The Falkland Islands and South Atlantic
FIRST WORLD WAR 1914-1918, Falkland Islands Battle of the Falkland Islands 1914 On the morning of 8 December 1914 an observer of the Falkland Islands Defence Force spotted the German Pacific Fleet approaching. The British having just suffered a defeat at the Battle of Coronel on November 1st, had sent a force to track down and destroy the victorious German cruiser squadron. HMS Glasgow fired a gun to draw attention to the signal flying from the masthead of HMS Canopus- ‘Enemy in sight’. Thus began the Battle of the Falkland Islands. The British squadron with seven vessels including two battle cruisers, 3 armoured cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 1 grounded pre-dreadnought, under the command of Admiral Doveton Sturdee defeated the German squadron (7 ships comprising 2 armoured cruisers, 3 light cruisers and 3 transports) under Admiral Maximilian Von Spee).Ten British were killed and 19 wounded with the loss of no ships, but the German Navy suffered massive losses -2 armored cruisers sunk, 2 light cruisers sunk, 2 transports captured and scuttled. 1871 sailors lost their lives and 215 were captured. British supremacy of the seas in the South Atlantic was secured for the rest of the First World War with the complete destruction of the German fleet. The islands were saved from potential occupation by an enemy power. The 8 December 1914 became an important date in local history and is still commemorated by an annual holiday. During World War I the Falkland Islands contributed an aircraft to the Royal Flying Corps and substantial sums of money to relief and other war funds. In 1916 as a contribution to the Imperial Loans a sum equal to ten per cent of the annual Customs revenue was voted and was donated for a period of 10 years. Falkland Islanders also gave their lives in this war.

FIRST WORLD WAR 1914-1918

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Battle of the Falkland Islands 1914

On the morning of 8 December 1914 an observer of the Falkland Islands Defence Force spotted the German Pacific Fleet approaching. The British having just suffered a defeat at the Battle of Coronel on November 1st, had sent a force to track down and destroy the victorious German cruiser squadron.   HMS Glasgow fired a gun to draw attention to the signal flying from the masthead of HMS Canopus- ‘Enemy in sight’.

Thus began the Battle of the Falkland Islands. The British squadron with seven vessels including two battle cruisers, 3 armoured cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 1 grounded pre-dreadnought, under the command of Admiral Doveton Sturdee defeated the German squadron (7 ships comprising 2 armoured cruisers, 3 light cruisers and 3 transports) under Admiral Maximilian Von Spee).

Ten British were killed and 19 wounded with the loss of no ships, but the German Navy suffered massive losses -2 armored cruisers sunk, 2 light cruisers sunk, 2 transports captured and scuttled. 1871 sailors lost their lives and 215 were captured.

British supremacy of the seas in the South Atlantic was secured for the rest of the First World War with the complete destruction of the German fleet. The islands were saved from potential occupation by an enemy power. The 8 December 1914 became an important date in local history and is still commemorated by an annual holiday.

During World War I the Falkland Islands contributed an aircraft to the Royal Flying Corps and substantial sums of money to relief and other war funds. In 1916 as a contribution to the Imperial Loans a sum equal to ten per cent of the annual Customs revenue was voted and was donated for a period of 10 years. Falkland Islanders also gave their lives in this war.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources include: The Falkland Islands through Philately- Geoff Moir, Wikipedia, Falkland Rural Heritage- Joan Spruce, The Falkand Islands- Ian J Strange, An Historical Scrapbook of Stanley- John Smith
Photographic credits: Imperial War Museum, Robert Maddocks, Unknown, hope you don't mind.
Photographs and Images Copyright: The images on this site have been bought under licence or have been used with the permission of their owners. They may not be copied or downloaded in any form without their owner's consent.

 
 
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