William Lionel Wyllie, R.A.

(British, 1851-1931)

The White Star liner Oceanic (II) lying at anchor and loading coal late at night ahead of an early departure the following morning

Footnotes

The White Star Line inaugurated its North Atlantic passenger service in 1871 with a luxurious new steamer named Oceanic and, by the time she was retired in 1896, the contract to build her replacement had already gone to Harland & Wolff at Belfast where the new flagship was laid down in 1898. Launched on 14th January 1899, she was completed that August and cost a staggering £750,000. Registered at 17,274 tons gross (6,996 net) and measuring 705 feet in length with a 68 foot beam, she had accommodation for 410 first and 300 second class passengers and splendid public rooms as befitted White Star's reputation for luxury over speed. Nevertheless, she could still make 19½ knots at full steam and, although not a record-breaker, proved a worthy addition to the company's fleet.

Leaving her builders' yard on 26th August (1899), she was thrown open to the Press when she arrived at Liverpool and sailed on her maiden voyage, bound for New York, on 6th September. After eight years during which, despite a few minor mishaps, she rendered her owners excellent service, her home port changed to Southampton (in 1907) and remained thus until the summer of 1914. Almost as soon as War was declared on 4th August, Oceanic was commissioned as an Armed Merchant Cruiser and was posted to the 10th Cruiser Squadron to help maintain the 'Northern Patrol'. Sadly, before ever she had "fired a shot in anger", she ran aground off Foula Island, in the Shetlands, on 8th September and was eventually pronounced a total loss despite valiant attempts to save her over several weeks. In March 1924, at which time most of her still remained intact, she was gradually cut down to water level for salvage, and the last remnants of her hull were finally removed in the late 1970s.