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| Last Letter of George |
Two weeks before Coronel the Admiralty was informed that German trade
had revived between Valparaiso and P Arenas, so Cradock sent Glasgow,
Monmouth and Otranto to Valparaiso to check out the information. They
found no movement on the coast, however while at Valparaiso it was
strongly rumoured that Spee was near (at the time he was at Eater
Island), and being no match for the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau they
fell back to joined with Cradock at Vallenar Roads.
While at Valparaiso the crew had the chance to send letters to their
loved ones at home, George Henry Holdaway ( J/20336, Boy 1st Class)
was one of those who took this opportunity to send a few words. My
thanks go to his niece Joyce Maddock for allowing me to reproduce
it here. |
George's Letter (transcript right) |
From Georg
Dear Elsie
I am allright up to present, shall be in battle in a few days, had
1 or 2 fights with armed liners in Pacific, am sending this from Valparaiso.
Good Bye
George. |
The envelope from George's last letter (above) |
George's Memorial Card |
George's sister Elsie had also written to him, but sadly he never
received it and it was returned overstamped 'SHIP LOST'. |
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