Lot #4: Large Vintage Scenic Oil Painting On Board War Hero Artist Signed {Douglas} Rickard

Painting fine Normal light frame age/use wear Frame 54" x 29.25" https://www.burlingtontoday.com/local-news/second-world-war-veteran-douglas-ross-rickard-dies-at-105-6597008 Mr. Rickard was among the last Canadian survivors of the Dieppe Raid during the Second World War. It was one of the darkest chapters in Canada’s military history, but it was also marked by great courage and helped lead to important lessons to prepare for the D-Day invasion of 1944. Douglas Ross Rickard was a member of the Royal Canadian Corp of Signals. He arrived at Dieppe in the early morning of Aug. 19, 1942, aboard a tank landing craft (TLC) containing three tanks. He was knocked unconscious by a shell blast but was revived by an officer and continued to receive and transmit messages until further damage to the vessel disabled an engine and forced the crew to retreat. With only one propeller working, they slowly tried to return to Britain. They were set upon by enemy fighters off the coast of England, and to avoid injury, Corporal Rickard jumped overboard. He was able to remove his heavy boots and swam over a kilometre back to an English beach and safety. Corporal Rickard continued to serve the remainder of the war in a variety of roles, returning to Canada in early 1946 with his British war bride, Jean. Already an accomplished artist, he continued his painting and held art director positions with several major publications, including Maclean’s magazine. Before retirement, he established several Canadian companies which exported Canadian photographic equipment and art supplies around the world. In recognition of his service, Corporal Rickard was awarded the 1939 to 1945 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 with Dieppe Bar and, in 2021, received the French Legion of Honour Medal. Dimensions: Frame 54" x 29.25" Pickup category timeslot {A}