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Some Incidents Involving
 Wick And Ackergill Lifeboats
A D Anderson

Historical Articles    Before 1935 Wrecks Of The Pentland Firth Part One  Part 2    Part 3

11 . 6.1935 S.S. Cormorant of Kirkwall - escorted vessel to safety.

28. 3.1936 Cargo steamer "Osterhav" of Finland struck rocks near Duncansby Head in thick fog. It was later refloated and beached near cable hut at Reiss. Wick lifeboat rescued 25 men, 4 women and the captain's dog.

10.2. 1938 M. F. V. " lvo Luc" of Zeebrugge -saved boat and 4

3. 7.1938 Drifter "Sailor King" of Lowestoft - gave help

29. 9.1938 R.A. F. Flying Boat L 2237 crashlanded in sea near Helman Head. The lifeboat saved crew of four and while under tow the plane capsized and sank.

2. 9.1939 TrawIer "Washington" of Grimsby went ashore near Duncansby Head. Later refloated and escorted to Wick.

2. 9.39 Trawler "Navarre" of Grimsby went ashore in thick fog near Skirza Head. 9 were rescued by Wick lifeboat and 2 by the rocket apparatus - vessel was total loss.

25. 9.39 Aberdeen trawler "Star of Victory" went ashore near Keiss Harbour. In rough breaking seas the lifeboat rescued crew of 10.

On the 29.9.39 a salvage team went aboard and were trapped by a sudden squall. 7 were rescued by lifeboat.

20. 3.40 Danish steamers Bothal (3000 tons ) and Viking (1500 tons) were torpedoed 30 miles east of Wick. The lifeboat saved 7.

30. 4.40 Steam trawler "Strathalford" of Aberdeen was driven ashore on the north side of Wick bay. The rocket apparatus saved 5 and the lifeboat 2.

24. 5.40 S. S. Ford Fisher of London - gave assistance and saved vessel.

23. 9.40 Fishing vessel "Glad Tidings" of Lybster - saved boat and 4.

22.10.40 Fishing smack "Havlynd" of Norway - saved boat and 4.

14. 2.41 S. S. "Dromera" of Belfast - while on passage this vessel developed heavy list. Wick lifeboat rescued thirteen when vessel capsized just off "Old Man of Wick".

21.9.42 HMS St. Olaves and MV Gold Crown were driven ashore in the NE gale. Wick lifeboat rescued 31 members of crew from both vessels.

4. 1.46 Motor fishing vessel "Glad Tidings" of Lybster- saved boat and 3 when engine failed near Proudfoot.

4.11.49 MFV Godetia was disabled at fishing grounds near Wick. The lifeboat saved boat and crew of 4.

22. 9.51 The lifeboat rescued man marooned on rocks at Berriedaie Head.

13.12.51 Fishing vessel "Crest" of Thurso - saved 2 men.

22. 9.55 Granton trawler "Euclase" (GN51) went ashore just south of Duncansby Stacks. The vessel was wrecked and lifeboat rescued crew of 12.

29. 4.56 Fishing boat "Hopeful" of Thurso - saved vessel and 4.

18. 9.53 Grimsby trawler "Hassett" ran ashore near Aukengill in heavy seas. Fifteen were rescued by breeches buoy but five were swept away and drowned.

3. 2.56 Tanker "Dovrefjell" of Norway went ashore on south side of Little Skerries. Longhope and Wick lifeboats stood by. Crew of 41 were rescued by RN and RAF helicopters and landed at John o' Groats.

18. 4.57 Wick fishing boats "Economy" and "Willing Boys" were towed to safety from Sinclair Bay in winds of over 70 mph - 7 men were saved.

29. 6.57 Aberdeen trawler "Carency" (A129) ran ashore in thick fog at Greenigoe (near Papigoe). Just after lifeboat rescued crew of thirteen, the vessel rolled over and sank.

5. 2.57 Trawler "Warwick Deeping" of Hull was leaking in winds gust to 100 mph, thirty four miles east of Wick. The lifeboat and fishery cruiser "Bramble" stood by until danger was over.

18. 1.58 Trawler "Jean Stephen" of Aberdeen ran ashore near cable hut at Reiss.

17. 6.58 Whaler "Brodrene Saevik" of Norway - saved boat and crew of 6.

7.10.58 Aberdeen trawler "Ben Meidie" went aground on Pentland Skerries and became a total loss. Crew of 13 rescued by lifeboat.

9. 1.59 Fishery cruiser "Freya" of Leith sank off Sarclet Head.

3. 3.59 S.S. "Stellatus" of Halingberg (Sweden) went ashore near Freswick and later broke her back - crew of 26 landed at Wick by lifeboat.

2.12.59 Fishing vessel "Rosebank" of Wick leaking badly in Sinclair Bay. Crew of two rescued by lifeboat and vessel later sank.

6. 9.60 Fishing Vessel "Maire Bhan" of Wick disabled - lifeboat saved vessel and 3.

4. 9.60 Coaster "Ashdene" of Sunderland disabled twenty miles south of Wick. Towed to Wick by Iifeboat.

9. 1.61 Faroese M/T Else ran ashore near John o' Groats. 5 were rescued by Stroma boat "Girl Elsie" and 2 by lifeboat. Vessel became total loss.

8. 3.61 MFV "Loyal Friend" of Fraserburgh ran ashore on the Little Skerry - crew of five were rescued by means of a small dinghy and transferred to Iifeboat -wrecked.

27. 4.63 MFV "Morning Star" went ashore on Proudfoot - later towed clear.

30. 4.63 Fishing vessel "Seonaid" of Lybster went ashore two miles south of Wick. Crew of 2 were rescued by lifeboat from the rocks.

14. 4.64 MFV "Girl Betty" of Peterhead went ashore on Proudfoot, The lifeboat rescued crew of 7, vessel was wrecked.

19. 8.66 Danish trawler "Robert Schou" of Fredrickshaven ran ashore on Proudfoot. Lifeboat rescued crew of five. Vessel slipped off rocks at low water and sailed to Wick harbour.

24. 8.67 Fishing boat "Boy Peter" went ashore on the "Tails of Elzy". Towed clear later.

15. 9.67 MV "Olive" and Hull trawler "Artic Corsair" collided near Duncansby Head in thick fog. M.V. Olive was escorted to Wick and Artic Corsair was beached in Reiss bay for repairs before making Wick Harbour.

11. 6.68 Orkney FV "Enterprise" of Westray ran ashore near Papigoe - refloated later.

27. 3.69 Trawler "James Barrie" of Hull struck Louther Rock between the Pentland Skerries. Crew of 21 rescued by Wick lifeboat. James Barrie slid off rocks later and sank while under tow.

17. 9.72 Fishing boat "Silver Cloud" of Wick was disabled off Sarclet Head - boat and crew of three towed to Wick.

18.12.73 MFV "Tern" disabled north of Keiss - saved boat and 3.

29. 1.77 MFV "Tern" sank off Duncansby Head

13. 8.77 Cargo Vessel "Pioneer Commander" of USA ran ashore on Louther Skerry - refloated 10 days later.

17. 2.81 Pilot boat "Avenger" disabled in Wick Bay - saved boat and 3.

21. 5.81 Wick fishing boat "Andreas" struck rocks near Sarclet Head and quickly sank. Four men were rescued from liferaft by lifeboat.

4. 6.81 Fishing vessel "Scottish Maid" ran ashore between Staxigoe and Noss Head. Crew of three rescued but vessel became total loss.

Back To part one - Before 1935