 The 1936 canvas, "Distressed Area", shows an empty Montrose harbour, looking out across Rossie Island and the River South Esk, to the North Sea.When war was declared in September 1939, Baird was working on a large scale portrait of his friend, and well known local character, James "Pumphy" Davidson.Baird quickly adapted the portrait to show Davidson wearing an armband of the newly created Local Defence Volunteers, later the Home Guard.