In 1842, Sir George Napier, the Cape Governor, refused a request from the Boers at Port Natal (later D'Urban) for independance and sent a detachment of the 27th Regiment under Captain Smith to occupy the settlement. The Volksraad wrote to the Governor that they would resist any landing and Smiths troops were besieged. Cloete (see provenance) was in command of the force sent by sea to relieve Smith and occupy Port Natal. Bowler's watercolour shows H.M.S. Southampton offshore covering the successful landing of troops from the schooner Conch.

For a discussion of Bowler's work relating to the 1842 Port Natal expedition see Frank R. Bradlow, Thomas Bowler, His Life & Work, 1967, pp. 24-26