The Battle of the Falkland Islands 1914

Main Battle

When war broke out between Germany and the allies on 4th August 1914, the news was of little concern in the Falkland Islands, as it was seen mainly as a northern hemisphere "affair". However, this soon changed with the Naval Battles of Coronel and the Falkland Islands.

Prior to the battle of CoroneI, in September 1914, Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock aboard his flagship H.M.S. Good Hope, and with his squadron consisting of H.M. Ships Monmouth, Glasgow, Otranto and the Canopus visited Stanley; but after this battle, only Glasgow and the Canopus escaped to the Falkland Islands.
During that time, the Falklands were expecting attack from the the German fleet commanded by Admiral Von Spee (his vessels being Scharnost, Dresden, Gneisenau, Leipzig, Nurnberg and collier transports); however, at half past ten on the morning of 7th December 1914l, Vice-Admiral Sir F.C. Doveton Sturdee with his squadron (H.M. Ships Invincible, Inflexible, Carnarvon, Kent, Cornwall, Glasgow, Bristol, Canopus, Macedonia and the armed liner Orama) arrived to take on coal.

Daylight on the morning of the 8th of December only the two light cruisers had finished coaling, and only the Glasgow was ready, the Bristol had opened her engines for overhaul ready for overhaul, whilst the other ships waiting to coal had let their fires down.
During breakfast, Canopus recieved a signal from the lookouts on Sapper Hill, that two strange ships had been sighted, a four funnel and a two funnel man-of-war steaming northwards, the fleet could not have been less prepared.

At 7.30 am Canopus' lookout saw smoke on the horizon and at 7.56 am the rest of the fleet was informed that enemy ships were approaching.

At 9.20 am H.M.S. Canopus opened fire, with the shell striking the water about a mile astern of the leading German vessel, the effect resulting in the Germans immediately turning to the east.

The Battle of the Falkland Islands had begun.

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