The Great War group of three awarded to Captain C. B. Partridge, Royal Marine Light...

The Great War group of three awarded to Captain C. B. Partridge, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who was killed in action in H.M.S. Good Hope at the battle of the Coronel in November 1914 1914-15 Star (Capt. C. B. Partridge, R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. C. B. Partridge. R.M.L.I.) together with Memorial Plaque (Charles Burnett Partridge) extremely fine (4) £600-£800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 2002. Charles Burnett Partridge was born at Anchor Gate Lodge, Portsmouth on 29 May 1880, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Sylvanus Partridge, the Governor of H.M. Prison, Portland. Educated at Bath College, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in January 1899 and gained advancement to Lieutenant in the following year. A noted rifle shot who achieved top score when the R.M. team took the United Services Cup at Bisley, he likewise excelled in sailing and golf competitions and served as an Instructor of Musketry in Malta. On the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Partridge was serving in the rank of Captain in H.M.S. Good Hope, with command of the R.M. detachment, and it was in this capacity that he was killed in action at the battle of the Coronel 1 November 1914. A Dictionary of Disasters at Sea During the Age of Steam 1824-1962 takes up the story: ‘Both Admirals [Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock aboard H.M.S. Good Hope and Admiral Graf Von Spee aboard the Scharnhorst] became aware of the proximity of each other about 31 October, and at 6.40 p.m. on 1 November the squadrons made contact off Coronel, Chile. An attempt on the part of Admiral Cradock to engage while the light was good and targets were clear was frustrated by the superior speed of the German squadron, which kept out of range until the setting sun reflected the British ships in sharp silhouette against the horizon. The German ships being in the evening haze were almost invisible. The sea was rough and the 6-inch guns on the lower decks of the two British armoured cruisers could not be brought into action. Another handicap was that the crews had only joined the ships in August of 1914, and since that time had been afforded but scant opportunity of gunnery practice. At 7.04 p.m., after an hour of manoeuvring the first shot was fired at a range of 11,500 yards. This was extreme for the British but easy for the sixteen 8.2-inch guns of the big German cruisers. At her third salvo the Scharnhorst struck Good Hope on the fore deck and destroyed the 9.2-inch guns. Admiral Cradock knowing that his only hope was to close the range to enable his 6-inch guns to have full play, steamed towards the enemy. By 7.23 p.m. the range was down to 6,600 yards, with Good Hope firing with all guns she could bring to bear. Darkness was now coming on and the range again decreased to 5,500 yards. Good Hope was now on fire in several places and afforded a clear target to her enemies. In desperation Cradock endeavoured to approach to within torpedo range, being met with salvo after salvo from the two enemy cruisers. At 7.53 p.m. Good Hope blew up with her Admiral and all hands.’ Partridge is commemorated on the Plymouth Memorial.