NEW ZEALAND (2020)- Peter McIntyre's World War Paintings (4v)

n January 1941, Peter McIntyre was appointed New Zealand’s official war artist by Major General Bernard Freyberg. From 1941 to 1945, McIntyre shadowed the life of New Zealand’s Second Expeditionary Force on manoeuvres and at the front.

Freyberg’s brief to McIntyre was to paint portraits of army officers and decorated soldiers, but the artist exceeded Freyberg’s expectations, adding to his list of subjects the life of New Zealand soldiers at rest and in battle.

Each stamp in this issue depicts a painting from a different location, showcasing the breadth of McIntyre’s service as New Zealand’s official war artist. McIntyre’s paintings depicted critical moments on the battlefield and at the rear guard in Greece, Egypt, Italy and Tunisia, as New Zealand troops followed orders.

$1.40 General Hospital Crete, 1941

After his appointment, McIntyre’s first commission was to paint a portrait of the King of Greece, George II, a recent evacuee to the island of Crete. McIntyre painted scenes in Crete including bombings, paratrooper invasions of the General Hospital, and airborne attacks, but many of the works were left behind.

Peter McIntyre, General Hospital Crete, 20 May 1941, Watercolour, 380 x 519mm, Crete campaign, Archives New Zealand: AAAC 898 NCWA 301.

$2.70 Building the railway to Tobruk, 1941

Tobruk, Libya was the next destination for McIntyre and the New Zealand Division after the disasters in Crete and Greece. It was near Tobruk that McIntyre would depict scenes focusing on the critical role that rail played in the supply of desert troops. This is one of a number of McIntyre’ paintings that focused on individuals’ practical efforts.

Peter McIntyre, Building the railway to Tobruk, May 1943, Oil, 648 x 900mm, North Africa, Archives New Zealand: AAAC 898 NCWA 9.

$3.50 The Grants go into action, El Alamein, c. November 1942

McIntyre, who was shadowing New Zealand troops in Egypt, sketched these “Grant tanks” powering slowly but steadily forward during one of the two Battles of El Alamein (these were costly engagements for New Zealand, but also the turning point of the North African campaign in the Allies’ favour).

Peter McIntyre, The Grants go into action, El Alamein, c. November 1942, Oil, 650 x 905mm, Battle of El Alamein, North African Campaign, Archives New Zealand: AAAC 898 NCWA 24.

$4.00 Medical Officer attending wounded Germans after final surrender in Tunisia, 1 May 1943

In 1943, McIntyre accompanied the New Zealand Division as they fought alongside the British X Corps in Tunisia, North Africa. McIntyre illustrated the final surrender after the successful Operation Supercharge II and the eventual defeat of the Axis in Tunisia in May, depicting a medical officer attending wounded Germans among Tunisian cactuses.

Peter McIntyre, Medical Officer attending wounded Germans after final surrender in Tunisia, 1 May 1943, Watercolour, 365 x 338mm, North African campaign, Archives New Zealand: AAAC 898 NCWA 79