Official portrait of Captain Sir Tom Moore unveiled at National Army Museum

An oil painting of the war veteran has been unveiled to mark VJ Day

[National Army Museum]

Captain Sir Tom Moore is the subject of a new portrait hung at the National Army Museum in London.

The oil painting of the Second World War veteran — who became a household name during lockdown after raising millions for NHS charities — is by artist Alexander Chamberlin.

Chamberlin told the BBC that Captain Sir Tom and his grandson Benji had been "incredibly accommodating" and that he was "hugely proud" to have painted him.

A former cavalry officer, Chamberlin said he was "approached by a colonel in the Army who saw the need to record [Captain Sir Tom's] story in the kind of language of the portrait... and he knew my work, because I had painted heads of state, politicians and pop stars”.

In the portrait, Captain Sir Tom is depicted in his Duke of Wellington Regiment blazer wearing his medals and recently awarded Blue Peter badge.

[PA] (PA)

The portrait has been hung to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Japan day this Sunday — the date when Emperor Michinomiya Hirohito announced the unconditional surrender of his Imperial forces.

[National Army Museum]

Emma Mawdsley, Head of Collections Development and Review at the National Army Museum, said of the acquisition: “We are delighted to be adding this fabulous painting to the Museum’s collections.

"This portrait is of a very special veteran whose incredible fundraising efforts have moved the nation. It will make a wonderful addition to our gallery, which aims to show the many links between the public and the Army."

Sir Captain Tom himself will be participating in an online talk to mark VJ Day, as part of the museum's VJ75: Never Forgotten series. He will be in conversation with Dr Peter Johnston of the National Army Museum alongside Private Joseph Hammond. The talk will be available to stream from 4pm GMT on the museum's website.

The National Army Museum in London's Chelsea reopened in July following closure during the pandemic. It is allowing visitors to book advanced tickets to ensure distancing measures are adhered to.

The portrait can be viewed in the museum's Society gallery.

Captain Tom was recently knighted by the Queen after he raised almost £33 million for NHS Charities Together by participating in a walking fundraiser in the lead-up to his 100th birthday.

Of the meeting at Windsor Castle, the veteran told BBC Breakfast: “You never, ever could imagine what it was like to be so close to the Queen, who is an absolute dream of a person.

“We really enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and to have that honour, really, that is something very special.”