Liberty men RMG PW1735, William Lionel Wyllie, circa 1908

Liberty men original art: drawing. This drawing relates to the painting 'lord charles's liberty men', which wyllie exhibited at the royal academy in 1908 and is now in the royal naval museum, portsmouth. 'lord charles' was admiral lord charles beresford, who from 1907 to 1909 was commander-in-chief of the channel fleet, then the principal royal naval squadron, with fourteen battleships. He was the last commander of this historic fleet, which owing substantially to the influence of admiral of the fleet sir john fisher was amalgamated into the new home fleet in 1909 - against his opposition- and which saw him obliged to haul down his flag a year early. Beresford was an immensely popular commander at portsmouth, and wyllie here shows his men coming ashre from the channel fleet anchored in spithead. [pvdm 6/13]. Date: circa 1908. Dimensions: Sheet: 434 x 603 mm. Collection: Fine art.