Bulletin Index

Caithness Field Club Bulletin
April 1984 - Volume 3 - Number 7

WRECKS OF THE PENTLAND FIRTH 1918 - 1933

W. Bremner & D. G. Sinclair

1918   "EXPRESS" of Kirkwall sank east of the Pentland Skerries. 13 of the crew were drowned.

1918          "OPAL" and "NARBOROUGH", British destroyers, ran aground on Hesta Head South Ronaldsay, in a blinding snowstorm. Only one man from the two crews got ashore and he died soon afterwards. 

1918          "SCULPTOR' a Liverpool steamer south bound from Scapa Flow, stranded in dense fog at Finnieshaven, Stroma. Refloated by Admiralty tugs.

          1918 "FIONNA"  a British troopship, ran aground on Clettack Skerry. No lives were lost. The vessel was refloated after part of her cargo had been discharged.

          1918             "ISABELLA", a Thurso schooner (Capt. Mackenzie) west bound with a cargo of coal, struck the rocks near Duncansby Head and sank. Four of her crew were lost.

          1919             "SHAMROCK", a Stroma motor boat, was swamped in the Boars of Duncansby. Three of her crew, all Stroma men, were drowned.

          1920        "GRAYSON", of New York, loaded with coal for Stockholm, ran aground in a fog at Falligeo, Stroma. The crew ware rescued at great risk by Stroma fishermen. She became a total wreck but part of her cargo was salvaged.

          1920              "BEN BUIE", a Nairn drifter, east bound with herring, struck the rocks at St. John's Point. Mey and Stroma fishermen, assisted by the drifter "Mistress lsa", managed to refloat her and she proceeded to Wick.

          1920              "KENTUCKY', of Copenhagen went ashore in fog on Skirza Head. The crew were rescued by the Scarfskerry Rocket Apparatus. She was refloated when the weather moderated.

          1921             "VINDICTIVE", a German destroyer, ran aground at Freswick in fog while being towed south from Scapa Flow. She was one of the sunken German Fleet. She became a total loss.

          15. 4.1922    "S. S. PRETORIA" broke away from two tugs towing her near Whiten Head, loch Eriboll. The crew were taken on board one of the tugs.

          1922              "IVY GREEN", a drifter, was stranded on the Ness of Duncansby but was refloated.

1923          "AURALIA", a Grimsby trawler homeward bound from Iceland, ran ashore in fog on the Ness of Duncansby. The crew were rescued and the gear salvaged by Stroma fishermen. The vessel become a total wreck.

          1923      "JULIUS RUTGERS", a Hamburg steamer east bound with a cargo of oil, stranded near Huna. local fishermen stood by until she was refloated.

          1923            "VIOLA", a Banff drifter, went ashore near near Huna but was refloated with the help of local fishermen.

          1923                "CITOS", a Swedish steamer west bound with a cargo of wood, broke her steering gear west of Stroma in a heavy sec. Most of her deck cargo and upperstructure was washed overboard. She was driven back round the north of Swona by the flood tide and narrowly missed the Lother Rock. 9 of the crew tried to get clear in their lifeboat and were drowned. Then the Longhope lifeboat and a destroyer rescued the remainder of the crew with great difficulty. The vessel drifted some miles east of the Skerries before being picked by the H. L. S. "Pole Star" and boarded by her crew. Steering gear was rigged up and the vessel taken in tow but the hawsers parted saveral times. After a long struggle she was towed to safety in lnganess Bay near Kirkwall.

          1924             "BAMBA" of Marstall drifted ashore west of Dunnett Head. The captain and his crew of three landed at Scrabster in their own boat. The vessel became a total wreck.

          1924     " BRAEHEAD", an Inverness drifter, ran aground in a snowstorm at Seater, Huna. She was refloated with the help of the Huna lifeboat.

          1924                 "CARMANIA II", a Grimsby trawler, stranded in fog at Ha Wick, Hoy. The crew scrambled on to the rocks.   The vessel was refloated when the weather moderated.

          1924                 "ABRONIA", a Grimsby trawler homeward bound, stranded on the Ness of Duncansby. Stroma fishermen helped to refloat her while the Scarfskerry L. S. A. stood by.

          1924             "GUIDE ME", a Peterhead drifter bound east, ran aground on Langston Point, Stroma. The tide nearly carried the vessel over the reef and the crew were in a precarious position as no help could be sent until the tide turned. Local fishermen proceeded to the vessel as soon as conditions allowed and the crew and their gear were landed. The vessel become a total wreck. It was the imminent danger of this occasion that induced the Board of Trade to provide the island with a Life Saving Apparatus.

          1924                "KENTUCKY", A Copenhagen steamer west bound with a cargo of cement grounded on Quoys Ness. Local fishermen jettisoned part of her cargo and she was refloated. (see 1920).

          1924            "CITY OF FLORENCE", a large steamer of the Ellerman City Line, with some passengers and cargo, stranded on Skirza Head in fog. She was refloated at high tide.

          1924            " CURSLACK", a Holmburg steamer stranded   in fog at Windwick Way, South Ronaldsay. After discharging her cargo she was refloated by tugs.

          1925            "DROMORE", a British steamer, stranded on little Skerry in fog and was refloated.

          1925            "SALMONBY", a Boston trawler bound east, struck the Ness of Duncansby in                        fog. Local fishermen assisted to refloat her at high tide.

          1925            " SALACON ", a Grimsby trawler grounded near Skirza Head in fog. Refloated.

          1925            "SUNBEAM", a Wick drifter, grounded near the Ness of Duncansby and sank in deep water after slipping off the rock. The crew and gear were landed by Stroma fishermen.

          1925            "FUHRMAN", a Hamburg steamer east bound with a cargo of coal stranded in fog near Red Head, Stroma. With the assistance of local fishermen she was refloated at high tide.

          1925            "CANADIAN SETTLER", a British steamer, ran ashore in fog on the east side of Stroma. She was refloated at high tide.

          1925            "ANNA MARIA", an Orkney schooner with a cargo of coal for Stromness, ran ashore on the south side of Stroma. The crew landed on the rocks and the vessel became a total loss.

          1926            "TROPIC BIRD", a Banff drifter, stranded near Thurso and refloated at high tide.

          1926            "OBSIDIAN", a Hull trawler, ran aground east of Thurso in fog. She was refloated with the aid of local fishermen.

          1926            "THOMAS GRAHAM", a Grimsby trawler, ran ashore in fog at Gills Say. She was refloated with the assistance of local fishermen.

          1926            "NATIONAL" of Hamburg, stranded on Beacon Point, Stroma and refloated at high tide.

          1926            "JURA" a Glasgow steamer, dragged her anchors while lying in Dunnet Bay and stranded near Murkle. The drew were landed safely but the vessel become a total wreck.

          1926            "HUXLEY", a Grimsby trawler outward bound, went ashore at Duncansby Head. She was refloated by Stroma fishermen but was so badly holed that she had to be run ashore west of the Ness. She was again refloated by Stroma fishermen and towed to Longhope by the salvage vessel "Iron Axe", piloted by the Stroma men.

          1927            "DRIFT FISHER", a Wick fishing boat, went ashore at Staxigoe in fog. The L.S.A. stood by. She was refloated but badly damaged, crew saved.

          1927            "MARY GRACE", a schooner, struck the rocks on Tarftail of Swona and sank in deep water. The crew of four landed on Swona in their own boat.

          1927            " HARRY", a Buckie drifter being towed west, grounded at Duncansby Head and became a total wreck. The crew were saved.

          1927            "ANGIE" A Hull trawler outward bound, ran ashore on Beacon Point, Stroma. Local boats stood by until she was refloated.

          1927            " THORNHOPE" , a Newcastle steamer, ran aground in fog at Quoys Ness. She was refloated at high tide.

          1927            "AMETHYST", a Hull trawler, grounded west of Hoy. The crew of 10 were rescued by the Stromness lifeboat.

          1928            "RIVER LEVEN", a Grimsby trawler, grounded at Nybster. Refloated and taken to Wick.

          1928            "LORD DEVONPORT", a Hull trawler, grounded on the west side of Hoy. 8 of her crew were drowned and 6 saved by the Stromness lifeboat.

          1928            "NOORD BPABANT", a Dutch motor ketch, stranded on Brims Ness. The crew were saved by the Wick drifter "Sweet Pea". The vessel became a total wreck.

          16. 3 28      The steamer AASE of Hamburg stranded on Brims Ness during dense fog. The total crew of 15 were rescued by the Thurso lifeboat SARAH AUSTIN when the AASE began to break up. She become a total loss.

          1928            "BEN RINNES', an Aberdeen trawler, ran ashore in fog near Holborn Head. The crew of 10 were landed by a local boat. She become a total wreck.

          1928            "NEPTUNE", a Belgian trawler, ran aground in fog at Freswick. The crew left her in their own boat and were carried by the ebb tide round Duncansby Head, landing at Gills Bay. The vessel sank in Freswick Bay. ,

          1928            " GUNNER", a Grimsby trawler, stranded near the Ness of Duncansby in fog but was refloated at high tide.

          1928            "ABIDING", a Buckie drifter, stranded on Quoys Ness. Stroma fishermen along with another drifter refloated her.

          1928            "ESTHER R. SMITH" a Buckie zulu fishing boat, drifted near the rocks at Langaton Point, Stroma, in a calm. The Rocket Apparatus crew stood by and lifeboats were called out but a trawler appeared and towed her out of danger.

           2. 2.29    " EDWARD VII" a Grimsby trawler, ran ashore at Brims Ness. Crew of 10 were rescued by Thurso lifeboat SARAH AUSTIN.

           1929                "CARMANIA II", a Grimsby trawler, stranded near Kirk Rocks, Hoy Sound. Crew of 12 rescued by the Stromness lifeboat.

           1929        "JOHN H. BARROW",  A British three-masted schooner, got becalmed and drifted on to Swona. She was towed to safety by the Longhope lifeboat.

           1929               "HARVEST GLEANER",  of Fraserburgh ran ashore in fog at Duncansby Head. Stroma boats stood by her and she was refloated at high tide.

       28. 9.29  A cutter with 20 men on board from the battleship HMS MARLBOROUGH got into difficulties in heavy seas, during a westerly gate. She was found by Thurso lifeboat HCJ close in shore at Dunnet Head in heavy surf and unable to get clear. With great difficulty in the prevailing conditions, the lifeboat managed to take the cutter under tow and back to Scrabster.

           1929                "STRONA", a Norwegian steamer bound east with a cargo of oil, stranded at John o' Groats. After part of the cargo had been jettisoned she was refloated.

           1929               "JERIA" a Grimsby trawler, went ashore on the west side of Hoy. The crew were rescued by another trawler.

           1930               "DUNLEITH" a small British coaster, ran aground at Aukengill with a cargo of herring barrels. She was later refloated by local fishermen and taken to Wick.

           1930                "BRACONMOOR", an Aberdeen trawler, stranded on Torness Point in a south east gale. The Longhope lifeboat took the crew off by breeches buoy. The skipper was drowned. The vessel became a total wreck.

           1930                "HEINRICH NEINNITZ", a German trawler of Wesermunde, ran ashore in dense fog at Castle Geo, Stroma. With the assistance of local fishermen and another trawler, she was refloated.

           1930                "LORD PERCY", a Grimsby trawler homeward bound, struck the rocks on the west side of Swona. The skipper drowned while they were trying to lay out a kedge anchor with their own boat. The crew were afterwards rescued by Swona fishermen. The trawler slid off the rocks and sank in deep water.

           1930                "ELSEY BRUCE", a Banff drifter, stranded in fog near Huna but was refloated at high tide.

          1930            "STRATHGYLE" , an Aberdeen trawler, ran ashore on a reef of rocks at the Pentland Skerries in dense fog. After great risk Stroma fishermen managed to refloat her. Shallow water over the reef and a strong tide made things dangerous. The Longhope lifeboat stood by.

          1930            "LOUIS BUTHA" a Grimsby trawler, grounded in fog on Muckle Skerry. She was later refloated with the assistance of another trawler. The Longhope lifeboat and Stroma fishermen stood by.

          1930            "HEARTY' of Wick, a drifter, ran ashore in fog near Strathy Point. The crew were rescued by local fishermen.  The vessel become a total wreck.

           Nov 1930    "LINKMOOR", a British steamer bound east, light, became unmanageable in a strong gale and a heavy westerly sea and drove ashore at Scarfskerry. The crew of 32 were landed by the Scarfskerry Rock Apparatus. The vessel became a total wreck.

          1931            "BEN SCREEL", an Aberdeen trawler, ran ashore on Clettag Skerry in fog. She was refloated before the Longhope lifeboat arrived.

          1931            "ROBERT GIBSON", a trawler, ran ashore in fog at Freswick. She was refloated at high tide.

          18. 3.31 The schooner PET of Chester ran aground on Brims Ness and become a total loss. The crew of 4 were rescued by Thurso lifeboat HCJ. For this service Cox'n Angus MacPhaiI was awarded the RNLI's Bronze Medal for his outstanding skill and courage.

          8. 7.31 "AKRANES", a Grimsby trawler homeward bound, ran ashore in fog at Longgeo Mey. The crew of 14 rescued by Thurso lifeboat HCJ and Scarfskerry L.S.A. The vessel was later refloated with the assistance of Stroma fishermen.

          1931   "BARBARA ROBB" of Aberdeen, homeward bound, ran ashore at Huna in dense fog. She was refloated at high tide by Stroma fishermen.

          1931  "PENNSYLVANIA" of Copenhagen struck a reef on the west side of Swona in fog. The crew were rescued by Stroma fishermen. Part of the cargo was salvaged by the Danish tug "Gorm". The vessel was bought by Stroma fishermen and more of the cargo salvaged. later the vessel became a total wreck and sank.

   12.10.31   The tug KINGS CROSS towing the steamer ATHENDALE of North Shields, ran into a WNW gale and very heavy weather off Strathy Point. The tow parted, the tug ran for Scrabster, and Thurso lifeboat HCJ launched and rescued 6 men on board the ATHENDALE.

          1931            "ROSENESS", a Hull trawler, ran ashore in fog on the Ness of Duncansby. One of the crew was drowned while laying out a kedge anchor with their own boat. The vessel was refloated at high tide.

          1931            EXCHEQUER", a Banff drifter, ran aground in fog side of Dunnet Head. She was refloated with the aid of Scarfskerry fishermen and local salmon fishers.

1931                "--------- ", a foreign trawler, name unknown, stranded at Tang Head, Hoy, in fog. She was refloated at high tide.

     9. 1.32             DORBIE", a Hull trawler, ran aground on Torness Point in a south easterly gale. Eight of her crew were rescued by Longhope Life-boat, the other three were washed ashore and saved by local fishermen. The vessel became a total wreck.

          1932             "ORMOND", a Grimsby trawler, ran ashore in dense fog near Freswick Bay. She was refloated at high tide without damage.

          1932            "MALACOLITE", a Hull trawler bound for the Iceland grounds, ran aground near Freswick Bay on the some day as the "ORMOND". She was refloated at high tide without assistance.

   28. 4.32    "--------- " a John o' Groats lobster boot was swamped by a big wave near Duncansby Head. The crew of two were drowned.

          1932                 "ARRAGONITE", a Hull trawler homeward bound, ran ashore at Murkle but was refloated.

          1932  "PENTLAND FIRTH", a British coaster, drove ashore at Scrabster. The crew of 10 were rescued by Scrabster L.S.A. The vessel was refloated by tugs.

          1932  "LEITH HALL", an Aberdeen trawler, ran ashore in fog at Wardiegeo, Stroma. She was refloated at high tide without damage.

          1932  "DRAGON", a Grimsby trawler west bound, stranded on the Ness of Duncansby. The crew were rescued by Scarfskerry L.S.A. The vessel was afterwards refloated by the Aberdeen Salvage Co. and Stroma fishermen. She was towed to Longhope by the tug "IRON AXE" with a Stroma pilot.

          1932  "MARL", a Grimsby trawler homeward bound from Iceland, stranded on Langaton Point, Stroma, in dense fog. Stroma L.S.A. fired a rocket line aboard her and connected up the breeches buoy. Longhope and Thurso lifeboats stood by but could not get alongside until the tide had eased up. Some of the crew were taken to Thurso by lifeboat. Attempts to salvage the vessel by the tug "BULLGER" were unsuccessful and ultimately she was swept off the ledge by heavy seas and sank in deep water.  

   1932      "--------- " unknown trawler, stranded on Clettack Skerry. She fired distress signals but refloated under her own power before the arrival of Strorna fishermen and the Longhope lifeboat.

1932            "RIVER AVON", a Granton trawler homeward bound, stranded on the west side of Dunnet Head. The crew landed in their own boat. The vessel was later refloated by the Leith salvage Co.

          1932            "HOME FRIEND" a Fraserburgh drifter, ran ashore in fog near the Ness of Duncansby. She was refloated at high tide with Stroma boatmen standing by.

          1933            SILANION", a Grimsby trawler, ran ashore on Torness Point in a south-easterly gale. The Longhope lifeboat rescued the crew. The vessel became a total loss. (See 1902 and 1906).

          1933            "---------- ", an Aberdeen trawler stranded in fog near Torness Point. Her distress signals were unheard.' She was refloated without assistance after being 17 hours on the rocks.

          1933            "CAPE SABLE", a Hull trawler, went ashore in dense fog near the Kame of Hoy. She was towed off by another trawler at high tide.

          1933            "LAUREL CROWN", a Banff drifter " stranded in fog near the Ness of Duncansby. She was refloated at high tide.

          1933            "--------- "  a foreign steamer west bound, went ashore on St. John's Point and was refloated with the assistance of Mey Fishermen.

          1933            " GEYSER", an Iceland trawler, ran aground on Torness Point in a south-easterly gale. The Longhope lifeboat rescued the crew. The vessel was later refloated by the Leith Salvage Co. but sank while being towed to Scrabster.