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 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'
Born 1886
Died 1918
Other Empire Force 923464 Ordinary Seaman Mercantile Marine Reserve
Other Empire Force 923464 Ordinary Seaman Mercantile Marine Reserve - H.M. Yacht, Ceto
Born 1889
Royal Navy 16282 Royal Marine Light Infantry: Chatham Division
Born 1882
Died 1915
Royal Navy
Royal Navy Midshipman
Royal Navy Sub Lieutenant
…
Born 1885
Died 1914
Royal Navy 223932 Able Seaman HMS Aboukir
Born 1894
Died 1914
Royal Navy Acting Sub-Lieutenant
Royal Navy Acting Sub Lieutenant HMS Good Hope
Born 1877
Died 1917
Royal Navy 166832
Royal Navy 166832 Able Seaman HMS Vanguard
Born 1892
Died 1920
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Deck Hand Fishing Fleet - Steam Trawler "Campanula" (Ramsgate)
Royal Navy DA 14290 Deck Hand Royal Naval Reserve
Born 1883
Died 1916
Royal Navy Lieutenant
Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander
Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander HMS TURBULENT
Born 1887
Died 1917
Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander
Royal Navy Lieutenant
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
Born 1884
Died 1918
Royal Navy 12926 Royal Marine Light Infantry: Portsmouth Division
Royal Navy PO/12926 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry: Portsmouth Division 4th Royal Marine Battalion
Born 1891
Died 1914
Royal Navy Lieutenant HMS Good Hope
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 1875
Died 1915
Royal Navy 157995
Other Empire Force 157995 Leading Boatman H.M. Coastguard H.M. Coast Guard Stn. (St. Ives, Cornwall)
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
Born 1896
Died 1917
Royal Navy Ch/18255 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry: Chatham Division HMS Laurentic
Born 1886
Died 1917
Royal Navy 226781 Boy 1st Class HMS Calliope
Royal Navy 226781 Boy 2nd Class HMS Northampton
Royal Navy 226781 Ordinary Seaman HMS Pembroke I
…
Born 1894
Died 1917
Royal Navy K21488
Royal Navy K/21488 Stoker 1st Class H.M.T.B. "4."
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