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| Rear Admiral Cradock KCVC CB |
Sir Christopher George Francis Maurice Cradock was born on 2 July
1862 at Hartforth, in Yorkshire, the fourth son of Christopher and
Georgina Cradock.
He entered the Royal Navy in 1875, aged 13. In 1878 Cradock was present
at the British occupation of Cyprus, serving as a midshipman.
He served in the Egyptian campaign in 1884 and the Sudan in 1891,
and later on the Royal Yacht. Promoted to Commander, he was given
command of Alacrity, where he saw action with the storming of the
Taku Forts on 17 July 1900, serving with distinction. He subsequently
directed Allied forces during the relief of Tientsin and, later, Siku.
Cradock was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1910, by which time he had
established himself as the author of several works. Created KVCO in
1912, Cradock was appointed to the command of the North American and
West Indies station the following year, 1913. |
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With the declaration of war in August 1914 Cradock was given responsibility
for protecting the North American coast from St. Lawrence to Brazil;
and, from October with the pursuit of Spee's squadron with his own
somewhat old and inferior 4th Squadron.
Having located Spee's force, Cradock engaged them in battle but was
hopelessly outfought, with Spee able to call upon Scharnhorst, Gneisenau,
Leipzig, Dresden and Nürnberg. Within an hour he had lost his
life when his flagship HMS Good Hope and HMS Monmouth were sunk with
all hands.
A memorial to Cradock is in York Minster on the East side of the North
Transept towards the Chapter House entrance. |
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