Christopher Cradock

Sir Christopher George Francis Maurice Cradock was born 2 July, 1862, son of Christopher Cradock, of Hartforth, Richmond, Yorkshire. He entered the navy, and served with distinction in the Sudan, 1891; in China, 1900, being promoted Captain for gallantry at Taku. He attained Rear Admiral's rank in 1910, was given command of the Atlantic Fleet in 1911, and was knighted in 1912. In October, 1914, Sir C. Cradock, with a small squadron consisting of the old armoured cruisers HMS Good Hope and HMS Monthmouth, the light cruiser HMS Glasgow, and armed ship HMS Otranto was sent to South American waters in search of a German squadron, commanded by Rear Admiral von Spee, which was then causing much damage to Allied shipping. The old battleship Canopus was sent to support Cradock, but was nearly 200 miles astern when, on 1 November, 1914, off Coronel, on the Chilean coast, he sighted Spee's ships.

Both squadrons were steaming south, in a heavy sea and strong wind; the Germans were east of the British, in line. At 7.3 p.m. both sides opened fire at 12,000 yards, steering converging courses. The Germans quickly got the range of the Good Hope and Monmouth. At 7.50 a violent explosion amidships damaged the Good Hope, but she continued in action and did not sink till later. Cradock was lost with her.