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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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Born 1894
Died 1916
Royal Navy M18517 Engine Room Artificer 4th Class HMS Vivid
More about Wilfred Algernon Burfield -
Born 1897
Died 1915
Other Empire Force Able Seaman Merchant Navy. SS Moorside
More about George Edward Cecil Darby -
Died 1919
British Army WR325021 Sapper Royal Engineers
British Army 345956 Acting 2nd Corporal Royal Engineers
British Army WR/325021 2nd Corporal Royal Engineers
More about Robert Webster -
Born 1894
Died 1914
Royal Navy Acting Sub-Lieutenant
Royal Navy Acting Sub Lieutenant HMS Good Hope
More about Francis John Anson Cotter -
Born 1894
Died 1916
Royal Navy K/18376(PO) Stoker 1st Class
Royal Navy K18376 Stoker 1st Class HMS Hampshire
More about Henry Known As Harry Maxted -
Born 1887
Died 1918
Royal Navy R/6338 Royal Naval Division
More about George William Drage -
Born 1869
Died 1919
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Mate Fishing Fleet - Trawler "Impulse" (Ramsgate)
More about Henry Bushell -
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 1871
Died 1919
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Merchant Navy)
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Third Hand Mercantile Marine - H.M. Troopship Princess Victoria
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More about William Frederick Blay -
Born 1889
Royal Navy 16282 Royal Marine Light Infantry: Chatham Division
More about Frederick Edgar Batter -
Born 1894
Died 1917
Royal Navy K21488
Royal Navy K/21488 Stoker 1st Class H.M.T.B. "4."
More about Archie Leonard Hennessey -
Born 1895
Died 1917
Royal Navy J17840
Royal Navy J/17840 Able Seaman H.M.T.B. "4."
More about John Bruce Or Johnny Heyworth -
Born 1875
Died 1914
Royal Navy WSA 247 Skipper Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy Skipper Royal Naval Reserve - H.M. Trawler "Ben Ardra."
More about William Joseph Wilson -
Born 1891
Royal Navy Z/3876 Royal Naval Division
More about William Charles George -
Born 1887
Died 1915
Royal Navy Shipwright H.M. Dockyard Sheerness H.M.S. Princess Irene
Other Empire Force Shipwright H.M. Dockyard (Sheerness) H.M.S. Princess Irene
More about Harry Strevens -
Born 1881
Died 1918
Royal Navy L8643
Royal Navy L/8643 Officer's Steward 3rd Class. H.M. Boarding Tug 'Charm'
More about John Sheaves -
Born 1887
Died 1917
Royal Navy 675 Royal Marines Band
Royal Navy 13570 Royal Marine Light Infantry: Portsmouth Division
Royal Navy 675 Musician Royal Marines Band - HMS Vanguard
More about James Napoleon Gravenor Fuller -
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 1894
Died 1920
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
British Army 68066 Sapper Royal Engineers Inland Water Transport
British Army WR/500082 Sapper Royal Engineers Inland Water Transport
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More about Robert Bailey Fast