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Save our Goodwin Sands from dredging by Dover Harbour Board

goodwinsandssos@gmail.com
Goodwin Sands SOSGoodwin Sands SOS
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Save Our Military Remains & Shipwrecks

Home Save Our Military Remains & Shipwrecks

The Goodwin Sands are infamous for their toll of shipwrecks, about 2,000 in total. Some ships went down with all loss of hands; in the Great Storm of 1703 four ships foundered and 1,200 sailors drowned in one night alone.

The Goodwins are also the maritime military graves of about 80 brave young British, German and Polish pilots who crashed into the area during the fierce fighting of the Battle of Britain in 1940.  Their locations are unknown and will most likely have moved from where they crashed or bailed out, as the sands shift regularly each year.

Military air crash sites are protected under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986; however this protection only applies to crash sites where the locations are known.  It is illegal to disturb such sites where human remains are likely to be found.

In 2015, Wessex Archaeology, in a case study for Historic England, described the Goodwin Sands as ‘archaeologically extraordinary’ yet disappointingly, neither of these organisations have made a robust case against the proposed dredging in order to save the nation’s heritage.

Current technology does not exist which can reliably detect the presence of military aircraft remains buried beneath the seabed.  The Goodwin Sands have a reputation for their high preservation of wrecks as can be seen by the Rooswijk which is currently being excavated having sunk in 1740.

Ironically, shipwrecks are often the only method we have of learning about our maritime past, as those ships that survived were eventually scrapped.

  • The Goodwin Sands are one of the most important maritime archaeological areas in English waters. With their wealth of historic wrecks and the potential remains of crashed World War II aircraft it has been suggested that the Goodwins should be treated as a conservation area. Dover Harbour Board’s own Impact Report admits that there is a very high chance of finding nationally important historical and archaeological material in their proposed dredging area. Dover Harbour Board recognises that damage to heritage assets is irreversible and a permanent loss to mankind. The first indication of discovering fragile archaeological material such as wooden shipwrecks, aircraft structures or prehistoric remains will be after they have been destroyed by the dredge head and appeared in broken pieces on board the dredge vessel. Then it is too late and these irreplaceable historic artefacts will have been destroyed for ever. Dover Harbour Board has already decided to source the sand and aggregate for the start of their project from another dredge site in the Thames Estuary. Clearly this new source provides a suitable alternative to using the controversial Goodwin Sands and should be used for the whole project. This marine licence application for dredging the Goodwin Sands should be refused. Joint Nautical Archaeology Policy Committee, August 2017.
    Joint Nautical Archaeology Policy Committee
  • The British Sub Aqua Club is the Governing Body for the sport of Sub Aqua Diving and Snorkelling in the United Kingdom. As the governing body we do feel that part of our role is to support the protection of our underwater cultural heritage (UCH) whenever we feel it may be threatened.

    The dredging proposals for the Goodwin Sands concern us. We recognise that surveys have been done to ensure that no obvious material culture is threatened with catastrophic removal. However, we are mindful that some UCH may well not show up on the surveys currently undertaken. There is also the need to remember that there may well be material down there that we do not know how to see. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

    (more…)

    Jane Maddocks MA
    Wrecks and Underwater Cultural Heritage Adviser to the British Sub Aqua Club
  • Since the sea covered the land bridge to the continent and we became an island seafaring nation, thousands have navigated the channel and through the historic timeline of our naval history both Royal and Merchant, no-one knows the total thousands of seafarers who have been lost on the Goodwin sands. As a seaman and whilst on watch when coming up the channel heading for the Thames estuary one thing stands out on the Admiralty charts, the vast number of wrecks marked on this foreboding area.

    Coming into the channel in good clear weather the senses are calm, in fog and a “Southerly blowing” the first haunting sound of the Dover fog horn catches your ears you become wary and conscious of the danger ahead from those days of study.

    (more…)

    PJ Washington, MN
    Prince of Wales Sea Training School, Dover
  • 3H Consulting

    There are few other places I can think of that have so many shipwrecks that have been so well preserved in such a small area as the Goodwin Sands.  The heritage that lies buried is hard to detect so we know little of what lies within, but occasionally a sandbank shifts a little and some new historical treasure is revealed.  The Goodwins is a special place so please let us keep it that way.

    PeterHolt BEng CEng CMarEng MIMarEST MCIfA MHydSoc
    3H Consulting Ltd
    August 2017

    Peter Holt BEng CEng CMarEng MIMarEST MCIfA MHydSoc
    3H Consulting Ltd
  • Nautical Archaeology Society

    Dover Harbour Board’s own Impact Report recognises that the potential for the presence of previously unrecorded wrecks on Goodwin Sands is very high and that damage to UCH is irreversible and a permanent loss to mankind. In respect of the historic maritime environment it would be difficult, if not impossible, to contemplate a more inappropriate locality in English waters in which to conduct dredging operations.

    The Nautical Archaeological Society
    August 2017

    The Nautical Archaeology Society
SaveOurShipwrecks

Kent Battle of Britain Museum’s list of missing pilots 1940 – Goodwin Sands area

DateAircraftUnitDetails
27/05/1940Messerschmitt Bf1102(F)122 TBCCrew missing (off Kingsdown/Deal – Goodwin Sands area)
28/05/1940Bristol Blenheim235 SquadronCrew safe
29/05/1940Avro Anson K877148 SquadronCrew safe
29/05/1940Bristol Blenheim 1F L9260235 SquadronCrew safe
29/05/1940Bristol Blenheim IV L9397235 SquadronCrew killed
29/05/1940Spitfire N3289610 SquadronFlying Officer Kerr-Wilson, missing
29/05/1940Avro Anson 1 K877348 SquadronCrew safe
31/05/1940Spitfire N3274610 SquadronFlying Officer G L Chambers, missing
01/06/1940Bristol Blenheim ‘A’254 SquadronCrews missing/killed. One survivor remaining between ‘A’ and ‘O’ below.
01/06/1940Bristol Blenheim ‘O’254 SquadronCrews missing/killed. One survivor remaining between ‘O’ and ‘A’ above.
01/06/1940Bristol Blenheim NOT KNOWN254 SquadronCrew missing
02/06/1940Bristol Blenheim L947653 SquadronCrew safe. Forced landing on Sands
08/07/1940Spitfire K990765 SquadronSquadron Leader Desmond Cooke (26009), missing presumed dead.
09/07/1940Messerschmitt Bf 109ESeenot Fleig MissionPilot missing
09/07/1940Messerschmitt Bf 109ESeenot Fleig MissionPilot missing
20/07/1940Hurricane I N267032 SquadronFleet Air Arm Sub Lt. G.G.R. Bulmer, drowned – shot down by a Bf 109 of JG 51 off Dover at 18:00 hrs.
23/07/1940Junkers JU88A4(F)122Lt Forster and crew missing
25/07/1940Spitfire R670754 SquadronFlt. Lt. B.H. “Wonky” Way, presumed drowned. Shot down by Bf109 and crashed into channel.
28/07/1940Spitfire P954774 SquadronPilot Officer J H R Young, killed. Shot down in the Channel off Ramsgate near the Goodwin Sands by a Bf 109, possibly Oberleutnant Muncheberg of III/JG26.
29/07/1940Spitfire N303841 SquadronFlying Officer D.R. Gamblen, missing following combat with Ju87s and Bf109s.
06/08/1940Messerschmitt Bf110V/LG1Crew missing
12/08/1940Hurricane P3803501 SquadronF/O K. Lukaszewicz (Polish), missing following a combat with enemy fighters west of Ramsgate.
12/08/1940Messerschmitt Bf109E111/JG 54Gefr Stabwer TBC
12/08/19402 x Messerschmitt Bf109EJG 54Both pilots missing (Goodwin Area)
14/08/19402 x Messerschmitt Bf1094/JG 52Both pilots missing (Deal area)
15/08/1940Dornier Do1726/KG3Crew safe
15/08/1940Hurricane I V7410151 SquadronP/O M Rozwadowski, missing after combat with Bf109s, Deal/Dover area.
16/08/1940Spitfire K991565 SquadronP/O Lee L Pyman, shot down and killed at 1730hrs over the Channel near Deal, after combat with Bf 109s that had just attacked RAF Manston.
22/08/1940Spitfire R670854 SquadronSergeant G R Collett, killed after dogfight with enemy fighters off Deal.
24/08/1940Hurricane P314151 SquadronPilot Officer P Zenker (Polish) missing (in area of the Goodwin Sands) after pursuit of enemy aircraft.
24/08/1940Junkers JU88AStab 11/KG763 crew missing, 1 killed
Uffz Meier, Fw Flessner and Fw Vetter missing
24/08/1940Junkers JU88A5(F)1223 crew missing Lt Hellermann, Lt Hurck
24/08/1940Junkers JU88A4/KG763 crew missing, 1 killed Uffz Duos, Freimann and Froba
24/08/1940Junkers JU88A4/KG763 crew missing, 1 killed Lt Grell, Uffz Wetzker and Fw Thomas
24/08/1940Junkers JU88A11/KG763 crew killed, one missing
24/08/1940Junkers JU88A111/KG511 crew killed, 2 missing, 1 POW
25/08/1940Hurricane P275532 SquadronPilot Officer K R Gillman, missing (North East of Dover)
26/08/1940Dornier Do1727/KG31 killed, 2 missing, 1 POW, Uffz Ram, Ober Fr Knochenmuss
26/08/1940Dornier Do1727/KG31 killed, 2 missing, 1 POW, Uffz Reinhard and Uffz Ritzel missing
28/08/1940Spitfire R6751603 SquadronFlt Lt J L G Cunningham, missing after combat over Dover.
31/08/1940Dornier Do17 w/No 34145/KG31 killed, 3 POW
02/09/1940Messerschmitt Bf110 D
w/No 3197
11/2G22 crew missing, Uffz Denker and Uffz Krapp.
07/09/1940Messerschmitt Bf110 C-4
w/No. 3570
11/2G21 killed, 1 POW.
15/09/1940Dornier Do1728/KG21 missing
15/09/1940Dornier Do1725/KG31 missing
15/09/1940HEINKEL HE111111/KG53Crew killed
15/09/1940Dornier Do1725/KG31 missing
19/09/1940Junkers JU-88A-1
w/No 7058
1/KG512 killed, 2 missing, Fw Walter and Gfr Roeder.
19/09/1940Junkers JU88A-11/KG51Crew missing 3 miles off Deal
23/09/1940Messerschmitt Bf109E
w/No. 6304
7/JG3Uffz K Evsing, POW
24/09/1940Bristol Blenheim 1V T1794139 SquadronCrew missing, Squadron Leader M G Hendry, Sergeant Arrowsmith and Sergeant Davidson.
30/09/1940Dornier Do1728/KG35 crew missing. Fw Bauer, Fw Salomo, Fw Schierling, Fw Schonn, Uffz Schroff
06/10/1940Dornier Do172KG3?4 crew missing (off Kingsdown in Goodwin Sands area)
10/10/1940Messerschmitt Bf109E
w/No 4143
4/JG53Oblt Vogel missing
11/10/1940Messerschmitt Bf109E
w/No 6267
5/JG27Safe
15/10/1940Junkers JU88A1/LG1 ?4 crew missing (evidence says 3 miles off Kingsdown in area of Goodwin Sands)
25/10/1940Junkers JU88A111/KG77Crew killed
25/10/1940Junkers JU88A111/KG774 crew missing
01/11/1940Messerschmitt Bf109E Off Ramsgate/ Goodwin Sands
14/11/1940Junkers JU87B9/STG11 killed, 1 missing

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Recent Posts

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