British soil on Ocracoke

On Friday, May 12, on the North Carolina island of Ocracoke, a ceremony will be held once again to honor British seaman who were lost off the coast more than 80 years ago. And while the event itself is special, it is worth noting that the soldiers are buried -- technically -- on British soil.

This year marks the 81st anniversary of the sinking of H.M.T. Bedfordshire off the North Carolina coast on May 11, 1942, writes the Island Press. ... Representatives from the British Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy will be in attendance, as well as members of the United States Coast Guard, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and students from Ocracoke School.

 When the ship went down due to a German torpedo, all 37 sailors on board died. Most of the bodies were never recovered, save for the four that washed ashore on Ocracoke.

From Atlas Obscura:

The people of Ocracoke wanted to honor the four men, and a small plot of land was donated to create a British Cemetery alongside the village cemetery. Initially it was unofficially cared for by the townspeople, simply thankful for the sacrifice of the sailors. Eventually the grounds were leased in perpetuity to the British Commonwealth for as long as the sailors are buried there, so technically the four men are buried on home soil.

... Plaques near the graves tell the story of Bedfordshire and list all the names of those who died, and a few lines from poet Rupert Brooke:

     “If I should die think only this of me

     That there’s some corner of a foreign field

     That is forever England.”

If you'd like to show support, you can make donations at ocracokepreservationsociety.org/donations or make checks payable to Ocracoke Preservation Society with “British Cemetery” in the memo line and mail to: OPS, Box 1240, Ocracoke, NC 27960.