Ch6:E46: I Saw the Tragedy of Coronel, by J D Stephenson, 1 November 1914

The battle of Coronel on November 1, 1914, was a sad blow to the hopes of the
British Navy. Admiral Cradock's encounter with the German Admiral von Spee's
squadron off Coronel led to the loss of the flagship, Good Hope, and the cruiser
Monmouth, the British admiral going down with his ship. H.M.S. Glasgow was in
the thick of the fight but managed to escape. Thrilling incidents of the defeat,
later to be avenged at the battle of the Falkland Islands, are here narrated by a sick
berth steward, J. D. Stephenson, who was aboard H.M.S. Glasgow.
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[@hazchemel]

Thanks for bringing this out. Naval battles are terribly harrowing.

[@scroggins100]

It must have been really scary to be below decks shovelling coal for all your worth with that lot going off around you. The old Matelots really were something else.

[@kidmohair8151]

the words of an average sailor in WW1 are rare.
thank you WFA for letting us hear them.

[@alowry2002]

Thank you.

[@Ccccccccccsssssssssss]

Thanks!

[@timsimms65707]

I have read about this battle but to hear about it from someone who was there is chilling. It was criminal of the Admiralty to send Admiral Cradock after von Spee with such outdated ships in my opinion. Had the HMS Defence been there things may have gone very differently, more than likely von Spee would have avoided battle as the Defence posed a significant threat to his ships.
They were both brave men who made the supreme sacrifice for their countries, may they and their brave crew rest in peace.