Coast Guard, British Royal Navy, Canadian Navy, honor fallen sailors of World War II

May 14th, 2011 · Comments Off

HATTERAS, N.C.- Cmdr. Ian Atkins, assistant British forces naval attach in Washington, D.C., salutes the wreath placed in honor of fallen British sailors in the Buxton graveyard on Hatteras Island, N.C., May 12, 2011. The graveside ceremonies commemorated the loss of British and Canadian sailors from the H.M.T. Bedfordshire and the British merchant vessel San Delfino to German U-boat attacks during World War II. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class David Weydert

Cmdr. Ian Atkins, assistant British forces naval attache, salutes the wreath placed in honor of fallen British sailors in the Buxton graveyard on Hatteras Island, N.C. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer David Weydert

OCRACOKE, N.C. — Representatives from the Coast Guard, the British Royal Navy, and the Canadian Navy came together Thursday and Friday to honor the fallen sailors of World War II on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

The graveside ceremonies commemorated the loss of British and Canadian sailors from the H.M.T. Bedfordshire and the British merchant vessel San Delfino off the coast of North Carolina to U-boat attack in 1942.

Some of the crewmen’s bodies were recovered by the Coast Guard and local residents, and with full honors, were buried in land, which later was ceded to the British Commonwealth.

The Bedfordshire and the San Delfino were working with the Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy to transport needed war material to England and help protect American shipping lanes from the attacks by the German U-boats.

The friends of the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and local high school students participated in the event. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, and friends of the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum conducted the event.