William James Aylward (September 5, 1875 – February 26, 1956) was a war artist for the United States Army during World War I. Aylward was born September 5, 1875, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and developed an early interest in things nautical because his father built and owned Great Lakes ships.

Like some of the other future official World War I combat artists, he studied with the famous illustrator and teacher, Howard Pyle.

Aylward began his professional career by writing and illustrating 18th century marine history for magazines such as Harper's and Scribner's.

His artwork also appeared in illustrated editions of Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas and Jack London's The Sea-Wolf.

During the war Aylward concentrated his efforts on recording the activities of the ports and transportation systems developed to support industrial warfare.