British battleships of the 1st Battle Squadron at sea on the morning of the German surrender, 21 November 1918

Inscribed by the artist, lower right, 'Morning of German surrender'. This study of R-class battleships of the 1st Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet is apparently taken from its flagship, HMS 'Revenge', on which Wyllie was a guest of Admiral Sir Charles Madden for a month at the time of the surrender and internment of the German High Seas Fleet. That being so, the ships shown are 'Resolution' immediately following, 'Royal Sovereign' and 'Royal Oak'. The fourth ship distantly sen on the right is probably 'Emperor of India'. The squadron (preceeded by four light cuisers and four battle-cruisers), comprised the northern line of the escort as the German fleet sailed into the Forth. The airship shown is either NS7 or NS8, both of which were airborne for the surrender, and one of which filmed the German ships coming in: a resulting newsreel copy is in the Imperial War Museum, ref. IWM 637. Wyllie appears to show a rather brighter day than it was.

Object Details

ID: PAF1743
Collection: Fine art
Type: Drawing
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Wyllie, William Lionel
Date made: 1918
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Sheet: 254 x 354 mm