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Sir Christopher George Francis Mau Cradock

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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"SIR CHRISTOPHER GEORGE FRANCIS MAU Rice CRADOCK (1862-1914), British admiral, was born at Hartforth, Yorks., July 2 1862, the son of Christopher Cradock. He entered the navy at the age of 13 and saw service in Egypt both in 1882 and again in the Soudanese expedition of 1891. He commanded the British Naval Brigade at the capture of the Taku forts and the relief of Peking (1900). He more than once performed personal feats of gallantry in saving life at sea and showed himself a bold and fearless leader in action. He was promoted captain after Taku, and rear-admiral in 1910. In 1912 he was granted the K.C.V.O. He published Sporting Notes in the Far East (1889); Wrinkles in Seamanship (1894) and Whispers from the Fleet (1907). Early in the World War he was given command of a British squadron in the Pacific consisting of the cruisers " Good Hope " (flagship) and " Monmouth," the armed merchantman " Otranto " and the light cruiser " Glasgow." His squadron was attacked off the coast of Chile (Nov. I 1914) by five German warships, the " Scharnhorst," " Gneisenau," " Leipzig," " Dresden " and " Nurnberg." Though inferior in speed and gunpower he decided to attack. The " Monmouth " was sunk and the " Good Hope " was blown up whilst making for shore, Admiral Cradock going down with the ship.