I thought it would be a good idea to include a little island history for the Outer Banks history buffs. However, I’m not one, so I intend to spend as little time as possible quoting historical facts and figures. Besides, I would hate to get something wrong and really offend serious historians!
Other than Blackbeard the Pirate, who was supposedly beheaded on or near this island in 1718, no other event is as prominent as the sinking of the British ship HMT Bedfordshire off the coast of Ocracoke Island during WW2. There are many other shipwrecks off the coast of the outer banks and some might be prominent, but I don’t know about them. There may have been some other really big historical events on Ocracoke, but I don’t know about them either! (For more info on Blackbeard, just visit the island!)
Just off the Silver Creek harbor is British Cemetery Road. The road ends about a mile at the Sound (don’t quote me on that because I’m no good at judging distance). Or at least it seems like a mile when you’re walking it. (Apparently I’m no good at photography, history, OR judging distances.) Approximately half way down that road, is the small and very quaint British Cemetery. It’s definitely worth a walk or drive to see it and to listen to the recording that goes with it.
During World War II, the HMT Bedfordshire and her crew were working with the Coast Guard and US Navy to protect American shipping lanes from German U boat attacks during the war effort.
At the height of the German submarine campaign, this ship was torpedoed and sunk, and all on board were killed. Four bodies were later recovered from the waters near Ocracoke and buried here. Two grave sites belong to British soldiers Thomas Cunningham and Stanley R. Craig, respectively. The other two are marked unknown. The cemetery was built and established as a memorial to the British Royal Navy.
A plaque at the site reads, “If I should die think only this of me, that there’s some corner of a foreign field that is forever England.” (From Rupert Chawner Brooke’s “The Soldier”).
Every May, the US Coast Guard and the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum conduct a memorial service at the Cemetery and all are welcome to attend.
This cemetery is beautiful and looks lovingly and respectfully kept. Don’t miss it!
Other than Blackbeard the Pirate, who was supposedly beheaded on or near this island in 1718, no other event is as prominent as the sinking of the British ship HMT Bedfordshire off the coast of Ocracoke Island during WW2. There are many other shipwrecks off the coast of the outer banks and some might be prominent, but I don’t know about them. There may have been some other really big historical events on Ocracoke, but I don’t know about them either! (For more info on Blackbeard, just visit the island!)
Just off the Silver Creek harbor is British Cemetery Road. The road ends about a mile at the Sound (don’t quote me on that because I’m no good at judging distance). Or at least it seems like a mile when you’re walking it. (Apparently I’m no good at photography, history, OR judging distances.) Approximately half way down that road, is the small and very quaint British Cemetery. It’s definitely worth a walk or drive to see it and to listen to the recording that goes with it.
During World War II, the HMT Bedfordshire and her crew were working with the Coast Guard and US Navy to protect American shipping lanes from German U boat attacks during the war effort.
At the height of the German submarine campaign, this ship was torpedoed and sunk, and all on board were killed. Four bodies were later recovered from the waters near Ocracoke and buried here. Two grave sites belong to British soldiers Thomas Cunningham and Stanley R. Craig, respectively. The other two are marked unknown. The cemetery was built and established as a memorial to the British Royal Navy.
A plaque at the site reads, “If I should die think only this of me, that there’s some corner of a foreign field that is forever England.” (From Rupert Chawner Brooke’s “The Soldier”).
Every May, the US Coast Guard and the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum conduct a memorial service at the Cemetery and all are welcome to attend.
This cemetery is beautiful and looks lovingly and respectfully kept. Don’t miss it!
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