tales-of-Fogo-Island

Serving Your CountryMany Fogo Islanders have served their country with honor during war time.The following is a selection of stories from veterans and their families.Stories of World War OneTraining for the Navy in St. John's, 1912.Walter William Ludlow is sixth from the left in the back row.Mr. Christopher Cobb of Barr'd Islands served in World War I. Mr. Cobb wassixteen when he went to war. He completed his basic training on board theHMS Calypso in St. John's, Newfoundland. Later, he traveled to Portsmouth,England and from there, sailed all over the world.Once, while on night patrol in the tropics, Mr. Cobb heard a strange splashingsound. He wondered if it was a submarine and decided to report it to thebridge. The captain did not want to use the ship's searchlight because it wouldmake them an easy target. Before turning on the light he said, "You had betternot be hearing things, or else!"As the light traced around the ship, the men pointed their weapons at thewater. They were ready to fire at the first sign of anything unusual. Then, all ofa sudden they spotted something, but it was not an enemy submarine. It wasa young Jamaican in a paddle boat. He was carrying a load of oranges!He must have gotten quite a scare when he saw all those guns pointed at him!