Apparently, during Von Spee celebration banquet at Valparaiso after the battle, when he was given some flowers, he jokingly said "these will do nicely for my funerals. The British will not forget this."
My grandfather, Michael Herbert Lawson served in the RN throughout the Great War, luckily coming through unscathed. His uncle, William Lawson, was less fortunate and perished on HMS Good Hope at Coronel. He was Head Stoker, aged 34 and married with three children. Having originally enlisted with the Navy at 18, he was one of the reservists referred to in this video. Both William and Michael were from Nottingham.
He settled in Chile, in the 1930s he received a medal for his service from the German embassy. I would have loved if the letter with the medal (now also lost) would have had more details.
@racer1611 Have you read "Australian Code Breakers" by James Phelps? It is about the German East Asia Fleet and Australian Code Cracker tracing Von Spee's across the Pacific to Chile.
The Emden's raids are interesting, but also of interest are how those sailors of the Emden's crew not captured after sinking by HMAS Sydney got back to Germany! Worth a video perhaps?
There is a german TV documentation, but have forgotten the name. When i remember correct, it was made by german TV station ZDF. Perhaps the TV Station can help you. ZDF means Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen.
Wonderful video! When I graduated from high school (some 28 years ago) my final exam was from History and I chose the naval operations 1914-1918. My Professor asked me to tell him of Coronel... I talked for an hour or so of the situation, circumstances, Von Spee's Kreuzergeschwader, Sir Craddock's situation and communication with the admiralty... and when I finished with the Battle, he simply said "They were brave..." So far from home, sailed right into death or glory... But, as Kipling said: "Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?" None this tide, Nor any tide, Except he did not shame his kind--- Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide. Then hold your head up all the more, This tide, And every tide; Because he was the son you bore, And gave to that wind blowing and that tide! Many thanks for the wonderful story! Greetings from Belgrade, Serbia!
Very brave men. I saw Craddock's monument in the York Minster cathedral. The book "Castles of Steel" has a lot about how the Asiatic Squadron shot up several Allied islands in the Pacific, destroying transocean cable links to Australia. The British went nuts looking for them (Churchill likened it to searching for a shilling on a ballroom floor).
Thank you for a very interesting video, as always. I am a writer of stories for a Local History Blog in Manchester and a recent one was concerning a War Memorial of a school in Didsbury, a Manchester suburb, and some of the names on it. One was a civilian 18-year -old Arthur Grimshaw, returning from New York on "The Lusitania" but another was a Boy Sailor on H.M.S. Monmouth, Harold William Frith, who was still only 17 when he died.
There's a 1927 film called "The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands". I saw a restored version ten years ago at the London Film Festival where it was screened with a new score performed by 24 members of the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines in tribute to the band members who died on HMS Monmouth.
Wow, what a battle 👏 I enjoyed learning about this naval engagement which turned the tides for the Germans. It seemed like I if could use the American expression, a football quarterback trying to hit a baseball pitcher, outgunned from the outset but did their duty without hesitation. I'm eager to learn about what happened to Vons Spey at the Falkland Islands. Well done, amigo y vaya con Dios.
The Germans were sunk in their turn near the Falklands, the ships have recently been found & video filmed. The one escapee SMS Dresden was later sunk at Cumberland Bay, Robinson Crusoe Island, Juan Fernandez Archipelago.
Craddock should have fled and rejoined the Canopus, I've always thought that, he was massively outgunned without it. Discretion would've been the better part of valour on the day. Though I have great sympathy for his difficult choices not having proper intelligence or communication leading up to the battle
Agree as well but his honour was at stake. He had seen a friend of his berated by an admiral some time before & i think he was more afraid of being thought of as a coward after, even if it did cost him his & many more their lives. Today we remember him for marching into the mouth of hell & therefore not cowardly. Definitely was a different time & a difficult decision had to be made. If only communication was a bit better, he may have lived, but may also be somewhat forgotten today.
Craddock was ever mindful of the fate of Admiral John Byng. Also, Craddock was right, in a grim, deadly way. His sacrifice, and those of 1,600 odd men, effectively knocked the German squadron out of the war. The Royal Navy would want revenge and hunt von Spee down. von Spee knew this, he was boxed in. He couldn't go back to Asia, Japanese and Australian capital ships, the very reason he fled Tsingtao, were now looking for him. He couldn't go anywhere, British squadrons at River Plate, West Indies, Gibraltar, South Africa and the Indian Ocean would block his path. Finally, he couldn't go home, even if he slipped past those squadrons, he'd have to slip past the British blockade of Germany. von Spee had also expended more than half his ammunition at Coronel, and badly needed coal. He could get coal from colliers or any ship he seized- German or Allied - but he couldn't get German caliber shells from British ships. So von Spee knew he was as good as dead. When his men presented him with flowers, he allegedly replied that those would look nice on his coffin. Quite ironic that when von Spee reached the Falklands, he would find there the same class of warships, capital ships, that he had fled from in Asia. And just like Craddock, von Spee couldn't abandon his slower ships to the enemy, plus knowing the bigger, faster British battlecruisers would run his now ragged ships down anyway, he turned and fought against overwhelming odds. And Sturdee swatted him like a fly, just as he had smashed Craddock at Coronel.
I was in York in 2000 and saw the plaque for Craddock and his men at the Minster. I remember being fascinated with ww1 naval fights after getting the Marshall Cavendish series in 1974😅.
One of the interesting facts mentioned in this conflict, which I was not aware of, was that in WW1, Japan was allied with Britain and France. You learn every day, thank you, History Chap.
RIP Harry Pierce Ancill, reservist returned to the flag & lost on HMS Good Hope at Coronel, memorialised on the Lytch Gate at Overbury Church & the Royal Navy Memorial Portsmouth
Nice video. As an aside, Drachinifel states that the main problem with the speed of Canopus was that its chief engineer was having a nervous breakdown, only identified later. When canopus joined Sturdy, its speed was very good. Whilst out of date, its 12 inch guns would have benefitted Craddock, and might have influenced the battle.
Gee, Chris old bean, the time you've decided to post this at last, hahaha... but at least, after also enjoying a full re-watch, since first doing 'em and the other best and appropriate ones which followed 'em for the first time ever last year, 'Halloween' films 1 and 2, I can end my day on a satisfactory note thanks to you, our British military history UA-camr superstar. Cos certainly, this WWI Naval battle I had absolutely no clue about until you came along was quite the lesson indeed- the utter disaster, no doubt the fault of both the Admiralty and Craddock together I'd say due to cocked up mistakes by both of 'em which resulted in NO Germans lost whatsoever and Craddock himself and two of his own ships lost to fire and water, at Coronel, which put an end to us Brits' 100 years of invincible control over the seas since the days of Lord Nelson and the Napoleonic Wars... Once again, you know exactly how to deliver, Chris dear chap, this was definitely what I could need to end tonight alongside the first two 'Halloween' films. Wonder what the next great WWI focused video from ya's will be one day- guess time will tell
Yet another tale from the annals of history, superbly told - as always. I knew things had just gone badly for the Royal Navy, but this fleshes in the details. However, I thnk the fortunes were about to turn around and Von Spee got a very bloody nose at the Falklands. As @jmc says, it IS really good to hear about these more obscure battles. Well done, and thank you once again !!
The Royal Navy was a slow learner to modern technology of the day. A vast number of ships were lost during the first few months of WW1 including the 'Live Bait Squadron', three heavy Cruisers lost in the space of two hours or less, sunk by one U Boat on 22nd September 1914. My Grandfather was on one and was lost with 1500 other men.
If not for the scandal following Troubridge's decision not to confront Goeben and Breslau Craddock may well have, sensibly, avoided battle. The Admiralty was forced to send a adequate force to defeat VonSpee not 'able'. The Battlecruisers sent were designed to kill armored cruisers. Unlike the later Battlecruisers that had a chance against Battleships.
HMS Canopus cheif engineer was actually suffering from a nervous breakdown at the time...While her engines were not in tip top condition they were far from the terrible state her engineer claimed. HMS Canopus WAS heavily armoured and would have shrugged off the German 8.2 inch shells....However even a single 12inch hit from the HMS Canopus would have caused serious problems for Von Spee!!!
It did get a richochet when an alleged training 12 inch round bounced and dented Gneisenau's rear funnel in the opening shots of the Battle of the Falklands and did cause them to run off.
It might be an idea to do a piece on Churchills costly military blunders. With the Dardanelles and Force Z and Singapore I think you could almost make a short series. And yes, Like blackbear211, I place this one on his shoulders too. Great video.
I'm over 60, and I first read of this battle over 50 years ago. I lay this directly at the feet of Winston Churchill - who spent a lot of time criticizing Admiral Craddock after the fact, but likely would have been leading the calls for his dismissal if he had not engaged.
You may wish to read "The Coal Black Sea." Primarily about the unnecessary loss of three armored cruisers to the torpedoes of U-9, it also discusses your point. Churchill took no responsibility for their loss and tried his best to dump much of the blame on the cruisers' commanders, including the one who drowned and couldn't defend his reputation. The only thing that saved Churchill's bacon was the Falklands shortly after Coronel.
Churchill, that amazing wizard who could control the weather, read men's minds, bend Jackie Fisher and Lord K of K to his will and guide all the ships at sea and men on land merely by the force of his will. Truly HE was the model for Sauron.
The first naval battle I have ever wargamed, the results were pretty much the same except only theTaranto got away. The battle of the Falklands is a good story and my next game.
I tend to agree that both the admiralty and Adm Craddock were at fault. He should have tried to run south and hope to lose his enemy in the dark, but maybe he couldn't have made it. He should at least have tried to save some of his ships.
4:51 And had von Spee sailed north instead of south, he would have ran into HMCS _Rainbow_ ,an obsolete Apollo-class protected cruiser of the nascent Royal Canadian Navy. After being sold to the Canadian government in 1910, the _Rainbow_ was allowed to rot due to lack of funding (this is a recurring theme in Canada). Her crew were trainees, some of whom had never been to sea before. Nevertheless she was the only Allied warship north of the equator, and so was directed south to find the _Leipzig_ and _Nurnberg_ .Needless to say it would not have gone well had she met von Spee's squadron.
It is a telling point, coal was needed for ships (Was it Churchill who recommended oil) so with a lack of other options Von Spee needed coal (And there were few or no German coaling stations) and his luck ran out at the Falklands. A very digest of the battle.
Seems like captains and the admiralty of this period still thought it was the Napoleonic wars and pluck and bravery could overcome lack of numbers and quality. Good story thanks Chris
Always moving to hear about the relatives who gave their lives. I don't understand why the Admiralty should deserve any sympathy - a bunch of donkeys on this occasion. And I cringe at the reference to loss of ships rather than loss of sailors. Excellent video and nice bookcase by the way. UK Landlubber.
Just at front of Falkland War lot of school kids and teachers in Wendover John Colet school they thought the Falkland Islands was near Scotland. But instead I was a kid in know about the Battle of Falkland in WW1 so I told them the Falkland Islands was in South America.
@@TheHistoryChap Understandable - Falkland is in Scotland, and was the site of a battle - albeit in 1298, when Wallace was defeated. Scots know these things!
Watched a movie on the weekend titled Sailor of the King(1953) starring Jeffery Hunter and Michael Rennie. It’s set during WW2 but it’s a remake of another movie titled Born to Glory(1938). The 1938 version is an adaptation of a C.S. Forester book titled Brown on Resolution(1929) that is loosely based upon this battle.
@@TheHistoryChapNP. Btw, Jeffery Hunter plays a Canadian sailor, not American as some might think. However, the character he portrays grew up in Montreal so should have a francophone accent but clearly doesn’t.
Von Spee had a pretty good idea of what his ultimate fate would be. Two days after the battle, at a consular party in Valparaiso to celebrate the victory, he insisted that they tone it down. Also, after being offered a bouquet of flowers darkly quipped that they would look nice on his grave.
Jogged my memory here, always think of Jutland, a piric victory for Germany I think 🤔, this battle tends to be dismissed as a 'blip'..thanks for upload 😮
Apparently, Christopher Craddock knew full well that his squadron stood no chance against the Scharnhorst and Gneisnau and yet he still sailed out to meet them. An unsung hero, though a doomed one
As an addendum, HMS Canopus, an old Battleship attached to Christopher Craddock's squadron, was beached in Port Stanley at the start of the battle of the Falklands and fired the first shot, which scored a hit! The only problem was that, as they were expecting a live fire exercise, the shell was just an inert lump of concrete. At least that's what an account of the battle said that I read 40 years ago
I point the finger of blame at Churchill. He had a lot to do with the confusing naval signals.... oh, didn't he do something similar regarding Troubridge's actions?
Jackie Fisher clarified Churchill's instructions ordering Craddock not to engage without Canopus -- but by the time it was sent Craddock was already dead.
It was a bit one sided when you compared Von Spee’s modern armoured cruisers compared to Admiral Cradock’s two elderly armoured cruisers Good Hope and Monmouth which were totally outclassed by the German Squadron p. Fortunately the modern cruiser Glasgow escaped to tell the tale which led to the destruction of Von Spee’s squadron at the Battle of the Falklands.
Because of the transformation of warfare with airpower & then aircraft carriers evolution throughout WW2. I think we see in WW1 the culmination of centuries of Naval power! The dreadnought vessels & other ships of the line were brimming with fire power! WW2 was so different with submarines & better aircraft,so in a way WW1 was the hey day of these beautiful ships! Well done sir!👍
My feeling is that it's exceedingly rare that a single factor contributes to any downfall. Having said that, at the end of the day it was Craddock upon whose shoulders the fateful decision rests. Hindsight is 20/20 and I'm sure he did his best to weigh the circumstances. Should we blame Nelson for cultivating an RN tradition of going at 'em hell for leather in the highest traditions of the service? In situations like this, I tend to blame the Admiralty for their appalling lack of foresight and support.
I know I've seen the monument to the battles of the Coronel and the Falklands. It was somewhere around Chatham or Gillingham in Kent. As per usual for WWI, a lot of names inscribed there. From memory, the Admiralty were somewhat disappointed with the opening event and sent whatever was available to sort out the opposing force. I'm guessing the Germans also have a fitting memorial. There are wars which are logical, inevitable and needed. WWI doesn't show up in the list.
Canaris was a young leutenant on board of the Dresden, after it got sunken he went as a prisoner in Chile, but he ran away and made his way through Spain into Germany.
Have a read of "Australian Codebreaker". The Australian codebreakers had cracked the German naval signal codes before this battle and had told the Adminalty of the German messages.
I think there's an interesting parallel between this battle and the Battle of the River Plate in WW2, which featured the German admiral's namesake ship. Had the British managed to inflict consequential damage, it would have been the end for Von Spee due to the lack of nearby friendly bases. On that basis, and considering the Royal Navy's overall superiority, I think the action had to be fought
If you follow this video up with one on the Battle of the Falkland Islands it would be worth including an analysis of how many men who went into combat at Coronel survived both battles Spoiler alert - it is not a high percentage
I believe Admiral Craddock had shared a room with (the future) Admiral Troubridge when they were both young officers. If Craddock was aware of how his friend had been court martialled after the Goeben was not engaged by the fleet under the command of Troubridge, this may have been a factor in his engaging the stronger German fleet.
I did not know the story of the battle of Coronel. I have huge respect and sympathy for Craddock forced into an awful situation by the Admiralty, always ready to prosecute and punish officers who were not "aggressive" enough, does the name Byng ring any bells? Had Craddock survived the battle he could have said, like King Francis I of France after his heroic defeat at Pavia, "All was lost except the honour".
Thank you Chris. Very educational👍I'm getting a GSD Puppy calling him "Otto Von Below" 🐕🦺 Maybe you can do a video on this famous Prussian General?💂♂️🫡
The four RCN midshipmen serving aboard HMS Good Hope were the first casualties for Canada in the first world war. Also look for pictures of the armored bridge of the heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee in the next war and you shall see large letters there spelling out "Coronel" honoring this battle. The warship Admiral Graf Spee was scuttled after a battle with a Royal Navy cruiser squadron operating out of the Falklands in the first month's of the second world war. In the next episode Von Spee's squadron was virtually destroyed immediately south of the Falklands. In the first world war Canopus was forced to withdraw to Port Stanley for repairs and was not involved in the battle of Coronel. In the second, HMS Cumberland, an RN heavy cruiser remained in Port Stanley for repairs and did not participate in the battle with the Admiral Graf Spee. History does not repeat itself but sometimes it rhymes. There is a plaque in Halifax for the four RCN midshipmen.
Coronel, what a devastating and embarrassing defeat for the British. They had obsolete weaponry and not well drilled crew. The Germans not only had the better weaponry, but also the marksmanship too, something very important for training in an armed service branch. It was a got thing the British made up for their errors at the Falkland Islands. As always, well done!
My grandfather was an engineroom artificer on HMS Glasgow. So was my future great uncle. They were messmates. Grandfather was caught in a boiler room accident and shipped home to Britain, his hair turned white at age 25. My future great uncle asked my grandfather to deliver a letter to his sister. In doing so he met his future wife, my grandmother. He had a photo taken from the jetty at Port Stanley. In 1982, I had a photo taken on the same jetty as part of the Royal Navy Falklands task force. Literally, there but for the grace of God go I...
Liked your piece on Thomas Lord Cochrane, but thought it skimmed the subject, and did not give a fair hearing on the Stock Exchange scandal. The money he had in Gilts was his Prize Money, put there for low risk. The way he got elected as a Reform Party candidate in the Rotten Borough of Honiton was pure Cochrane When in charge ot the Pallas he successfully advertised for volunteers instead of resorting to the Press Gang. Word had got around about his Prize Money success, and all the crew would get a share under the PM rules, which could set them up for life in retirement. Worth doing as a series!
SMS Scharnhorst was well placed to win the battle single-handedly. But having Gneisenau and a swarm of light cruisers was what definitely put the final nail in the British coffin. Even if they somehow dragged Canopus there, unless all the British ships stayed right next to her, it would be just another training target. Strong armor or not, she would be bombarded like Bismarck a few decades later, as long as it would take. And finished off with torpedoes.
The sinking of the "Live Bait Squadron" in September 1914 (albeit by U boat) pre - dates Coronel by several weeks. Was this not the first defeat in 100 years ?
Craddock was a man of honour, for whom withdrawal went against the traditions of the Royal Navy. However foolish, he led his officers and ratings to a glorious defeat. The alternative was a humiliating retreat.
Here is the list of Spanish naval victories against England: 1. Cartagena de Indias (1741): Defeat of Edward Vernon's English fleet. 2. Battle of Flores Island (1591): Capture of the English galleon Revenge. 3. Battle of Cádiz (1625): Successful defense against the English-Dutch attack. 4. Expedition to Saint Kitts (1629): Recovery of the island occupied by English and French forces. 5. Battle of Puerto Caballos (1603): Defeat of an English fleet attacking the Caribbean coast. 6. Battle of Orbetello (1646): Spain repelled an Anglo-French fleet in the Mediterranean. 7. Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780): Capture of an English convoy with over 50 ships. 8. Defense of Puerto Rico (1797): Defeat of the invasion attempt led by Ralph Abercromby. 9. Battle of Pensacola (1781): Spanish naval support to expel the English from the city. 10. Battle of Cape Finisterre (1747): Spain protected its trade fleet from an English attack. These victories highlight Spain's naval power at various points in history.
I have to look through your videos to see if you talk about the naval battle of Bengkulu between Britain and France... a battle that the French won... I forgot the years, in the xvii or xviii centuries I believe !
I don't think it was necessarily that hopeless. With a good plan, and some great cunning, they might have managed against Von Spee. Difficult, absolutely. But there is some merit to the idea that maybe they could have still wounded them enough to render them ineffective.
Book recommendation for anyone wanting a broad but not superficial overview of WW1 Naval History from just one publication: “Castles of Steel” by Robert K Massie.
@@formwiz7096 No, but as a result the HSF became merely a fleet in being, and the Northern Patrol starved Germany into revolution and defeat, and the HSF into mutiny & surrender, all behind the shield of what you apparently suggest was the 'defeated' Grand Fleet.
The man responsible for this disaster, the first defeat of the Royal Navy in a hundred years was none other than Winston Churchill. He personally decided that there was no need to send HMS Defence, and through his hubris condemned Cradock and his men to their graves. He may have been a great political strategist and orator, but in his long career he was militarily responsible for catastrophe after catastrophe. He was not totally to blame for Gallipoli, but in WW2 he was for the disastrous Norway campaign, and for the expedition to Greece with its inevitable and horrendous retreat across Crete. His impulsiveness and belief in himself as a gifted general, demanding troops be released to undertake various cack-handed adventures undermined Wavell, perhaps our most able general, and later Auchinleck (who incidentally successfully sued both Churchill and his weasel-like braggart replacement, Montgomery for libel after the war), and along with that preening buffoon, Mountbatten, the disastrous raid on Dieppe. He was a menace, but thankfully less of one than his opponent, Hitler, who also regarded himself as a military genius.
To me the battle of Coronel was a battle between two different era of ships. The old, slow, small gunned, turn of the century cruisers against the more modern German cruisers. Then the following battle of the Falkland Islands was between the German cruisers against the British battle cruisers. Jackie Fishers reason for these battle cruisers was born out as they were much more powerful then any enemy cruiser they would ever face. From this point onward cruisers would have to be faster and better armed and protected then they had ever been. No navy could hope to win a war with outdated ships, especially the pre-dreadnaughts!
His pride and fear of being blamed or accused of cowardice caused the unnecessary deaths of over a thousand men under his charge. He should have fled, admiralty and the press back home be damned. His career and prestige was clearly of more value to him than all the lives he wasted. Those who refused to reinforce him share equally in his blame for stubbornly refusing to listen to his admonishments.
Apparently, during Von Spee celebration banquet at Valparaiso after the battle, when he was given some flowers, he jokingly said "these will do nicely for my funerals. The British will not forget this."
My grandfather, Michael Herbert Lawson served in the RN throughout the Great War, luckily coming through unscathed. His uncle, William Lawson, was less fortunate and perished on HMS Good Hope at Coronel. He was Head Stoker, aged 34 and married with three children. Having originally enlisted with the Navy at 18, he was one of the reservists referred to in this video. Both William and Michael were from Nottingham.
John, thank you so much for sharing your family stories.
Thank you Chris for keeping their stories alive.
Outstanding!
Clearly a man who knew my relative Harry Pierce Ancill!
RIP .... My Great Grandfather James William Ronson was Chief Engine Room Artificer on HMS Monmouth.
Thank you your taking the time to share your family history.
My great grandfather was a sailor in one of Von Spee’s ships, sadly which one has been forgotten.
He settled in Chile, in the 1930s he received a medal for his service from the German embassy. I would have loved if the letter with the medal (now also lost) would have had more details.
My distant relative with the last name STURROCK perished on HMS GOOD HOPE the flag ship at the battle.
@racer1611 Have you read "Australian Code Breakers" by James Phelps? It is about the German East Asia Fleet and Australian Code Cracker tracing Von Spee's across the Pacific to Chile.
It’s great to hear about these forgotten battles
Thank you.
Couldnt sleep as the broken ankle is doing ouchies and found this late posting!
Thanks Chris
Get well soon mate.
A broken finger can be worked around. A broken ankle is an absolute sod.
I got it out late in the day. Thanks for watching.
I hope your ankle will heal soon. Regards
An amazing story which I had never heard before. And a brilliant telling. Thank you for sharing. Cheers
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
The Emden's raids are interesting, but also of interest are how those sailors of the Emden's crew not captured after sinking by HMAS Sydney got back to Germany! Worth a video perhaps?
There is a german TV documentation, but have forgotten the name. When i remember correct, it was made by german TV station ZDF. Perhaps the TV Station can help you. ZDF means Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen.
Included in my video about the Emden
My Great Uncle Robert Humphreys SS4690 (age 19) was one of the brave men who were lost on HMS Monmouth. Remembered with Honour - Gourock War Memorial.
Thanks for watching my video & your interesting feedback.
Wonderful video!
When I graduated from high school (some 28 years ago) my final exam was from History and I chose the naval operations 1914-1918.
My Professor asked me to tell him of Coronel... I talked for an hour or so of the situation, circumstances, Von Spee's Kreuzergeschwader, Sir Craddock's situation and communication with the admiralty... and when I finished with the Battle, he simply said "They were brave..."
So far from home, sailed right into death or glory...
But, as Kipling said:
"Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?"
None this tide,
Nor any tide,
Except he did not shame his kind---
Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.
Then hold your head up all the more,
This tide,
And every tide;
Because he was the son you bore,
And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!
Many thanks for the wonderful story!
Greetings from Belgrade, Serbia!
Thanks for watching my video & for your fascinating feedback.
Very Well Said, my Serbian friend.
Very brave men. I saw Craddock's monument in the York Minster cathedral. The book "Castles of Steel" has a lot about how the Asiatic Squadron shot up several Allied islands in the Pacific, destroying transocean cable links to Australia. The British went nuts looking for them (Churchill likened it to searching for a shilling on a ballroom floor).
Thank you for a very interesting video, as always. I am a writer of stories for a Local History Blog in Manchester and a recent one was concerning a War Memorial of a school in Didsbury, a Manchester suburb, and some of the names on it. One was a civilian 18-year -old Arthur Grimshaw, returning from New York on "The Lusitania" but another was a Boy Sailor on H.M.S. Monmouth, Harold William Frith, who was still only 17 when he died.
There's a 1927 film called "The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands". I saw a restored version ten years ago at the London Film Festival where it was screened with a new score performed by 24 members of the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines in tribute to the band members who died on HMS Monmouth.
Thanks for watching my video & for your feedback.
I have a copy. It is superb, and some scenes stand comparison with Eisenstein.
My great uncle George Taylor from Topsam was an RMLI bugler and reservist in Monmouth.
Wow, what a battle 👏 I enjoyed learning about this naval engagement which turned the tides for the Germans. It seemed like I if could use the American expression, a football quarterback trying to hit a baseball pitcher, outgunned from the outset but did their duty without hesitation. I'm eager to learn about what happened to Vons Spey at the Falkland Islands. Well done, amigo y vaya con Dios.
Harry, I’m glad that you enjoyed it. Have no fear, you will be finding out soon.
The Germans were sunk in their turn near the Falklands, the ships have recently been found & video filmed. The one escapee SMS Dresden was later sunk at Cumberland Bay, Robinson Crusoe Island, Juan Fernandez Archipelago.
My grandfather, a naval reservist, was lucky--at Pymouth he was assigned to HMS Argonaut, while friends went on Good Hope and Monmouth.p
Thanks for the great video, chris!
Cheers-
My pleasure. Keep well.
Craddock should have fled and rejoined the Canopus, I've always thought that, he was massively outgunned without it. Discretion would've been the better part of valour on the day. Though I have great sympathy for his difficult choices not having proper intelligence or communication leading up to the battle
Itend to agree with you. Thanks for watching and also for commenting.
Agree as well but his honour was at stake. He had seen a friend of his berated by an admiral some time before & i think he was more afraid of being thought of as a coward after, even if it did cost him his & many more their lives. Today we remember him for marching into the mouth of hell & therefore not cowardly. Definitely was a different time & a difficult decision had to be made. If only communication was a bit better, he may have lived, but may also be somewhat forgotten today.
Craddock was ever mindful of the fate of Admiral John Byng.
Also, Craddock was right, in a grim, deadly way. His sacrifice, and those of 1,600 odd men, effectively knocked the German squadron out of the war. The Royal Navy would want revenge and hunt von Spee down. von Spee knew this, he was boxed in. He couldn't go back to Asia, Japanese and Australian capital ships, the very reason he fled Tsingtao, were now looking for him. He couldn't go anywhere, British squadrons at River Plate, West Indies, Gibraltar, South Africa and the Indian Ocean would block his path. Finally, he couldn't go home, even if he slipped past those squadrons, he'd have to slip past the British blockade of Germany.
von Spee had also expended more than half his ammunition at Coronel, and badly needed coal. He could get coal from colliers or any ship he seized- German or Allied - but he couldn't get German caliber shells from British ships. So von Spee knew he was as good as dead. When his men presented him with flowers, he allegedly replied that those would look nice on his coffin.
Quite ironic that when von Spee reached the Falklands, he would find there the same class of warships, capital ships, that he had fled from in Asia. And just like Craddock, von Spee couldn't abandon his slower ships to the enemy, plus knowing the bigger, faster British battlecruisers would run his now ragged ships down anyway, he turned and fought against overwhelming odds. And Sturdee swatted him like a fly, just as he had smashed Craddock at Coronel.
NOWADAYS… “Britannia” can’t even intercept flotillas of inflatable dinghies! 🇬🇧 “How are the might fallen…” 😢
@@oteliogarcia1562 i don't know if that is the guy i heard about . Watched Drachinafels video on the battle .
I was in York in 2000 and saw the plaque for Craddock and his men at the Minster. I remember being fascinated with ww1 naval fights after getting the Marshall Cavendish series in 1974😅.
Thanks for sharing. Appreciated.
Greetings from Valparaíso , Chile. very good channel.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.
One of the interesting facts mentioned in this conflict, which I was not aware of, was that in WW1, Japan was allied with Britain and France. You learn every day, thank you, History Chap.
Thanks for your comment.
RIP Harry Pierce Ancill, reservist returned to the flag & lost on HMS Good Hope at Coronel, memorialised on the Lytch Gate at Overbury Church & the Royal Navy Memorial Portsmouth
Thanks for sharing.
Nice video. As an aside, Drachinifel states that the main problem with the speed of Canopus was that its chief engineer was having a nervous breakdown, only identified later. When canopus joined Sturdy, its speed was very good. Whilst out of date, its 12 inch guns would have benefitted Craddock, and might have influenced the battle.
Thanks for watching my video & your interesting feedback.
Thanks so much Chris
My pleasure.
Outstanding from a history nut👍👍great work
Many thanks.
Gee, Chris old bean, the time you've decided to post this at last, hahaha... but at least, after also enjoying a full re-watch, since first doing 'em and the other best and appropriate ones which followed 'em for the first time ever last year, 'Halloween' films 1 and 2, I can end my day on a satisfactory note thanks to you, our British military history UA-camr superstar.
Cos certainly, this WWI Naval battle I had absolutely no clue about until you came along was quite the lesson indeed- the utter disaster, no doubt the fault of both the Admiralty and Craddock together I'd say due to cocked up mistakes by both of 'em which resulted in NO Germans lost whatsoever and Craddock himself and two of his own ships lost to fire and water, at Coronel, which put an end to us Brits' 100 years of invincible control over the seas since the days of Lord Nelson and the Napoleonic Wars... Once again, you know exactly how to deliver, Chris dear chap, this was definitely what I could need to end tonight alongside the first two 'Halloween' films. Wonder what the next great WWI focused video from ya's will be one day- guess time will tell
Hi Max,
Glad you enjoyed it.
Got some corkers lined up including Charge of the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba.
Yet another tale from the annals of history, superbly told - as always. I knew things had just gone badly for the Royal Navy, but this fleshes in the details. However, I thnk the fortunes were about to turn around and Von Spee got a very bloody nose at the Falklands.
As @jmc says, it IS really good to hear about these more obscure battles.
Well done, and thank you once again !!
Many thanks for your support
The Royal Navy was a slow learner to modern technology of the day. A vast number of ships were lost during the first few months of WW1 including the 'Live Bait Squadron', three heavy Cruisers lost in the space of two hours or less, sunk by one U Boat on 22nd September 1914. My Grandfather was on one and was lost with 1500 other men.
Thanks for watching my video & for your informative feedback.
Thank you for this post, very educational.
Thank you for watching.
If not for the scandal following Troubridge's decision not to confront Goeben and Breslau Craddock may well have, sensibly, avoided battle. The Admiralty was forced to send a adequate force to defeat VonSpee not 'able'. The Battlecruisers sent were designed to kill armored cruisers. Unlike the later Battlecruisers that had a chance against Battleships.
The irony was Troubridge's flagship was HMS Defence.
@@TheHistoryChap The next irony: HMS Defence and HMS Invincible were lost at Jutland.
Hello... and thank you for this very informative description of the battle..
Glad you enjoyed it thanks for watching my video;
great presentation...thanks!
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Very interesting, must not be forgotten by students, nice educational and historical 😊 thank you Sir!
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.
HMS Canopus cheif engineer was actually suffering from a nervous breakdown at the time...While her engines were not in tip top condition they were far from the terrible state her engineer claimed. HMS Canopus WAS heavily armoured and would have shrugged off the German 8.2 inch shells....However even a single 12inch hit from the HMS Canopus would have caused serious problems for Von Spee!!!
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
It did get a richochet when an alleged training 12 inch round bounced and dented Gneisenau's rear funnel in the opening shots of the Battle of the Falklands and did cause them to run off.
It might be an idea to do a piece on Churchills costly military blunders. With the Dardanelles and Force Z and Singapore I think you could almost make a short series. And yes, Like blackbear211, I place this one on his shoulders too. Great video.
That is a great idea. How about, which was his greatest military blunder?
@@TheHistoryChap If you'd ask me, the whole Dardanelles campaign, but Singapore is a close second.
Great video. Thanks once again.
My pleasure Darren.
Awesome Story....thank you
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
I'm over 60, and I first read of this battle over 50 years ago.
I lay this directly at the feet of Winston Churchill - who spent a lot of time criticizing Admiral Craddock after the fact,
but likely would have been leading the calls for his dismissal if he had not engaged.
You may wish to read "The Coal Black Sea." Primarily about the unnecessary loss of three armored cruisers to the torpedoes of U-9, it also discusses your point. Churchill took no responsibility for their loss and tried his best to dump much of the blame on the cruisers' commanders, including the one who drowned and couldn't defend his reputation. The only thing that saved Churchill's bacon was the Falklands shortly after Coronel.
Great observation.
Thank you for sharing that one.
@@kennethrouse7942 ...and then there is very curious fate of the Lusitania... and his final undoing - Gallipoli.
Churchill, that amazing wizard who could control the weather, read men's minds, bend Jackie Fisher and Lord K of K to his will and guide all the ships at sea and men on land merely by the force of his will. Truly HE was the model for Sauron.
The first naval battle I have ever wargamed, the results were pretty much the same except only theTaranto got away. The battle of the Falklands is a good story and my next game.
Strangely enough, guess what I have on my production list for the near future? -:)
I tend to agree that both the admiralty and Adm Craddock were at fault. He should have tried to run south and hope to lose his enemy in the dark, but maybe he couldn't have made it. He should at least have tried to save some of his ships.
Interesting. Thanks for posting.
4:51 And had von Spee sailed north instead of south, he would have ran into HMCS _Rainbow_ ,an obsolete Apollo-class protected cruiser of the nascent Royal Canadian Navy. After being sold to the Canadian government in 1910, the _Rainbow_ was allowed to rot due to lack of funding (this is a recurring theme in Canada). Her crew were trainees, some of whom had never been to sea before. Nevertheless she was the only Allied warship north of the equator, and so was directed south to find the _Leipzig_ and _Nurnberg_ .Needless to say it would not have gone well had she met von Spee's squadron.
That is very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
...he would also have run into the Imperial Japanese navy who were hunting him.
It is a telling point, coal was needed for ships (Was it Churchill who recommended oil) so with a lack of other options Von Spee needed coal (And there were few or no German coaling stations) and his luck ran out at the Falklands. A very digest of the battle.
Thanks for your feedback.
Seems like captains and the admiralty of this period still thought it was the Napoleonic wars and pluck and bravery could overcome lack of numbers and quality. Good story thanks Chris
Great hearing from you. Hope all is well. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Always moving to hear about the relatives who gave their lives. I don't understand why the Admiralty should deserve any sympathy - a bunch of donkeys on this occasion. And I cringe at the reference to loss of ships rather than loss of sailors. Excellent video and nice bookcase by the way. UK Landlubber.
Just at front of Falkland War lot of school kids and teachers in Wendover John Colet school they thought the Falkland Islands was near Scotland. But instead I was a kid in know about the Battle of Falkland in WW1 so I told them the Falkland Islands was in South America.
I remember people thinking they were off Scotland too!
@@TheHistoryChap Understandable - Falkland is in Scotland, and was the site of a battle - albeit in 1298, when Wallace was defeated. Scots know these things!
Watched a movie on the weekend titled Sailor of the King(1953) starring Jeffery Hunter and Michael Rennie. It’s set during WW2 but it’s a remake of another movie titled Born to Glory(1938). The 1938 version is an adaptation of a C.S. Forester book titled Brown on Resolution(1929) that is loosely based upon this battle.
Thanks for taking the time to share.
@@TheHistoryChapNP. Btw, Jeffery Hunter plays a Canadian sailor, not American as some might think. However, the character he portrays grew up in Montreal so should have a francophone accent but clearly doesn’t.
Chilean here.
Both grandparents on my mother's side watched or rather heard the battle from a small town south from Coronel
Wow, what a memory to have handed down. Thanks for sharing.
I enjoyed this presentation!
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@TheHistoryChap Greetings from Texas.
Von Spee had a pretty good idea of what his ultimate fate would be. Two days after the battle, at a consular party in Valparaiso to celebrate the victory, he insisted that they tone it down. Also, after being offered a bouquet of flowers darkly quipped that they would look nice on his grave.
Jogged my memory here, always think of Jutland, a piric victory for Germany I think 🤔, this battle tends to be dismissed as a 'blip'..thanks for upload 😮
I will cover Jutland, just trying to work out how to deal with lots of "moving parts".
@TheHistoryChap yes it really could be problematic 😔 🤧, cheers 🍻
HMS Invincible… HMS Inflexible… HMS Defense…and so on…I love the names that the Royal Navy christens their ships.
Thanks for watching my video.
HMS Inflexible was damaged by mine at the Dardanelles, the other two lost at Jutland
Excellent video
War at sea is more much more cruel.
You are not allowed to surrender.
In most cases, when you lose, you all die.
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
Fascinating part of naval history. Hope mr. Green does Falkland battle as a continuation of Graf Spee story.
Thanks for your comment.
Apparently, Christopher Craddock knew full well that his squadron stood no chance against the Scharnhorst and Gneisnau and yet he still sailed out to meet them. An unsung hero, though a doomed one
Unfortunately so. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
As an addendum, HMS Canopus, an old Battleship attached to Christopher Craddock's squadron, was beached in Port Stanley at the start of the battle of the Falklands and fired the first shot, which scored a hit! The only problem was that, as they were expecting a live fire exercise, the shell was just an inert lump of concrete. At least that's what an account of the battle said that I read 40 years ago
I point the finger of blame at Churchill. He had a lot to do with the confusing naval signals.... oh, didn't he do something similar regarding Troubridge's actions?
Thanks for your comment.
Jackie Fisher clarified Churchill's instructions ordering Craddock not to engage without Canopus -- but by the time it was sent Craddock was already dead.
It was a bit one sided when you compared Von Spee’s modern armoured cruisers compared to Admiral Cradock’s two elderly armoured cruisers Good Hope and Monmouth which were totally outclassed by the German Squadron p. Fortunately the modern cruiser Glasgow escaped to tell the tale which led to the destruction of Von Spee’s squadron at the Battle of the Falklands.
Guess which battle is on the cards -:)
Bravo Sir bravo!
Thank you.
Have you done anything on the 1874 war of Mysore and the BEI? So a short on the History Guy. Looks interesting and up your alley.
i think you mean the war that was a bit earlier than that date. If so, it is one the cards.
@@TheHistoryChap TY sir, we enjoy your channel.
Because of the transformation of warfare with airpower & then aircraft carriers evolution throughout WW2. I think we see in WW1 the culmination of centuries of Naval power! The dreadnought vessels & other ships of the line were brimming with fire power! WW2 was so different with submarines & better aircraft,so in a way WW1 was the hey day of these beautiful ships! Well done sir!👍
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
My feeling is that it's exceedingly rare that a single factor contributes to any downfall. Having said that, at the end of the day it was Craddock upon whose shoulders the fateful decision rests. Hindsight is 20/20 and I'm sure he did his best to weigh the circumstances. Should we blame Nelson for cultivating an RN tradition of going at 'em hell for leather in the highest traditions of the service? In situations like this, I tend to blame the Admiralty for their appalling lack of foresight and support.
Thanks for your well thought through argument as to where the blames lies.
The Royal Navy at Gallipoli deserves more credit too. Also Think of HMS Gloworm HMS Peterel and many others. The Royal Navy always sticks to its guns.
Thanks for watching my video & for your comment.
Great video.
Admiralty
Thanks for watching my video
I know I've seen the monument to the battles of the Coronel and the Falklands. It was somewhere around Chatham or Gillingham in Kent.
As per usual for WWI, a lot of names inscribed there. From memory, the Admiralty were somewhat disappointed with the opening event and sent whatever was available to sort out the opposing force.
I'm guessing the Germans also have a fitting memorial.
There are wars which are logical, inevitable and needed. WWI doesn't show up in the list.
Thanks for adding this interesting piece.
So, the more modern Glasgow had the outdated 6" guns as well Chris?...
It would seem so, but maybe armaments varied. I'm sure other naval buffs are much more knowledgable than me.
Canaris was a young leutenant on board of the Dresden, after it got sunken he went as a prisoner in Chile, but he ran away and made his way through Spain into Germany.
What about the battle against the Spanish Fleet of Blas de Lezo in Cartagena? Any information about that?
Have a read of "Australian Codebreaker". The Australian codebreakers had cracked the German naval signal codes before this battle and had told the Adminalty of the German messages.
Thanks for the suggestion.
As Winston Churchill said, "Britannia rule the waves!" was an exhortation, not a statement of fact. Rule, not rules.
Today, it's more like wave the rules....
Yes, I know the proper lyric. I also know the popular refrain.
I think there's an interesting parallel between this battle and the Battle of the River Plate in WW2, which featured the German admiral's namesake ship. Had the British managed to inflict consequential damage, it would have been the end for Von Spee due to the lack of nearby friendly bases. On that basis, and considering the Royal Navy's overall superiority, I think the action had to be fought
Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.
@TheHistoryChap so wholesome that you reply to every comment! Keep up the great videos 👍
If you follow this video up with one on the Battle of the Falkland Islands it would be worth including an analysis of how many men who went into combat at Coronel survived both battles
Spoiler alert - it is not a high percentage
Thanks for the tip. Will bear that in mind.
I do love the six degrees of Charles Gordon, who didn't try to help him out?!
Ha ha, even Lance Corporal Jones was there -:)
I believe Admiral Craddock had shared a room with (the future) Admiral Troubridge when they were both young officers. If Craddock was aware of how his friend had been court martialled after the Goeben was not engaged by the fleet under the command of Troubridge, this may have been a factor in his engaging the stronger German fleet.
Thanks for watching my video & for your feedback.
Great video. please look at the story of SS wolf and also Felix von Luckner. both were WW1.
I have read the book about SS Wolf. Amazing story.
I think Admiral Craddock’s decision to stand and fight the Germans was definitely influenced by the fate of Admiral Troubridge.
I did not know the story of the battle of Coronel. I have huge respect and sympathy for Craddock forced into an awful situation by the Admiralty, always ready to prosecute and punish officers who were not "aggressive" enough, does the name Byng ring any bells? Had Craddock survived the battle he could have said, like King Francis I of France after his heroic defeat at Pavia, "All was lost except the honour".
Thanks for watching my video & for your feedback.
Thank you Chris. Very educational👍I'm getting a GSD Puppy calling him "Otto Von Below" 🐕🦺 Maybe you can do a video on this famous Prussian General?💂♂️🫡
Thanks for watching, will add your suggestion to my ever growing list.
Nice, never heard of this battle, guess they never liked to talk about it.
Very well presented with subscript and photos ...except for the frequent shots of 'teacher' and the semaphore arms.
The four RCN midshipmen serving aboard HMS Good Hope were the first casualties for Canada in the first world war. Also look for pictures of the armored bridge of the heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee in the next war and you shall see large letters there spelling out "Coronel" honoring this battle. The warship Admiral Graf Spee was scuttled after a battle with a Royal Navy cruiser squadron operating out of the Falklands in the first month's of the second world war. In the next episode Von Spee's squadron was virtually destroyed immediately south of the Falklands. In the first world war Canopus was forced to withdraw to Port Stanley for repairs and was not involved in the battle of Coronel. In the second, HMS Cumberland, an RN heavy cruiser remained in Port Stanley for repairs and did not participate in the battle with the Admiral Graf Spee. History does not repeat itself but sometimes it rhymes. There is a plaque in Halifax for the four RCN midshipmen.
THX CHAPPY
My pleasure. Keep well.
i'm confused why the brit 6inch guns are obsolete but the german 5.9 and 4 inch guns you never said anything? do they have a higher muzzel velocity ?
Coronel, what a devastating and embarrassing defeat for the British. They had obsolete weaponry and not well drilled crew. The Germans not only had the better weaponry, but also the marksmanship too, something very important for training in an armed service branch. It was a got thing the British made up for their errors at the Falkland Islands. As always, well done!
Thanks for watching & for your feedback.
My grandfather was an engineroom artificer on HMS Glasgow. So was my future great uncle. They were messmates. Grandfather was caught in a boiler room accident and shipped home to Britain, his hair turned white at age 25. My future great uncle asked my grandfather to deliver a letter to his sister. In doing so he met his future wife, my grandmother. He had a photo taken from the jetty at Port Stanley. In 1982, I had a photo taken on the same jetty as part of the Royal Navy Falklands task force.
Literally, there but for the grace of God go I...
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your interesting family story.
Lord Nelson would be ashamed by the act of that day
Maybe Craddock had that in mind?
Liked your piece on Thomas Lord Cochrane, but thought it skimmed the subject, and did not give a fair hearing on the Stock Exchange scandal. The money he had in Gilts was his Prize Money, put there for low risk.
The way he got elected as a Reform Party candidate in the Rotten Borough of Honiton was pure Cochrane
When in charge ot the Pallas he successfully advertised for volunteers instead of resorting to the Press Gang. Word had got around about his Prize Money success, and all the crew would get a share under the PM rules, which could set them up for life in retirement. Worth doing as a series!
The trick is trying to cover everything in a limited space of time.
Craddock and Von Spee were men whose fates were intertwined and both died fighting doomed battles.
Thanks for your comment.
SMS Scharnhorst was well placed to win the battle single-handedly. But having Gneisenau and a swarm of light cruisers was what definitely put the final nail in the British coffin. Even if they somehow dragged Canopus there, unless all the British ships stayed right next to her, it would be just another training target. Strong armor or not, she would be bombarded like Bismarck a few decades later, as long as it would take. And finished off with torpedoes.
Thanks for watching my video & your feedback.
The sinking of the "Live Bait Squadron" in September 1914 (albeit by U boat) pre - dates Coronel by several weeks. Was this not the first defeat in 100 years ?
because it wasn't classed as a battle between warships.
Craddock was a man of honour, for whom withdrawal went against the traditions of the Royal Navy. However foolish, he led his officers and ratings to a glorious defeat. The alternative was a humiliating retreat.
Defeat is such a ungly word, let's just say they under performed..... 😊
And the Germans over performed -:)
Could used the term second best.....
They were defeated...
Here is the list of Spanish naval victories against England:
1. Cartagena de Indias (1741): Defeat of Edward Vernon's English fleet.
2. Battle of Flores Island (1591): Capture of the English galleon Revenge.
3. Battle of Cádiz (1625): Successful defense against the English-Dutch attack.
4. Expedition to Saint Kitts (1629): Recovery of the island occupied by English and French forces.
5. Battle of Puerto Caballos (1603): Defeat of an English fleet attacking the Caribbean coast.
6. Battle of Orbetello (1646): Spain repelled an Anglo-French fleet in the Mediterranean.
7. Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780): Capture of an English convoy with over 50 ships.
8. Defense of Puerto Rico (1797): Defeat of the invasion attempt led by Ralph Abercromby.
9. Battle of Pensacola (1781): Spanish naval support to expel the English from the city.
10. Battle of Cape Finisterre (1747): Spain protected its trade fleet from an English attack.
These victories highlight Spain's naval power at various points in history.
I have to look through your videos to see if you talk about the naval battle of Bengkulu between Britain and France... a battle that the French won... I forgot the years, in the xvii or xviii centuries I believe !
Not done that one...yet!
@@TheHistoryChap So the British left, the French occupied Fort Marlborough, they fell sick, they left, the British came back...
I understand the weather was bad as one could imagine for a naval fight
Thanks for watching & your comment.
Very brave German sailors!
I don't think it was necessarily that hopeless. With a good plan, and some great cunning, they might have managed against Von Spee.
Difficult, absolutely. But there is some merit to the idea that maybe they could have still wounded them enough to render them ineffective.
Thanks for taking the time to present your thoughts on this battle
Craddock would have been thinking about the blow to the Royal Navy's prestige if he encountered the German squadron and declined to fight.
Thanks for your comment.
Book recommendation for anyone wanting a broad but not superficial overview of WW1 Naval History from just one publication: “Castles of Steel” by Robert K Massie.
Thanks for suggesting to my viewers.
Add Jutland to Coronel and there was real reason to believe British conmtrol of the seas was in doubt.
PS Great story, very well told.
Thanks for your kind comment.
Yes, the underlying concerns were there.
You could also add failing to force the Dardanelles too.
@@TheHistoryChap My bad.
Really? After Jutland the High Seas Fleet barely emerged from the Jade again, and certainly never risked confronting the Grand Fleet.
@@dovetonsturdee7033 Hindsight is 20-20. At the time, they couldn't know that.
@@formwiz7096 No, but as a result the HSF became merely a fleet in being, and the Northern Patrol starved Germany into revolution and defeat, and the HSF into mutiny & surrender, all behind the shield of what you apparently suggest was the 'defeated' Grand Fleet.
The man responsible for this disaster, the first defeat of the Royal Navy in a hundred years was none other than Winston Churchill. He personally decided that there was no need to send HMS Defence, and through his hubris condemned Cradock and his men to their graves. He may have been a great political strategist and orator, but in his long career he was militarily responsible for catastrophe after catastrophe. He was not totally to blame for Gallipoli, but in WW2 he was for the disastrous Norway campaign, and for the expedition to Greece with its inevitable and horrendous retreat across Crete. His impulsiveness and belief in himself as a gifted general, demanding troops be released to undertake various cack-handed adventures undermined Wavell, perhaps our most able general, and later Auchinleck (who incidentally successfully sued both Churchill and his weasel-like braggart replacement, Montgomery for libel after the war), and along with that preening buffoon, Mountbatten, the disastrous raid on Dieppe. He was a menace, but thankfully less of one than his opponent, Hitler, who also regarded himself as a military genius.
The revenge was sweet the defeat a lucky meeting between disparate forces.
To me the battle of Coronel was a battle between two different era of ships. The old, slow, small gunned, turn of the century cruisers against the more modern German cruisers. Then the following battle of the Falkland Islands was between the German cruisers against the British battle cruisers. Jackie Fishers reason for these battle cruisers was born out as they were much more powerful then any enemy cruiser they would ever face. From this point onward cruisers would have to be faster and better armed and protected then they had ever been. No navy could hope to win a war with outdated ships, especially the pre-dreadnaughts!
Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.
His pride and fear of being blamed or accused of cowardice caused the unnecessary deaths of over a thousand men under his charge. He should have fled, admiralty and the press back home be damned. His career and prestige was clearly of more value to him than all the lives he wasted. Those who refused to reinforce him share equally in his blame for stubbornly refusing to listen to his admonishments.
Thanks for watching my video & your feedback.