Marathon and Magicienne left relatively little operational history, so their command lists carry unusual weight. The appointments record annual-manoeuvre commissions and longer periods under named captains. Marathon's list also notes that one commander was invalided because of the climate, a reminder of the human cost of foreign service. Magicienne's record leads to Arthur Calvert Clarke, whose later work with a naval landing force received praise. He retired as a vice-admiral, and the Navy found no post for him when he offered to return in 1915, leaving him free to offer his services to the War Office.
Notable Point · 4:12-8:09
The sparse service record of Marathon and Magicienne
Command lists and annual-manoeuvre appointments are much of what survives from Marathon and Magicienne's service.