This recently restored CA plaque (photographed here by Jeremy Batch) commemorates the members of the CA who were killed in WW1. It was in rather poor condition and Julian Harrap, who specialises in Historic Architecture, kindly volunteered to have it restored. Several CA members contributed to the cost of restoration. The names of the 12 fallen are now picked out in gold leaf and the plaque is positioned at CA House on the curved wall behind the staircase.
Meanwhile, one of our members, Ted Osborn, wrote four very powerful feature articles for Cruising magazine about the plaque - and the reasons for it being produced in the first place - as well as putting the lives of those 12 men who fought and died into context, what happened to the boats of those who died and details of the last letter written by one those men.
The full articles are available to download by clicking on the titles below, or from the links at the bottom of this page.
WW1 Memorial Fund: 1914 - The CA goes to war
Tucked away in the trophy cupboard in the CA Council Room is an oak tablet or plaque commemorating those members known to have died fighting for King and country in the First World War. It needs cleaning and major refurbishment to cure the ravages of 100 years, but the 12 names on it shine out brightly in gold. Those who died were all yachtsmen, each was one of us, so we thought we would find out something about them and remember them once more.
WW1 Memorial Fund: 1914 - The CA goes to war
Martin Roberts has undertaken more research into the background of the members who died in the First World War, and has filled in many of the details. Here is some of the additional information he has discovered.
RATS World War 1: Where did their boats go?
Following on from our articles about CA members who died in the Great War, many people asked what happened to the boats they owned. Ted Osborn has been through the archives.
The CA goes to war: A letter from HMS Monmouth
Naval officer Bernard Child joined the CA in 1913, aged 27. He went to sea on HMS Monmouth three days before the start of the First World War and died in the Battle of Coronel only three months later. Ted Osborn has tracked down his last letter and recounts the history of his tour of duty in South America.
