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 1891
Died 1917
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Deck Hand Fishing Fleet - Steam Trawler "Shakespeare" (Hull)
Born 1874
Died 1918
Royal Navy 174298
Royal Navy 174298 Stoker 1st Class H.M.S. "Endeavour"
Born 1891
Died 1917
Royal Navy M10726 Shipwright 2nd Class HMS 'Vanguard'
Born 1895
Died 1915
Royal Navy 17291 Royal Marine Light Infantry: Chatham Division
Royal Navy CH/17291 Private Royal Marine Light Infantry - H.M.S. "Formidable."
Born 1896
Died 1915
Canadian Navy 2188/X Seaman Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve - HMS Ceto
Canadian Navy 2188/X Seaman Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve
Born 1879
Died 1915
Other Empire Force Third Hand Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Third Hand Fishing Fleet - Smack "Ophir" (Ramsgate)
Born 1891
Died 1915
Royal Navy K4150 1st Class Stoker H.M.S. Formidable
Royal Navy K.4150 Stoker H.M.S. Acheron
Royal Navy K/4150 Leading Stoker H.M.S. "Formidable."
Born 1879
Died 1915
Other Empire Force Third Hand Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Third Hand Fishing Fleet - Steam Trawler "Rosedale" (Grimsby)
Born 1877
Died 1914
Royal Navy 168358 Chief Yeoman of Signals H.M.S. "Aboukir."
Born 1892
Died 1917
Royal Navy J.3191 (CH) Able Seaman HMS Simoom
Born 1885
Died 1916
Royal Navy Acting Lieutenant Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy 01748 Lieutenant Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy Lieutenant Royal Naval Reserve - H.M. Trawler "Corona."
Born 1899
Died 1917
Royal Navy J/43722 Ordinary Telegraphist H.M.S. Attentive II
Royal Navy J43722 Ordinary Telegraphist. H.M.T.B. "4"
Born 1878
Died 1917
Royal Navy SA 2322 Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Navy 2322/SA Second Hand Royal Naval Reserve - H.M.S. "Stephen Furness"
Born 1900
Died 1915
Other Empire Force Apprentice and Cook Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force Apprentice and Cook Fishing Fleet - Smack "Ophir" (Ramsgate)
Born 1885
Died 1918
Royal Navy 305579 Stoker 2nd Class HMS "Acheron"
Royal Navy 305579 Stoker 1st Class H.M.S. "Narcissus"
Born 1898
Died 1915
Royal Navy J27592 Boy 1st Class HMS Clan McNaughton
Born 1902
Died 1918
Royal Navy J92056
Royal Navy J92056 Boy 2nd Class H.M.S. Ganges III
Born 1877
Died 1920
Other Empire Force Mercantile Marine (Fishing Fleet)
Other Empire Force First Engineer Fishing Fleet - Steam Trawler "Campanula" (Ramsgate)