Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Maritime Monument: Mine Sweepers Memorial - Boston, MA

Mine Sweepers Memorial
Boston Common
Boston, MA

GPS: N41° 21.335; W71° 3.980

Short Description:

The Mine Sweepers Memorial  is located at the top of Flagstaff Hill near the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on the Boston Common.

Long Description:

During World War I the U. S. Mine Squadron One, aka The Yankee Mining Squadron, laid and later removed  about 56,000 mine in the  250 mile entrance to the North Sea from Scotland to Norway. This created an effective  barrier against German U-boats. In 1921, the Mine Sweepers Memorial was placed in Boston Common by the North Sea Mine Force Association.


A bronze plaque mounted to a Mark VI mine is inscribed:

A TYPE OF THE 56,571 MINES LAID AND 
SWEPT IN THE MINE BARRIER PLACED IN 
THE NORTH SEA BY THE UNITED STATES NAVY 
DURING THE WORLD WAR 1917-1919. 
THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT OF ITS NATURE 
RECORDED IN ALL NAVAL HISTORY AND 
PLACED HERE AS A TRIBUTE TO THOSE 
WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES AND TO THE 
SURVIVORS OF THIS FEAT. 

PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF BOSTON THROUGH 
THE NORTH SEA MINE FORCE ASSOCIATION 
OCTOBER 26, 1921"

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