L-class destroyers under fire from the 'Mainz' at the Battle of the Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914 RMG PW1232, William Lionel Wyllie, circa 1914

L-class destroyers under fire from the 'mainz' at the battle of the heligoland bight, 28 august 1914 inscribed along the bottom by the artist to identify the ships, from far left to right: 'maintz' [sic] (german cruiser), 'liberty', 'lysander', 'laurel' and 'laertes'. Commodore reginald tyrwhitt, commander of the harwich force, in the light cruiser 'arethusa' with 16 destroyers of the 3rd destroyer flotilla, and captain blunt in the scout cruiser 'fearless' with 15 destroyers of the 1st destroyer flotilla, steamed into the heligoland bight to attack german patrol lines shortly before 07. 00 on 28 august 1914. They were supported by commodore goodenough with the six cruisers of the 1st light cruiser squadron, who was in turn covered by the five battlecruisers of vice-admiral beatty. In the ensuing confused action three german cruisers and one torpedo boat were sunk and other cruisers damaged, with over 1000 german officers and men being lost. On the british side, the 'arethusa' and the destroyers 'laertes', 'laurel' and 'liberty' were damaged and casualties were 59 dead and 43 wounded. This drawing shows the four named l-class destroyers of the 3rd destroyer flotilla under fire from the 'mainz' (1909) at about 11. 45. 'laurel' still has the letter l on her hull but this should have been painted out on the outbreak of war and maya be an error by wyllie. See also paf1231. Date: circa 1914. Dimensions: 139 mm x 461 mm. Collection: Fine art.