The submarine 'C15' fundraising for the Gosport war effort

The submarine 'C15' was launched by Vickers at Barrow on 21 January 1908 and completed on 1 April 1908. Her pendant number was 45, but pendant numbers for submarines were dropped in 1915 and the boats had their names painted on the conning tower. This drawing shows her with her name on the tower, so must date from 1915 to 1918. Both in the First and Second World Wars there were public campaigns to raise funds to support war efforts and this drawing is a neat piece of observation by Wyllie recording a particular local initiative, with 'C15' inviting visitors aboard to raise funds for a new submarine. People are shown being helped on and off from small boats, probably ferrying from popular Southsea beach, Portsmouth, rather than on the Gosport side, though that is possible. She flies two banners, one reading 'Help to buy Gosport's submarine this week, £100,000' and the other 'Come aboard and buy'. 'C15' was taken out of service in July 1919 and broken up in 1922.

Object Details

ID: PAE3490
Collection: Fine art
Type: Drawing
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Wyllie, William Lionel
Date made: 1915-18; 1915-1918
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: 250 mm x 353 mm