Buxton British Cemetery Clean-Up to be held in lieu of formal ceremony on May 6

On Thursday, May 6, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Cape Hatteras Flotilla 16-4 will be conducting a different-than-usual clean-up of the Buxton British Cemetery for 2021.

For years, the clean-up has preceded the annual formal ceremony honoring two British sailors from WWII who washed ashore near Buxton. Unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the formal ceremony will not be held this year, but the clean-up will still occur.

Normally, the formal ceremony is solemnly conducted by members of the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Canadian and British Royal Navy to honor the memory and the service of the men buried in the cemeteries. Officers place wreaths at the graves and local citizens read the names of the dead. The sounding of “Last Post” and a 21-gun salute conclude the memorial services every year, and previously, visitors and local citizens were always invited to observe.

In lieu of the formal event, the Buxton British Cemetery will be respectfully maintained ceremoniously by the local Coast Guard Auxiliary Cape Hatteras Flotilla 16-4 on Thursday, May 6 at 10:00 a.m. The public may still attend by observing and silently paying respect.

The two gravesites in Buxton are two different, but similar, stories. First was the sinking of the British tanker San Delfino which was carrying 11,000 tons of aviation fuel and ammunition. It was destroyed by German torpedoes, and sank on April 10, 1941 near Cape Hatteras; 28 of the crew of 50 died. After the attack, the body of one unknown sailor washed ashore on the beaches of Buxton. He was quietly buried by local villagers. Nearly a year later, on May 12, 1942, HMS Bedfordshire was sunk by a German torpedo and the entire 34-man crew was lost in the aftermath. As happened far too often, bodies later washed ashore. Four washed up on Ocracoke Island and were buried by locals.  One last body from the Bedfordshire washed up a few days later on Hatteras Island near Buxton, and the sailor was buried respectively by local Buxton residents next to the sailor from the San Delfino.

To get to the cemetery, which is actually consecrated British soil, turn onto Lighthouse Road in Buxton at the large National Park Service sign marking the entrance to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Follow that winding road and go pass the marked turn to the lighthouse, continuing until the second left. The British Cemetery is on that corner.

For questions about the clean-up, contact USCG Auxiliary Member Bill Henning at 203-240-5581.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer civilians who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement.  These men and women can be found on the nation’s waterways, in classrooms and on the dock, performing safety patrols, vessel safety examinations and public education.  The 26,000 members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.  For much more about the Auxiliary in general, see www.cgaux.org. For more about Flotilla 16-4, see http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=054-16-04.  

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