Britain's Longest Grave ~ Centenary

Believed to be Britain's longest grave, this memorial which is more than 98ft long, is dedicated to the crew of the 'Hera' who lost their lives when their vessel sank off the Cornish coast.

One hundreds year ago today, the German barque 'Hera' had been 90 days into it's voyage to Chile when it hit rocks off the Roseland peninsula and was wrecked. It was carrying a cargo of nitrates when it struck a reef during a thick fog.
Of a crew of 24, only five of them survived and only 12 bodies that were recovered are now buried in the churchyard of St.Symphorian in the village of Veryan in Cornwall. 

A Maltese sailor was almost missed by rescuers after spending the night clinging to rigging in cold winter seas. When the lifeboat retrieved only four of the men, Joseph Cauchi  had to call out to be saved or he too would have perished. 

In this centenary year the crew of the 'Hera' are being honoured with a requiem service, concert and exhibition by the local community.