Wilfred Whitern's painting of the Canadian hospital ship Lady Nelson shows the brightly lit vessel in its distinctive paint scheme identifying it as a non-combatant.

Like all hospital ships, the Lady Nelson was painted white, with a broad green stripe and red crosses on its hull. At night, lights illuminated these markings, along with Red Cross flags and a red cross on the funnel. The Canadian military chartered the Lady Nelson, a Canadian National Steamships liner sunk, salvaged, and rebuilt as a hospital ship. While the medical staff, including Whitern, were military, the ship's crew were members of the merchant navy.

Hospital Ship - Lady Nelson
Painted by Wilfred Leonard Whitern in 1944
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19740551-001