William Lionel Wyllie (1851-1931) was a famous marine artist based in Portsmouth. In the Naval Museum in Portsmouth dockyard his impressive diorama of the Battle of Trafalgar is on display. His elaborate gravestone can be seen in Portchester churchyard. He had the misfortune to lose two sons in the First World War and both are commemorated in the cathedral. Robert Wyllie was killed in action early in the war on 31 October 1914 at the Battle of Messines. He was serving in the 1st battalion of the London Scottish regiment the first Territorial Army battalion to see action in the war. Only a few days after landing in France in mid-October they were rushed to the Ypres Salient to reinforce the Cavalry Brigade defending the Wytschate-Messines Ridge just south of Ypres. They took up their positions under heavy fire and a German attack towards evening resulted in severe hand to hand fighting. By dawn the London Scottish, approximately 1000 strong, had suffered 394 casualties, a loss rate of 42% but the line had not broken. Robert Wyllie was killed and his body never found.

Mick Imlach, a Scottish poet, has written a fine poem entitled “London Scottish” (1914) commemorating some 60 members of the famous London Scottish rugby club who all volunteered for the London Scottish regiment in August 1914. Many died alongside Robert Wyllie. Part of the poem reads

“All sixty volunteered for the touring squad

And swapped their Richmond turf for Belgian ditches.

October. Mad for a fight they broke too soon

On the Ypres Salient, rushing the ridge between

“Witshist” and Messines. Three-quarters died...”

As a memorial for his son William Wyllie painted a large picture entitled "The Miraculous Draught of Fishes" based on the story in St Johns Gospel chapter 21. The white clad figure of Christ stands on a rock watching the fishermen pulling in their heavily laden nets whilst another fisherman stands in the boat keeping it steady with a large oar. This 6 foot painting now hangs on one of the nave pillars close to the Cathedral book shop. The body of Robert Wyllie was never found so he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres.

Two years later a second son William Thomas Wyllie of the 2 Durham Light Infantry was killed at Montauban on 19 July 1916 during the Somme fighting. Attached to the staff he was killed by a sniper whilst visiting the trenches.He left a widow and 3 children the youngest of whom, Marion, being born 6 weeks after the death of her father. He was buried in Danzig Alley Cemetery Mametz.

After the war William Wyllie commissioned a sculptor Robert Colton to make a life sized bronze statue on marble showing his son like a Crusader knight lying in dress uniform. This can be seen today at the entrance to the Choir close to the Corporation Pew. The inscription reads:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE SECOND SON OF WILLIAM LIONEL WYLLIE AND MARION AMY WYLLIE<WILLIAM THOMAS WYLLIE 2nd DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY KILLED IN ACTION AT MONTAUBAN ON THE 19th JULY 1916 WHILST ACTING AS BRIGADE MAJOR AND BURIED IN MAMETZ CEMETERY> HE LEAVES A WIDOW AND THREE CHILDREN>.

John Symonds

Easter 2015

The Wyllie Memorials, Portsmouth Cathedral

The Miraculous Draught of Fishes - Portsmouth Cathedral

The bronze statue by Robert Colton - Portsmouth Cathedral