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Ramsgate Remembers its sailors and fishermen
Ramsgate Remembers its sailors and fishermen
Thanet, in its unique position at the south-eastern tip of England, where the North Sea meets the English Channel, has always been of strategic importance in naval warfare. The threat from German submarines soon became apparent, when on the last day of October 1914 HMS Hermes was torpedoed in the Dover Straits. When the Admiralty ordered in December 1914 that there was to be no fishing between Cromer and Portland Bill many of Thanet’s fishermen relocated to Brixham in Devon. Many other local fishermen took part in the Dover Patrol preventing German ships and submarines from using the English Channel to reach the Atlantic Ocean. Based at Dover and Dunkirk, the Dover Patrol assembled all kinds of vessels from cruisers to paddle-minesweepers. Apart from carrying out anti-submarine patrols the ships escorted merchantmen carrying troops, wounded soldiers, supplies and munitions across the Channel. They also worked hard laying sea-mines and constructing mine barrages. The families of trawler skippers received some financial assistance but money was always in short supply. Fourteen Ramsgate fishermen died at the hands of German U-Boats and over forty Ramsgate fishing smacks were lost, a big blow to the local economy.Many other local lads who were used to handling boats joined the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy.
Created by: , Laura44155
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Died 1916
British Army G/3094 Private The Queen's Regiment
British Army G/3094 Private The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
More about Frederick J Emptage -
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Born 1887
Died 1918
Royal Navy R/6338 Royal Naval Division
More about George William Drage -
Born 1891
Royal Navy Z/3876 Royal Naval Division
More about William Charles George -
Born 1897
Died 1915
Royal Navy Z/752 Royal Naval Division
More about Cyril Frederick Hobgen -
Born 1889
Died 1916
Royal Navy 237628
More about Harold James Henry Mackinder -
Born 1892
Died 1917
Royal Navy J.3191 (CH) Able Seaman HMS Simoom
More about Charles John Henry Knott -
Born 1900
Died 1917
Other Empire Force Catering Apprentice Mercantile Marine (Merchant Navy)
Other Empire Force Catering Apprentice Mercantile Marine - SS Perseverance (Ramsgate)
More about Alfred Stephen Deveson -
Born 1877
Died 1914
Royal Navy 168358 Chief Yeoman of Signals H.M.S. "Aboukir."
More about Alfred Assiter -
Born 1885
Died 1917
Royal Navy B 4428 Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy PO/4428B Seaman Royal Naval Reserve - S.S. Ennismore.
More about James John Henderson -
Died 1915
Other Empire Force Greaser Mercantile Marine Reserve
Other Empire Force Greaser Mercantile Marine Reserve - H.M.S. "Ramsey."
More about William Henry Higgins -
Born 1893
Died 1914
Royal Navy A 4010 Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy 4010A Seaman Royal Naval Reserve - H.M.S. "Aboukir."
More about Harry James Brown -
Born 1874
Died 1919
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Fourth Hand Fishing Fleet - Trawler "Impulse" (Ramsgate)
More about William Revell -
Born 1891
Died 1920
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Royal Navy WSA 2184 Skipper Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy A 4401 Seaman Royal Naval Reserve
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More about Frederick Samuel Halsey -
Born 1883
Died 1915
Other Empire Force Second Hand Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Second Hand Fishing Fleet - Smack "Ophir" (Ramsgate)
More about Ernest Hayles -
Born 1886
Died 1915
Other Empire Force - Shipwright H.M.S. 'Princess Irene'
Royal Navy Shipwright H.M. Dockyard Sheerness H.M.S. Princess Irene
More about Frank William Lidney Adams -
Born 1883
Died 1916
Royal Navy ES 1510 Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy 1510ES Engineman Royal Naval Reserve - H.M. Drifter "Rooke."
More about George Darkins -
Born 1898
Died 1914
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Third Hand Fishing Fleet - "Industry" (Ramsgate)
More about William Ward -
Born 1886
Died 1918
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Spare Hand Fishing Fleet - Steam Trawler "Eros" (Hull)
More about Stephen Frederick Avery