British School (19th/20th Century) H.M.S. Terrible at sea oil on canvas 45 x 59.5cm (17 11/16 x 23 7/16in). Footnotes: Provenance Collection of Tom Dyer (Petty Officer 4th class H.M.S. Terrible 1899), thence by descent. H.M.S. Terrible was one of the largest cruisers in the world during the 1890's. Built by J&G Thompson, at Clydebank, she was laid down in 1894, and launched on the 27th May 1895. She served on the China Station and provided landing parties and guns which participated in the Siege and Relief of Ladysmith in the Second Boer War in South Africa. A few months later she did much the same thing to help suppress the Boxer Rebellion in China. Upon Terrible's return home in 1902, she was refitted for two years and was then placed in reserve, sporadically being activated to ferry replacements to China, escort a royal tour to India or participate in fleet manoeuvres. The ship served as an accommodation ship from 1909 to 1913. In July 1914, the month before First World War erupted, she was offered for sale. Thus, the offer was withdrawn, and she subsequently made one voyage as a troop transport in 1915 before becoming a depot ship. Terrible was assigned as a training ship in 1918 before being hulked and converted to suit the role two years later. The ship was sold for scrap in July 1932 and demolished several months later. The painting belonged to Tom Dyer, who joined H.M.S. Terrible in 1898 as Petty Officer in the Engine Room. The painting has remained in his family and they believe it to be painted by George Crowe who was Master-at-Arms on H.M.S. Terrible between 1898-1902. Crowe went on to write the book The Commission of H.M.S. Terrible 1898-1902, George Newnes Ltd, London 1903. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing