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.

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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."

  • Profile picture for Joseph H Benoit

    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

  • Profile picture for James Irvine

    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."

  • Profile picture for Albert Henry Strong

    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"

  • Profile picture for George Judge

    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 1898

    Royal Navy J32274

  • 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)

  • British Army G/4013 Private East Kent Regiment

  • Profile picture for Frederick John Fyles

    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

  • Profile picture for Thomas Clifford Jones

    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)

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