'A German Mine-Layer' ( 'U126') RMG PW1853, William Lionel Wyllie

'A German Mine-Layer' [ 'U126']
Signed and inscribed by the artist, 'A German Mine Layer', lower left, this drawing was reproduced in colour in Wyllie's co-authored book 'More Sea Fights of the Great War' f. p. 6, with his caption simply hyphenated as given above. It shows the German Type-UE II submarine-cruiser minelayer 'U126' shortly after her surrender to the Royal Navy on 22 November 1918, since she is flying British above German Imperial colours. She was launched on 16 June 1918 and commissioned on 7 October 1918 but never undertook any war patrols. In 1920 she was used for a short time for trials and experimental work by the Royal Navy and was broken up at Upnor on the Medway in 1923. The drawing has a line ruled across the bottom, under which Wyllie has added the note 'No 6 Chapter 3', but if this was for 'More Sea Fights' that is not its position there, which is as the fifth image and fourth plate in chapter four.