"Gross began an eight-week voyage on board 'Highland Monarch' in late November 1941. The ship sailed from Avonmoth to Suez via Sierra Leone, the Cape, the Indian Ocean and Aden. He finally made his base at Cairo in early 1942. On board the ship, Gross completed his 'Convoy Series', depicting mess decks, parades, scenes of instruction and entertainment on board ship." image: Several soldiers lie out on the deck of the ship stripped to only their shorts. They rest on their bags and some cover their faces with hats.