The Battle of the Falkland Islands, Before and AfterSpencer-Cooper, Henry Edmund Harvey
History
The Battle of the Falkland Islands, Before and After
Spencer-Cooper, Henry Edmund Harvey
Falkland Islands, Battle of the, 1914; World War, 1914-1918 -- Naval operations
_From_ C.-IN-C. HOME FLEETS, H.M.S. _Cyclops_.
(_Date_) 11.12.14. 4.58 A.M.
Submit the hearty congratulation of the Grand Fleet on his victory
may be conveyed to Admiral Sturdee.
Messages exchanged between H.E. the Governor of the Falkland Islands
and C.-in-C. South Atlantic and Pacific:
GOVERNOR _to_ VICE-ADMIRAL:
_11th December, 1914._
Warmest congratulations from self and Colony on your Victory.
VICE-ADMIRAL _to_ GOVERNOR:
May I thank you and the Colony for myself, the R.A., Captains,
Officers and men of the Squadron for your congratulations on our
success, which will not be complete until _Dresden_ is accounted for.
We wish to convey our thanks for the early warning of the approach of
the enemy due to the good lookout from Sapper's Hill.
We feel the honour that the _Canopus_ and the Squadron were in a
position to prevent an old British Colony from being insulted or
injured in any way, and hope that the enemy will have been taught
a lesson not to repeat such action against any other part of the
British Empire.
This Memorandum is to be read to whole Ship's Company on the Quarter
Deck.
_Invincible, at Port William,_
_11th December, 1914._
_Memorandum._
The Commander-in-Chief wishes to congratulate all the ships of the
squadron on the success of their main encounter with the enemy's
squadron, and to thank the Rear-Admiral, Captains, Officers and Men
for their individual assistance in attaining this great result. The
zeal and steadiness under fire of all hands were most noticeable.
2. The victory will not be complete until the remaining cruiser
is accounted for, and directly the squadron is coaled a further
organised search will be made.
3. One of the greatest merits of the action is the small list of
casualties due to the able handling of the ships by their Captains,
who utilised the power of the guns and the speed of the ships to the
best advantage. Further, the effective fire at long range and the
thorough organization were very evident and enabled the action to be
fought with success against a foe who displayed splendid courage,
determination and efficiency.
4. The excellent way in which the Engine Room Departments responded
to a sudden and unexpected demand reflects great credit on the
officers and the whole engine room complements--this demand was made
at a time when ships were coaling and making good defects during the
few hours the ships were in harbour.
5. The successful disposal of the two powerful cruisers, two of the
three light cruisers, and two colliers, will be of great advantage to
the Naval Strategy of the British Empire.
6. Therefore all concerned can feel that they have performed a
National Service on the 8th December, 1914, off the Falkland Islands.
(Signed) F. C. D. STURDEE,
_Vice-Admiral_,
_Commander-in-Chief_.
_The Rear-Admiral, Captains, Officers, and all concerned,
South Atlantic and South Pacific Squadron._
GALLANT SERVICES
"KENT" SERGEANT'S BRAVE DEED
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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