The DLI at Large - WT Wyllie

D/DLI 7/1003/2 William Thomas Wyllie, possibly 4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry at the time of the photograph

This DLI at Large post is inspired by a memorial one of the Durham at War volunteers saw in Portsmouth Cathedral. 

Captain William Thomas Wyllie was born in London in 1882, his family moving to Portsmouth in 1906.  He was the son of William Lionel Wyllie, a renowned marine artist whose 42 foot painting of the Battle of Trafalgar still hangs in the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth.  Educated at Eastbourne and Clifton, he later spent some time working at Elswick Shipyard, Tyne and Wear, and served as a bombardier in the Elswick Battery.

In January 1902 Wyllie was commissioned to the 4^th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.  In 1910 he was employed with the West African Frontier Force before returning to England at the declaration of war.  Wyllie helped to raise the 10^th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and became Colonel Hubert Morant’s Adjutant.  In May 1916 he became a Brigade Major and lost his life on the Somme 19 July 1916.  

Memorial to WT Wyllie, Durham Light Infantry, Portsmouth Cathedral, courtesy of Memorial and Monuments in Portsmouth

Captain Wyllie's memorial in Portsmouth Cathedral is quite remarkable.  It is a bronze relief, measuring over 190cm by 50cm, of [Wyllie] at rest with the DLI insignia by his feet.  It bears the inscription:

"In loving memory of the second son of William Lionel and Marion Amy Wyllie. William Thomas Wyllie 2^nd Durham Light Infantry killed in action at Montauban on the 19^th July 1916 whilst acting as Brigade Major and buried in Mametz Cemetery.  He leaves a widow and three children."

Many thanks to Tim Backhouse of the Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth project for permission to use the photograph.