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.
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Born 1895
Died 1917
Royal Navy K21026 Stoker 1st Class HMS Vanguard
Royal Navy K21026 H.M.S. Pembroke II
Royal Navy K21026 Acting Leading Stoker H.M.S. Vanguard
Born 1886
Died 1918
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Spare Hand Fishing Fleet - Steam Trawler "Eros" (Hull)
Born 1892
Died 1917
Royal Navy K6534
Royal Navy K/6534 Stoker 1st Class H.M.S. Marshal Ney
Died 1918
Other Empire Force 954038 Trimmer Mercantile Marine Reserve
Other Empire Force 954038 Trimmer Mercantile Marine Reserve - H.M.S. Orotava
Born 1874
Died 1919
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Fourth Hand Fishing Fleet - Trawler "Impulse" (Ramsgate)
Born 1868
Died 1914
Royal Navy 126189 Leading Seaman (Petty Officer Coast Guard) HMS Monmouth
Born 1897
Died 1917
Royal Navy J20874 Boy 2nd Class HMS Impregnable
Royal Navy J20874 Boy 1st Class HMS Impregnable
Royal Navy J20874 Able Seaman HMS Ajax
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Born 1867
Died 1917
Royal Navy Chief Boatswain Merchant Navy. Mercantile Marine
Born 1880
Royal Navy Sergeant Royal Marine Artillery HMS Bacchante
Royal Navy 8093 Sergeant Royal Marine Artillery HMS Thunderer
Born 1892
Died 1915
Canadian Navy 1604/X Seaman Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve - HM Drifter Arcady
Canadian Navy 1604/X Seaman Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve
Born 1880
Died 1915
Royal Navy 344901
Royal Navy 344901 Shipwright 2nd Class H.M.S. "Formidable."
Born 1892
Died 1917
Royal Navy J2118 Able Seaman H.M.S. Vanguard.
Born 1891
Died 1914
Royal Navy Lieutenant HMS Good Hope
Born 1874
Died 1918
Royal Navy M19971
Royal Navy M/19971 Junior Reserve Attendant Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve - H.M.S. Crescent
Born 1877
Died 1915
Royal Navy 286357
Royal Navy 286357 Stoker 1st Class HMS Actaeon (H.M.T.B.12)
Born 1886
Died 1919
Royal Navy 221957(CH) Able Seaman H.M.S. Pembroke
Royal Navy 221957 Able Seaman HMS INDOMITABLE
Born 1881
Died 1915
Other Empire Force Skipper Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Skipper Fishing Fleet - Smack "Ophir" (Ramsgate)
Born 1879
Died 1914
Royal Navy 181049
Royal Navy 181049 Petty Officer 1st Class H.M.S. "Cressy."