic Services Ltd Date: May 2007 Equipment: Lanovia C-550 Scanner Software Used: Adobe Photoshop CS2 9.0 This file is property of Archives New Zealand
Another painting by McIntyre shows German aircraft attacking New Zealand positions at Canea, Crete. German air superiority severely limited British ships unloading supplies except at night, and also provided “aerial artillery” for the German attackers once on the ground.
Produced by New Zealand Micrographic Services Ltd. Date: May 2007
Equipment: Lanovia C-550 Scanner Software Used: Adobe Photoshop CS2 9.0
This file is property of Archives New Zealand

Following the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, McIntyre enlisted with the 34th Anti-tank Battery, a New Zealand unit formed in London, and was sent as a gunner to Egypt. In Egypt he provided illustrations for the war magazine Parade as well as doing advertisements he sketched members of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF).

Peter McIntyre, General Hospital Crete, 20 May 1941 © Archives New Zealand
Peter McIntyre, General Hospital Crete, 20 May 1941
© Archives New Zealand

In January 1941, McIntyre was appointed New Zealand’s official war artist and promoted to the rank of captain by Major General Bernard Freyberg. His work in this role covered the campaigns in Greece, Crete, the Western Desert, Tripolitani, Tunisia and Italy. He was promoted to the rank of Major at Cassino in Italy.

Machine gunners on alert at dawn, behind their World War One style Vickers machine gun. Oil, 562 x 700mm Greek Campaign
Machine gunners on alert at dawn, behind their World War One style Vickers machine gun.
Oil, 562 x 700mm
Greek Campaign

Exhibitions of McIntyre’s artworks toured New Zealand both during and after the Second World War. Immediately following the war he worked as an artist in Dunedin, producing portraits and landscapes. In the decades following the war McIntyre won a number of art awards, and published eight books. He was awarded an OBE in 1970, and died in Wellington on 11 September 1995.

he barge from Crete, painted by Peter McIntyre, New Zealand’s official war artist, in July 1941. McIntyre’s painting illustrates the epic journey of a group of escapees who sailed an abandoned landing barge from Crete to Egypt. The 137-strong party, mostly Royal Marines, set out on 1 June. Nine New Zealanders were thought to be among this party, although the only one known by name was Private W.A. Hancox. He had been picked up 3 km off shore, paddling along on a plank of wood. After the barge’s fuel ran out blankets were rigged as sails. To make sure these caught the breeze the men often had to jump into the water and push the nose of the barge in the right direction. Conditions on board were tough. Food supplies were rationed to half a tobacco tin of water and a teaspoon of bully beef per day. During the voyage one soldier died of exhaustion and another committed suicide. On 9 June, eight days after leaving Crete, the barge drifted ashore 24 km west of Sidi Barrani in Egypt.
The barge from Crete, painted by Peter McIntyre, New Zealand’s official war artist, in July 1941.
McIntyre’s painting illustrates the epic journey of a group of escapees who sailed an abandoned landing barge from Crete to Egypt. The 137-strong party, mostly Royal Marines, set out on 1 June. Nine New Zealanders were thought to be among this party, although the only one known by name was Private W.A. Hancox. He had been picked up 3 km off shore, paddling along on a plank of wood.
After the barge’s fuel ran out blankets were rigged as sails. To make sure these caught the breeze the men often had to jump into the water and push the nose of the barge in the right direction. Conditions on board were tough. Food supplies were rationed to half a tobacco tin of water and a teaspoon of bully beef per day. During the voyage one soldier died of exhaustion and another committed suicide. On 9 June, eight days after leaving Crete, the barge drifted ashore 24 km west of Sidi Barrani in Egypt.