The First Battle of the Falklands Remembered – the Falkland Guardship, the Patrol Vessel CLYDE joined islanders on the Falklands to commemorate the First Battle 98 years ago.   The CLYDE provided a guard and Colours party at the anniversary.

Ninety eight years ago the Battle Cruisers INVINCIBLE and INFLEXIBLE were despatched to the Southern Ocean to hunt down and destroy a marauding German Squadron which had been the victors at the Battle of Coronel off the Chilean Coast which saw the Cruisers GOOD HOPE and MONMOUTH lost on the 1^st November 1914.       The ships of Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee’s German East Asia Squadron  approached Stanley in the Falklands aiming to destroy the Royal Navy’s coal stocks and were surprised to find the old Battleship CANOPUS firing at them, and the British “Fleet” under the command of Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee, giving chase.   The German Squadron, save a Light Cruiser and an Auxiliary were destroyed with the loss 1,800 German lives.    Only ten died on the British side,  and no Royal Navy ships were lost.

Each year Falklanders have marked the 8^th December as ‘battle day’ with a parade and ceremonial wreath-laying in the capital Stanley.   The Band of the Royal Marines School of Music started the parade with a service at the Cathedral and after the service with the Guard from CLYDE, the White Ensign ceremonial party, and the Falklands Islands Defence Force and Stanley Sea Cadets marched to the 1914 War Memorial where further prayers were read and wreaths were laid.    A Search and Rescue SEA KING of the RAF’s 1564 Flight provided the fly past.