Discovering Lunenburg- Fisherman's Memorial
A sunny Sunday afternoon in Lunenburg saw a very moving event take place. A fisherman's memorial service to remember all those lost at sea. This town and the surrounding fishing communities have seen great loss of life in the fishing industry over many decades. The fishing grounds which take in an area from Newfoundland to Gloucester, Massachusetts are known as the Grand Banks and can be one of the harshest environments on the planet. There were great schooners fishing these banks at the height of the cod fishing industry from the early 19 hundreds to the time when fish stocks collapsed in the North West Atlantic. The worst years for loss of life were the August gales of 1926 and again in 1927. In 1927 four Lunenberg schooners went down with total loss of life. 80 men were lost from these small fishing communities sometimes several men and boys from the same family. The role of honour which was read out during the service, 90 years on, was so sad and many of the family names were familiar to us as the families still live and work sea for their living.