Rescuing the crew of the German light cruiser 'Mainz' at the Battle of the Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914 RMG PV3448, William Lionel Wyllie, circa 1914

Rescuing the crew of the german light cruiser 'mainz' at the battle of the heligoland bight, 28 august 1914 this drawing quite accurately depicts the rescue of most of the 346 survivors from the german light cruiser 'mainz' (1909), the large ship on the right, which was heavily damaged by the gunfire of british cruisers and battle-cruisers at the battle of the heligoland bight on 28 august 1914. Two of her three funnels and her mainmast went by the board before she surrendered. The destroyer 'lurcher' (1912, shown ), flagship of commodore roger keyes, went alongside to take off survivors while boats from other destroyers assisted in the work. The abandoned 'mainz' then sank. Wyllie has written 'mast more upright' at the bottom, presumably referring to that of the 'lurcher'. For a preliminary pencil sketch of this subject see pae1043. Date: circa 1914. Dimensions: 253 mm x 355 mm. Collection: Fine art.