Christopher Cradock | |
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Christopher Cradock
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Born | 2 July 1862 Hartforth, Richmond, North Yorkshire |
Died | 1 November 1914 HMS Good Hope, South Pacific, off Coronel, Chile |
(aged 52)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ |
Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1875–1914 |
Rank | Rear-Admiral |
Commands held | HMS Andromeda |
Battles/wars | |
Awards |
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Companion of the Order of the Bath Order of the Crown (Prussia) |
Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher "Kit" George Francis Maurice Cradock KCVO CB SGM (2 July 1862 – 1 November 1914) was a British officer of the Royal Navy. He earned a reputation for great gallantry. He was killed during the Battle of Coronel, an engagement with the German navy off the coast of Chile in the early part of World War I.
Cradock was born at Hartforth, Richmond, North Yorkshire. He entered the Royal Navy in 1875, and saw action in the Mediterranean, serving with distinction. On 1 February 1900 he was appointed in command of the cruiser HMS Alacrity, which later that year was posted to China during the Boxer Rebellion. He commanded a mixture of British, German and Japanese sailors including Charles C. Dix during the capture of the Taku forts, and was promoted captain in April 1901 and received the Prussian Order of the Crown with swords as a result.
On 24 March 1902 he was posted to HMS Andromeda at the Mediterranean Station, where from June that year he served as flag captain to Rear-Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker. Promoted to rear-admiral in 1910, he was involved in the sea rescue of the passengers and crew of the SS Delhi in December 1911. He was awarded the SGM and KCVO in 1912. In February 1913, he was given command of the North America and West Indies Station. From at least 21 until 26 April 1914, Cradock was at Veracruz on HMS Essex during the United States occupation of Veracruz.