Reply To: Last of the buff funnels and white hull?

[Anonymous]

I did a bit of research into this for the painting I have commissioned of HMS Exeter at the Battle of the River Plate. There is a well-known painting of Exeter coming back to Devonport in 1940 after 4 years on the South American station, where the artist painted her with buff funnels (but grey hull). Various people, including veterans of the battle and a dockyard worker present the day she returned, have confirmed this was not the case, she definitely was “standard” grey, as I believe were all cruisers (including Ajax and Achilles) on the South American station at that time.
Henry Rising