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British Cemetery Marker, Ocracoke
A small metal marker mounted on a wooden post commemorating the death of six British seamen who were killed in service off the coast of Ocracoke.
These gravesites contain the bodies of four British seamen. Their ship, the armed trawler HMS
Bedfordshire, was on loan to our Navy by Great Britain to help protect our shores during the early days of
World War II.
On May 11, 1942 the Bedfordshire was torpedoed and sunk by a German sub. All hands were lost
and these four were the only bodies recovered.
This cemetery is maintained by Ocracoke Coast Guard Station personnel.”
Ocracoke Coast Guard Station Personnel
1942
35.116680 , -75.980790
No related materials.
Yes
Wood base, metal placard lined with rope
In 1942, the British trawler, the HMT Bedfordshire, came to the United States as part of the Allied effort during World War II. While patrolling the waters of the Outer Banks for German Naval activity, the boat was torpedoed by a U-Boat and all crewmen aboard were lost. Only four bodies were recovered and were laid to rest on Ocracoke, in a tiny plot that is the smallest Commonwealth War Graves Commission gravesite in the world.
Marker is on British Cemetery Rd., on the right when traveling north.
Every year on the Thursday and Friday closest to May 11th, a memorial service is held by both US and British troops to honor the British seamen buried on the island of Ocracoke.
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