Art UK has updated its cookies policy. By using this website you are agreeing to the use of cookies. To find out more read our updated Use of Cookies policy and our updated Privacy policy.

Note: Your tags will not be submitted until you login Create account?
Exit
Lieutenant (Basil Charles) Godfrey Place (1921–1994), VC, DSC

© the artist's estate. Image credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

What things, ideas or objects can you see in this artwork?

i

Things are objects or ideas portrayed in the artwork. For example: apple, dog, smile, celebration, etc.

What do we mean by ‘things’?
Can you find what you’re tagging from this list? If so, please select it.
There are records to display, please narrow your criteria
Add as many tags as you want Need help?

Things you’ve added

You can click a tag below to remove it.

Things added by others

Can you name any people depicted in this artwork?

i

People are the names of figures depicted in the artwork. For example: Queen Victoria, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, etc.

What do we mean by ‘people’?
Can you find what you’re tagging from this list? If so, please select it.
There are records to display, please narrow your criteria
Add as many tags as you want Need help?

People you’ve added

You can click a tag below to remove it.

People added by others

Can you name any places depicted in this artwork?

i

Places are geographical locations and venues depicted in the artwork. For example: Glasgow, London Bridge, Belgium, etc.

What do we mean by ‘places’?
Can you find what you’re tagging from this list? If so, please select it.
There are records to display, please narrow your criteria
Add as many tags as you want Need help?

Places you’ve added

You can click a tag below to remove it.

Places added by others

Can you name any events depicted in this artwork?

i

Events are occasions or historical moments shown in the artwork. For Example: WW1, Diamond Jubilee, Birthday Party, Battle of Hastings, etc.

What do we mean by ‘events’?
Can you find what you’re tagging from this list? If so, please select it.
There are records to display, please narrow your criteria
Add as many tags as you want Need help?

Events you’ve added

You can click a tag below to remove it.

Events added by others

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

A three-quarter-length portrait of Place in a blue roll-necked sweater and dark green trousers. In 1942, as a 22-year-old Royal Naval lieutenant, Place commanded the midget submarine X7 which, with three others, was towed by submarine from Scotland to make an attack on the German battleship 'Tirpitz', in Kaa Fjord, northern Norway. This involved travelling at least 1,000 miles from base and negotiating such hazards as a minefield, nets, gun defences and enemy listening posts and only three reached the ‘Tirpitz’. Of these, X5 was spotted and sunk. Only X7 and X6 managed to lay their charges under the enemy's hull before both had to be scuttled and abandoned, during which two more men were drowned. The remainder, including Place, were captured and were on 'Tirpitz' an hour later when their charges exploded, damaging her severely and putting her out of action for months. Place was later transferred to Marlag-O, the German prison camp for naval officers at Westertimke, near Bremen, and in 1944 was awarded the VC for the action. After the war Place was a sea-going commander in surface ships, a senior staff officer in naval aviation and finally Director of Naval Recruitment and training, retiring as a rear-admiral. He was a man of considerable reserve, characterised as 'monosyllabic' by a former NMM staff member who was a fellow-prisoner in Marlag-O. Something of this quality is apparent in the portrait.

National Maritime Museum

London

Title

Lieutenant (Basil Charles) Godfrey Place (1921–1994), VC, DSC

Date

1944

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 76.2 x W 63.5 cm

Accession number

BHC2954

Work type

Painting

Tags

This artwork does not have any tags yet. You can help by tagging artworks on Tagger.

National Maritime Museum

Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue