The Battle of the Falkland Islands 26

The Battle of the Falkland Islands 26

At 6 P.M. the _Gneisenau_ heeled over very suddenly, showing the

men gathered on her decks and then walking on her side as she lay

for a minute on her beam ends before sinking.

 

The prisoners of war from the _Gneisenau_ report that, by the

time the ammunition was expended, some 600 men had been killed

and wounded. The surviving officers and men were all ordered

on deck and told to provide themselves with hammocks and any

articles that could support them in the water.

 

When the ship capsized and sank there were probably some 200

unwounded survivors in the water, but, owing to the shock of the

cold water, many were drowned within sight of the boats and ship.

 

Every effort was made to save life as quickly as possible both

by boats and from the ships; life-buoys were thrown and ropes

lowered, but only a proportion could be rescued. The _Invincible_

alone rescued 108 men, 14 of whom were found to be dead after

being brought on board; these men were buried at sea the

following day with full military honours.

 

 

(C)--ACTION WITH THE LIGHT CRUISERS

 

At about 1 P.M., when the _Scharnhorst_ and _Gneisenau_ turned

to port to engage the _Invincible_ and _Inflexible_, the enemy's

light cruisers turned to starboard to escape; the _Dresden_ was

leading and the _Nürnberg_ and _Leipzig_ followed on each quarter.

 

In accordance with my instructions, the _Glasgow_, _Kent_, and

_Cornwall_ at once went in chase of these ships; the _Carnarvon_,

whose speed was insufficient to overtake them, closed the

battle-cruisers.

 

The _Glasgow_ drew well ahead of the _Cornwall_ and _Kent_, and

at 3 P.M. shots were exchanged with the _Leipzig_ at 12,000

yards. The _Glasgow's_ object was to endeavour to outrange the

_Leipzig_ with her 6-inch guns and thus cause her to alter coarse

and give the _Cornwall_ and _Kent_ a chance of coming into action.

 

At 4.17 P.M. the _Cornwall_ opened fire, also on the _Leipzig_.

 

At 7.17 P.M. the _Leipzig_ was on fire fore and aft, and the

_Cornwall_ and _Glasgow_ ceased fire.

 

The _Leipzig_ turned over on her port side and disappeared at 9

P.M. Seven officer and eleven men were saved.

 

At 3.36 P.M. the _Cornwall_ ordered the _Kent_ to engage the

_Nürnberg_, the nearest cruiser to her.

 

Owing to the excellent and strenuous efforts of the engine room

department, the _Kent_ was able to get within range of the

_Nürnberg_ at 5 P.M. At 6.35 P.M. the _Nürnberg_ was on fire

forward and ceased firing. The KENT also ceased firing and closed

to 3,300 yards; as the colours were still observed to be flying

in the _Nürnberg_, the _Kent_ opened fire again. Fire was finally

stopped five minutes later on the colours being hauled down, and

every preparation was made to save life. The _Nürnberg_ sank at

7.27 P.M., and as she sank a group of men were waving a German

ensign attached to a staff. Twelve men were rescued, but only

seven survived.

 

The _Kent_ had four killed and twelve wounded, mostly caused by

one shell.

 

During the time the three cruisers were engaged with the

_Nürnberg_ and _Leipzig_, the _Dresden_, who was beyond her

consorts, effected her escape owing to her superior speed. The

_Glasgow_ was the only cruiser with sufficient speed to have

had any chance of success. However, she was fully employed

in engaging the _Leipzig_ for over an hour before either the

_Cornwall_ or _Kent_ could come up and get within range. During

this time the _Dresden_ was able to increase her distance and get

out of sight.

 

The weather changed after 4 P.M., and the visibility was much

reduced; further, the sky was overcast and cloudy, thus assisting

the _Dresden_ to get away unobserved.

 

 

(D)--ACTION WITH THE ENEMY'S TRANSPORTS

 

A report was received at 11.27 A.M. from H.M.S. _Bristol_ that

three ships of the enemy, probably transports or colliers, had

appeared off Port Pleasant. The _Bristol_ was ordered to take the

_Macedonia_ under his orders and destroy the transports.

 

H.M.S. _Macedonia_ reports that only two ships, steamships

_Baden_ and _Santa Isabel_, were present; both ships were sunk

after the removal of the crew.

 

I have pleasure in reporting that the officers and men under my

orders carried out their duties with admirable efficiency and

coolness, and great credit is due to the Engineer Officers of all

the ships, several of which exceeded their normal full speed.

 

The names of the following are specially mentioned:

 

OFFICERS

 

Commander Richard Herbert Denny Townsend, H.M.S. _Invincible_.

 

Commander Arthur Edward Frederick Bedford, H.M.S. _Kent_.

 

Lieutenant-Commander Wilfrid Arthur Thompson, H.M.S. _Glasgow_.

 

Lieutenant-Commander Hubert Edward Danreuther, First and Gunnery

Lieutenant, H.M.S. _Invincible_.

 

Engineer-Commander George Edward Andrew, H.M.S. _Kent_.

 

Engineer-Commander Edward John Weeks, H.M.S. _Invincible_.

 

Paymaster Cyril Sheldon Johnson, H.M.S. _Invincible_.

 

Carpenter Thomas Andrew Walls, H.M.S. _Invincible_.

 

Carpenter William Henry Venning, H.M.S. _Kent_.

 

Carpenter George Henry Egford, H.M.S. _Cornwall_.

 

 

PETTY OFFICERS AND MEN

 

Ch. P.O. D. Leighton, O.N. 124238, _Kent_.

 

P.O., 2nd Cl., M. J. Walton (R.F.R., A1756), O.N. 118358, _Kent_.

 

Ldg. Smn. F. S. Martin, O.N. 233301, _Invincible_, Gnr's Mate,

Gunlayer, 1st Cl.

 

Sigmn. F. Glover, O.N. 225731, _Cornwall_.

 

Ch. E. R. Art., 2nd Cl., J. G. Hill, O.N. 269646, _Cornwall_.

 

Actg. Ch. E. R. Art., 2nd Cl., R. Snowdon, O.N. 270654,

_Inflexible_.

 

E. R. Art., 1st Cl., G. H. F. McCarten, O.N. 270023, _Invincible_.

 

Stkr. P.O. G. S. Brewer, O.N. 150950, _Kent_.

 

Stkr. P.O. W. A. Townsend, O.N. 301650, _Cornwall_.

 

Stkr., 1st Cl., J. Smith, O.N. SS 111915, _Cornwall_.

 

Shpwrt., 1st Cl., A. N. E. England, O.N. 341971, _Glasgow_.

 

Shpwrt., 2nd Cl., A. C. H. Dymott, O.N. M. 8047, _Kent_.

 

Portsmouth R.F.R.B.-3307 Sergeant Charles Mayes, H.M.S. _Kent_.

 

F. C. D. STURDEE.

 

 

 

 

BATTLE OF FALKLAND ISLANDS,

 

December 8th, 1914.

 

MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATION.

 

 

H.M.S. _Invincible_.

_11th December, 1914._

 

_Memorandum._

 

The following copy of a telegram received from the Admiralty, and the

reply thereto, are forwarded for information. Both of these messages

are to be read to the whole Ship's Company on the Quarter Deck of

H.M. Ships under your command.

 

(Signed) F. C. D. STURDEE,

_Vice-Admiral_,

_Commander-in-Chief_.

 

_The Rear-Admiral and Officers Commanding

H.M. Ships,

South Atlantic and South Pacific Squadron._