The Women's Auxiliary Army Corps was a female auxiliary of the New Zealand Military Forces during World War II. Many WAAC's served in the Middle East. After graduating from London's Slade School of Art, McIntyre joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force supporting the British Armies in Cairo.Taking his paints and paper, he is appointed official New Zealand War Artist by Major General Bernard Freyberg in 1940.

In McIntyre's own words, his job was to provide an 'intimate impression of the drama, colour, humour and tragedy of war'. In this work, six young service women, returning from the Middle East aboard the liner Strathmore, are seated on deckchairs and a tartan rug.