Wartime Torpoint 

The Battle of Coronel November 1st, 1914

At the start of the First World War, the Battle of Coronel was the first Royal Naval defeat in over a century. Engaging the enemy off the coast of Chile, The German fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral Graf von Spee, were more powerful and outgunned the British by 6-1; resulting in the loss of the British flagship, HMS Good Hope, and HMS Monmouth with no survivors. 

Twelve of those sailors aboard the Monmouth were local men from the Torpoint area:

William DAY, William HENDER, Simeon John KITT, William James MAYLE, Percy NODDER, Glouster Levi READ, Henry John ROWE, John Finch SMITH, Ernest William SPARGO, Samuel George SPARKS, & Charles Henry TABB.