'City of Bethlehem [i.e. Brisbane] torpedoed 13th Augst 1918 5pm off Rottingdean' / 'Destroyers firing depth charges at retreating enemy'

Two views inscribed, as title, but probably not by the artist. Whoever did so made an error in that there was no ship named 'City of Bethlehem' sunk in 1918. It was in fact the British Ellerman-line ship 'City of Brisbane,' which was torpedoed in this position on this day. The 'City of Brisbane' was completed in 1918 and was sailing from London to Buenos Aires in ballast when she was hit abaft the engine room by a torpedo from U-57 at 17.35 on 13 August 1918. She was taken in tow and beached off Newhaven, where she finally sank at 03.00 on 14 August 1918. The wreck was later dispersed by explosives. The submarine U-57 was commissioned on 30 July 1917 and in eleven patrols sank 47 ships and damaged a further ten. She was mined off the Flanders coast and lost with all 34 crew on 14 August 1918.

Object Details

ID: PAE3142
Collection: Fine art
Type: Drawing
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Wyllie, William Lionel
Date made: 15 Aug 1918
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: 48 mm x 236 mm