This is a story drawn from the early days of the Canadian Navy, an account of four young Canadian seamen who were the Navy's first casualties at the beginning of the First World War. Ironically, many consider them victims of incompetent seamanship by a British naval officer.
The four were among the 21 young men who made up the first class of the Royal Navy College of Canada, set up in 1911 shortly after the Canadian Navy itself was established in 1910. All four sailors were from Canada's Maritime provinces. After their training at the College, they were posted to the British Navy for further experience at sea.
William Palmer, first in his graduating class, and Arthur Silver, senior Cadet Captain, both from Halifax, were personally chosen by Rear-Admiral Christopher Cradock to go to war on the large and powerful
British vessel Good Hope. Their comrades John Hatheway of Fredericton, and Malcolm Cann of Yarmouth, were also selected, to the disappointment of the remaining men. Within six weeks, these our much-envied comrades were dead as the Good Hope went down with no survivors, sunk by the German navy.
First to Die depicts the early history of Canada's navy and the reality of war at sea, experienced through the eyes of the four young midshipmen eager for adventure. The book is extensively illustrated with photographs drawn from key archival and private collections.

BRYAN ELSON is a former officer of the Royal Canadian Navy, and a current director of the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He lives in Halifax. He is the author of Nelson's Yankee Captain and First to Die.

Bryan Elson's profile page

"Elson's account of the complex larger events that brought British and German squadrons to Coronel is wide ranging for a small book but, with the benefit of his own take, very engaging and accessible....The reviewer particularly appreciated the author's capacity to engage the human element as much as possible and it gives his subjects life and flesh...This small book is a welcome and unique contribution to Canadian naval history and will be widely appreciated by the international devotee as well."

The Northern Mariner

"First to Die is an evocative read. This is no dry analytical tome; it is a well-told story which prompts an appreciation of the contribution of the individual to the course of naval history."

Canadian Naval Review, Spring 2011

"...includes a surprising wealth of information and is well illustrated...serves as an excellent primer for World War I naval warfare. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for accessible reading on Canadian naval history or WWI naval operations in general."
-- Duncan Rice served briefly as a reservist with the Royal Westminster Regiment. His primary interest is Canadian military history.

Armchairgeneral.com

"...the author does two things extremely well. He describes the political background in Canada and Britain which accompanied the founding of the Royal Naval College of Canada in 1910 ... The second of Mr. Elson's achievements is his detailed description of how World War One began, and especially the events leading up to and during the battle of Coronel in which the midshipmen died."

The Guardian (PEI)