hannah Posted 5 November , 2003 Share Posted 5 November , 2003 In remembering the Fallen of the Great War, let's remember too the fishermen who fought everybit as much as infantry did as they were on active service as well. Imagine for a moment, a German warship bent on 'total war' coming across a dozen or so unprotected fishing boats with no where to run or hide. Who remembers now the Stirling or Horatio or Cineraria - or three dozen other tiny boats from Grimsby or a score of other ports, all blown to bits with their crew with no measurable benefit to the Germans - all killed in cold blood without any chance of luck or chance intervening to save them. They were formally executed and died in a way more savage and cruel than most infantry victims. Their grave was the sea - no headstone there for their loved ones to respect. There's lots of discussion about Army units suffering high casualty rates in one action - but usually with fishermen, it was 100%. And there's discussion about soldiers' age - there was at least one Grimsby fishermen killed in action aged 65 and several aged 64: there was at least one aged 14 and several aged 15. These men and boys - of both wars - have never had the respect they deserve. So when we grieve the soldiers, please let us not forget the sailors! Gripe over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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