Lives of the First World War
Discover, explore and remember millions of personal stories from the First World War
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
-
Born 1883
Died 1920
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Second Engineer Fishing Fleet - Steam Trawler "Campanula" (Ramsgate)
More about Christian Thompson -
Born 1884
Died 1917
Royal Navy M997 Electrical Artificer 2nd Class HMS Vanguard
More about James William Ladson Allwright -
Born 1895
Died 1920
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Skipper Fishing Fleet - Steam Trawler "Campanula" (Ramsgate)
More about George Kennard -
Born 1878
Died 1915
Royal Navy 8944 Royal Marine Light Infantry Chatham Division
Royal Navy CH/8944 Sergeant Royal Naval Division
Royal Navy CH/8944 Sergeant Royal Marine Light Infantry
More about Henry Stamp -
Born 1890
Died 1918
Other Empire Force Second Officer Mercantile Marine Reserve
Other Empire Force Second Officer Mercantile Marine Reserve - H.M. Fleet Messenger "Susetta."
More about George William Appleton -
Born 1872
Died 1917
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Mate Fishing Fleet - Steam Trawler "Halcyon" (Grimsby)
More about Henry Harland -
Born 1890
Died 1918
Royal Navy 366197 Acting Ldg. Stoker HMS Antrim
Royal Navy 366197 Stoker Petty Officer HMS Q12
Royal Navy 366197 Petty Officer Stoker HMS Rhododendron
…
More about Albert Henry Hughes -
Born 1879
Died 1916
Royal Navy SD 2644 Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy 2644/SD Deck Hand Royal Naval Reserve - H.M. Trawler "Corona."
Royal Navy 2644/SD Deck Hand. H.M. Trawler 'Corona'
More about George Henry Edward Norris -
Died 1919
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Skipper Fishing Fleet - Trawler "Impulse" (Ramsgate)
More about Daniel Mynheer -
Born 1896
Died 1915
British Army G/4953 Private East Kent Regiment
British Army G/4953 Private East Kent Regiment 2nd Battalion
More about William Walter Appleton -
Died 1919
Other Empire Force Third Hand Mercantile Marine Reserve
Other Empire Force Third Hand Mercantile Marine Reserve - H.M. Armed Fishing Smack "Ivanhoe."
More about Henry Broadway Goldring -
Born 1893
Died 1917
Other Empire Force Master at Arms Mercantile Marine. S.S. Minnehaha (Belfast)
More about Charles Edward Fish -
Born 1897
Died 1919
Royal Navy SD 3246 Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy 3246/SD Deck Hand Royal Naval Reserve - H.M.S. Acteon
Royal Navy 3246/SD Deck Hand. H.M.S. Actaeon
More about Francis Venner Fast -
Born 1894
Died 1916
Royal Navy Acting Assistant Paymaster
Royal Navy Assistant Paymaster HMS Indefatigable
More about Maurice Dymoke Dymocke -
Born 1886
Died 1917
Royal Navy T 3049 Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy 3049/T Stoker Royal Naval Reserve - H.M.T.B. "4."
More about Michael Berry -
Born 1893
Died 1917
Royal Navy 5914/A Able Seaman Royal Naval Reserve - H.M.S. "Orama."
Royal Navy A 5914 Seaman Royal Naval Reserve
More about Henry George Ebbett -
-
Born 1874
Died 1914
Royal Navy 151804
Royal Navy 151804 Leading Stoker H.M.S. "Hogue."
More about John Morris -
Born 1896
Died 1916
Canadian Navy 1479/X Seaman Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve - HM Drifter Rooke
Canadian Navy 1479/X Seaman Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve
More about William James Brace -
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