HMT Olympic in dazzle camouflage at Pier 2 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, painted by Arthur Lismer. Public Domain wikipedia
With Remembrance Day on November 11, my post, Dazzle Camouflage, on Heroes, Heroines, and History shows the dazzle paint scheme made to camouflage direction, number and movements of ships from enemy U-boats during the First World War.The post includes images of the Olympic and her sister ships Titanic and Britannic, as well as the USS Mahomet.
The dazzle paint scheme was brought to my attention after reading letters sent home during WW1 from my husband's grandfather, Noah C Draper, a member of the Royal Canadian Naval Voluntary Reserve (RCNVR). His letters mention that for some reason, the Olympic was still in harbor but would be leaving any day. That led me on a search for the reason, and why Noah, who was in Halifax waiting to be shipped overseas, would mention a ship as if everyone knew it. You can read the actual letters and my findings here:
- www.anitamaedraper.com/author-memories/ww1-letters-home-dec-19-1916
- www.anitamaedraper.com/author-memories/ww1-letters-home-dec-13-1916
