An 'Insect'-class gunboat with shells exploding overhead RMG PV0076, William Lionel Wyllie, 1914

An 'insect'-class gunboat with shells exploding overhead this is an 'insect'-class river gunboat. There were twelve built, all launched between september 1915 and april 1916. Four operated in home waters, four in the mediterranean and four on the euphrates during the mesopotamia campaign. The four at home were fitted with a 6-inch gun on a high-angle mounting forward, as shown here, and were used for the protection of docks and seaports on the east coast. 'cicala' was based at hull, 'cockchafer' at brightlingsea, 'cricket' at norfolk ports and 'glowworm' at lowestoft. In october 1918 all four were transferred to archangel for service on the river dvina. In this drawing the air bursts are rather close to the ship to have been fired by her, unless they are perhaps signal charges (maroons) of some sort. Waves breaking in the foreground show she is making passage up the coast on which wyllie is standing, the grey band on the horizon being a sky effect not high land. Date: 1914. Dimensions: 253 mm x 353 mm. Collection: Fine art.