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 1892
Died 1916
Royal Navy A 4287 Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy 4287A Seaman Royal Naval Reserve - H.M. Trawler "Sarah Alice."
Born 1889
Died 1916
Royal Navy 15085 Corporal Royal Marine Light Infantry: Portsmouth Division: HMS BLACK PRINCE
Born 1869
Died 1915
Other Empire Force Shipwright H.M. Dockyard
Royal Navy Shipwright H.M. Dockyard Sheerness H.M.S. Princess Irene
Born 1894
Died 1917
Royal Navy J16169
Royal Navy Able Seaman HMS Mary Rose
Born 1890
Died 1917
Royal Navy 235993 Able Seaman
Royal Navy 235993 Able Seaman HMS Derwent
Born 1884
Died 1915
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Mate Fishing Fleet - Trawler "Excel" (Lowestoft)
Born 1875
Died 1915
Royal Navy 157995
Other Empire Force 157995 Leading Boatman H.M. Coastguard H.M. Coast Guard Stn. (St. Ives, Cornwall)
Born 1880
Died 1914
Royal Navy 191768
Royal Navy 191768 Petty Officer H.M.S. "Aboukir."
Born 1886
Died 1917
Royal Navy 228411
Royal Navy 228411 Leading Signalman H.M.T.B. "4."
Born 1901
Died 1963
Royal Navy J55459
Royal Navy J.55459 Ordinary Seaman H.M.S. Orion
Born 1874
Died 1914
Other Empire Force Third Hand Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Third Hand Fishing Fleet - Smack "Our Tom" (Ramsgate)
Born 1871
Died 1914
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Mate Fishing Fleet - "Industry" (Ramsgate)
Born 1890
Died 1917
Royal Navy Z.X./519 Royal Naval Division
Royal Navy Sub-Lieutenant Royal Naval Division
Royal Navy Sub-Lieutenant Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Born 1896
Died 1916
Royal Navy 5615DA Deck Hand Royal Naval Reserve - H.M. Trawler "Corona."
Royal Navy DA 5615 Deck Hand Royal Naval Reserve
Born 1887
Royal Navy DA 15094 Deck Hand Royal Naval Reserve
Died 1916
British Army G/3094 Private The Queen's Regiment
British Army G/3094 Private The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Died 1914
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Skipper Fishing Fleet - "Industry" (Ramsgate)
Born 1896
Died 1919
Royal Navy SD 2125 Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy 2125/SD Deck Hand Royal Naval Reserve - H.M.S. Halcyon
Born 1895
Died 1917
Royal Navy K21489 Stoker 1st Class H.M.T.B. "4"