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DARTMOUTH GUARDIAN


! I 350th Dartmouth Massachusetts USA Celebrations


A once in a lifetime opportunity to take part in an historic civic event in Dartmouth is being offered to residents. Firstly, take a wander down to Bayards Cove, close your eyes and try to imagine how it looked, sounded and smelled 394 years ago!


Most of the buildings and the fort would be recognisable, the same cobblestones would be covered in straw and muck, and there would be lots of people milling around. The biggest difference would be the two great big ships moored alongside the quay. The Mayflower and Speedwell had pulled into Dartmouth for shelter and repairs after the Speedwell started taking on water as they sailed along the coast on their way to Plymouth for their final pick-up point for Pilgrims before heading out to the Atlantic Ocean and a new life in America away from religious tyranny. On the second attempt, Speedwell and Mayflower got around 300 miles beyond Lands End before Speedwell once again took on water and both ships returned to England.


It was later discovered that Speedwell’s crew were damaging the ship because they were scared of the voyage ahead. Eventually, Mayflower sailed alone, on 6 September 1620, taking 11 of Speedwell’s passengers. This meant that 103 people crowded into one ship for the historic voyage. They landed on 11 November, a journey of nine-and-a-half-weeks, at Cape Cod. There is a replica of Mayflower there and a rock is embedded in the spot on the beach where she landed. The Pilgrims suffered great losses through illness but slowly built up a commune and some moved elsewhere. One such group founded the town they named Dartmouth in 1650, after Dartmouth, Devon, the last place they spent time at in England. And then in 1664 it was officially incorporated. Now, 350 years later, the town is preparing to celebrate its anniversary and it wants to include residents of Dartmouth, Devon. Anyone who lives here is invited to join in the official civic events, including marching through the streets with the town council and civic dignitaries of Dartmouth, Massachusetts. There will be a banquet,


in honour of Dartmouth, Devon residents that evening. In the late 1990s a civic party from Dartmouth, Mass came here and a return trip was made by some of our councillors and the then mayor, Cllr Richard Rendle. On that occasion the party was very well looked after and some of them are hoping to visit for the forthcoming celebrations. We are invited to arrive on September 5 and leave on September 12. It is intended to be a civic party and so it is hoped that the mayor and some councillors will be part of the visiting party. Through friendships that were made at the time, some accommodation is offered by the committee arranging the visit. They are happy to host a limited number of people. They have also obtained good rates – approximately £80 per room per night at local hotels. The invitation is for six days, flying into Boston where we will be picked up by the committee members. Costs that need to be covered are the return flight, hotel if you prefer not to stay with an American family, share of the minivan hire to get the party to Gatwick and back and some meals. The invitation also generously includes a meal for almost every day we are there. During the six days we will be taken to various places of interest including New Bedford, Plymouth Plantation and a trip to Boston to visit the State House and other historic sites as well as time for shopping. This really is a great opportunity to trace a real piece of Dartmouth’s history through the generations to today. There are many residents in Dartmouth, Mass. who can trace their family trees back to the Pilgrims and they are really keen to meet anyone from the town that means so much to their ancestors. For further information, contact Gina Coles on 07778 110488


Newsletter of Dartmouth Town Council Issue 22 - March 2014 War Graves in Dartmouth


There are 22 War Graves from the Second World War in plot G of the Longcross cemetery extension. These graves are British, Commonwealth, Norwegian and Netherlands personnel. They are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). However, the headstones hide a number of war burials not commemorated on the War Graves Plot; a further 3 Norwegians and 5 free French are there without headstones. Elsewhere in the cemetery extension are 2 Merchant Navy seamen, yet to be located. The town council will locate the graves of the 2 seamen and attempt to have them marked. Elsewhere in Longcross cemetery, there


are 9 War Graves from WW2 and 6 from WW1. Of these, one headstone has been broken and the CWGC has agreed to provide a replacement. Two graves were overgrown and appeared lost. With the help of the CWGC they have both been located and the plots have been given an initial clearance.


All the scattered graves


are in the care of the Town Council; there is a standard of care required in that they must be approachable along a cut walkway from the nearest path, the plot cut and tidy, and the headstone readable from a distance of 2 metres. We will ensure that our contractor maintains that standard for all the War Graves in our care. Furthermore, there are 3 graves with MOD headstones of personnel killed in service, not yet the responsibility of the CWGC. One is recent and well maintained; the other 2 result from a helicopter crash at BRNC. A folder listing all the War and MOD graves will be produced and posted onto the Town Council website. In addition to the 37 War Graves in Longcross, there are 15 War Graves from both World Wars in St Clement’s cemetery and one from WW2 in St Petrox. These are maintained by the Parish authorities, and a booklet detailing them will be available on line later this year.


Further information can be obtained by visiting the CWGC website www. cwgc.org.


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