Ships at Harwich using searchlights while under night air attack; 'From a sketch by Commander Burges Watson' RMG PV3166, William Lionel Wyllie, circa 1917

Ships at harwich using searchlights while under night air attack; 'from a sketch by commander burges watson' inscribed and signed by the artist, lower right: 'from a sketch by commander burges watson / w. L. Wylllie'. The air attack can be inferred from the use of searchlights and the location appears to be harwich, partly from the fact that the moored ships are destroyers, the visible church spire and clock tower to its left, and the inscription. The destroyer at centre is almost certainly watson's ship the 'loyal', built by denny at dumbarton, launched on 10 november 1913 and based at harwich with the 3rd destroyer flotilla,1914-17. Commander fischer burges watson was her captain from 18 april 1914 until he transferred to command the destroyer 'tempest' on 14 april 1917, followed by the flotilla leader 'shakespeare' from 16 september 1918. During the first world war there were 16 raids by aircraft and three by zeppelins on the harwich area. Which one this is is not clear but presumably while watson was in 'loyal', given her central position. The apparent extensive fire ashore to the right may in due course help identify it. The drawing has been done using a very wet wash base, hence the multiple pin holes round the edge to keep the paper flat. Date: circa 1917. Dimensions: 317 mm x 468 mm. Collection: Fine art.