Early in the morning, the small diesel powered motor vessel, Sound Fisher of Barrow-in-Furness, developed a very serious list, an hour after sailing, while on passage from Scapa Flow to Ghent with a cargo of scrap-metal. The list suddenly increased until the port rail was under water and distress flares were fired by her crew and an SOS sent out at 5am and several trawlers and the Wick lifeboat went to her aid. In a strong north-easterly wind and very heavy swell, the situation became critical and the trawlers, Dulcibelle and Woodburn, both of Aberdeen, moved in to rescue the crew of fourteen. It was well before daybreak when the Master, Capt William Manderson ordered the crew to abandon ship and the port lifeboat was launched in a choppy sea. This was crushed between the ship's side and the Woodburn and when the Captain climbed in to try to free the boat it was swept away containing seven men. They were soon picked up none the worse by the Dulcibelle and landed at Aberdeen. In the meantime the Woodburn had rigged a breeches buoy to the stern of the Sound Fisher and taken off six men with the seventh jumping onto the trawlers bow. When the City of Edinburgh reached the scene all the crew had been rescued and so the lifeboat stood by the crippled vessel. Suddenly, the lifeboat lurched most violently in the heavy seas and one of her crew, Donald McKay, (who was later to become Coxswain), was knocked overboard. Fortunately, he was quickly picked up by his colleagues and suffered no ill-effects, the lifeboat returning to her station when the Sound Fisher turned over and sank, 4 miles east-south-east of Wick, five hours after having been abandoned.
A report from the 'John o' Groat Journal' of 18 January 1957 reads; "Five hours after she had been abandoned by her crew of 14, the Barrow-in-Furness coasting steamer, Sound Fisher, (1130 tons) overturned and 4 miles east-south-east of Wick on Sunday afternoon.
After seven men had been picked up from their lifeboat by the Aberdeen trawler Dulcibelle, the other seven clinging to the stern of the ship were rescued by the trawler Woodburn also of Aberdeen, using breeches-buoy. The Woodburn made for Wick and the Dulcibelle for Aberdeen.
Bound for Ghent, Belgium with a cargo of scrap metal the Sound Fisher left Lyness Orkney at 2:00am on Sunday morning. About an hour later the ship began to develop a list to port. It was not serious but at 5:00am the Sound Fisher suddenly lurched over on her side with her port rail under the water. The position was now so dangerous the master, Captain William Manderson, ordered his crew to abandon ship. Most of them were asleep at the time and awoke with the sudden list to find water pouring into the cabins.
Distress flares were fired and a message was sent to Wick Radio station for aid. Capt. Manderson asked that the ships in the vicinity should be sent to the scene and also asked for a lifeboat to standby.
Four or five trawlers in the area immediately went to the aid of the Sound Fisher and Wick Lifeboat was launched. Fortunately the weather was fair but the seas were choppy. The crew of the Sound Fisher managed to launch her port lifeboat and six men got into it. As they were holding the lifeboat to enable the other men to clamber in, it got crushed between one of the trawlers and the ship's side. Capt. Manderson who had been directing operations went into the lifeboat to help to get her clear. Damaged and leaking, the lifeboat was swept clear of the ship and they were unable to get back. The occupants were picked up by the Dulcibelle, (Skipper William Holland).
Captain Manderson wanted to return to his ship but was advised against it when the Woodburn went in and took off the other seven men.
It was shortly before 8:00am that the Woodburn arrived at Wick and berthed at the North Quay. An ambulance and a nurse, (Mrs W.Henderson), were waiting to take 2nd Officer, Alfred Hart to hospital. He had been injured during the rescue operation.
The other six men who had received every help from the trawler crew, including clothing were taken to the Deep Sea Mission where Mr D.McMillan and his staff had everything in readiness for them.
Mr David Sandison, fish salesman, local secretary for the Shipwrecked Mariners Society, arranged for all the men to get a complete new outfit of clothes and footwear. a young member of the crew, John Hellawell, 17, of Liverpool was still suffering from shock and exposure and he was taken to hospital.
Wick Lifeboat returned to her station at 9:00am. The Woodburn which had a catch of 120 boxes remained in the harbour until her fish was discharged for sending south. She left for the fishing grounds at night.
The trawler Cotsmuir, came into Wick bay in the forenoon towing the damaged lifeboat from which the seven men were picked up by the Dulcibelle. Wick pilot boat, under pilots Wm.Thain and Angus MacDonald then took over the lifeboat and towed it into the harbour. The lifeboat was badly damaged. In addition to the hole in her bow the engine housing was smashed and other equipment was badly damaged.
Meantime the abandoned steamer, drifting on her side was being carried towards the coast by the tide. The Dulcibelle and three other trawlers remained near the stricken ship. It was thought there might be possibilities of taking the Sound Fisher in tow and beaching her. At 1:30pm however when the ship had drifted to within 4 miles of Wick, she overturned and sank almost at once.
In an interview aboard his trawler, the Skipper of the Woodburn said, "We were fishing 3 or 4 miles north of the steamer. We saw the first flare go up and hauled our gear immediately and made for the spot". Meantime other trawlers had also proceeded to the scene. When the Woodburn arrived she found that the Dulcibelle and the Bon Accord were also approaching. Describing the position at that stage, Skipper James Masson said, "We could see the Sound Fisher's crew on the deck with their lifebelts on. The steamer was awash on her port side. Some of the men got away in a lifeboat and were picked up by other trawlers. Seven of the crew were left at the stern and we moved in as close as possible. A breeches-buoy was rigged up between us and the Sound Fisher and we took six men off through the water. There was no-one left to operate the breeches-buoy for the seventh man. We moved our bow close in to the stern of the Sound Fisher and the last man was able to jump aboard us".
The last man off was the 32 year old donkeyman, Maxwell Harvey of Newcastle. Interviewed aboard the Woodburn he paid tribute to 2nd Officer Alfred Hart, Gravesend for the way he had organised the breeches-buoy rescue. He said the 2nd Officer was waiting to go off last, but he was injured when he was flung back from the rail, as a result of the impact of the trawler crashing into the steamer in the heavy seas. "We helped Hart into the breeches-buoy and got him over the side". The Skipper of the Woodburn then took the trawler stern close to the stern and "I was able to jump on to the forecastle".
The first two to be rescued by breeches-buoy were John Hellawell and John Harding both 17 and serving on their first ship since they left the training school, Vindicatrix, Sharpness, Gloucester. Chief Engineer, Joseph Brown said he was on duty in the engine room when the ship suddenly listed. "We got orders to abandon ship", he said. "Half of the crew got into the small boat on the port side and it was intended that the rest of us should join them. Those in the boat however, could not hold onto the steamers rail because of the swell and the small boat drifted away". Denis Kinsella the bosun said he was asleep in his bunk when the ship gave a sudden lurch. "Water was pouring in on us and we scrambled on deck. We could hardly keep our feet on the sloping deck and had to hang on like crabs. We all went off to the stern".
Interviewed in hospital, Alfred Hart told how Maxwell Harvey had stayed to the last and had helped him get off after his injury. "I was hauling back the breeches-buoy to get Harvey away next when the trawler was thrown against us by the heavy seas. I was holding on to the rail and it broke away, flinging me back against the capstan. Seeing that I was hurt, Harvey would not leave and instead helped me into the breeches-buoy. I saw the trawler move in close again, Harvey climbed onto the ships poop and jumped aboard the Woodburn".
Hart was on duty on the bridge of the steamer when she began to list. He immediately informed the master. When the steamer took another heavy list to port it was decided to abandon ship.
On Monday morning six of the men landed at Wick including Hellawell, who was able to leave hospital, left by train for their homes in the south. Hart, who made a good recovery is expected to leave hospital today, (Friday). The seven men landed at Aberdeen by the Dulcibelle also went home on Monday.
The Sound Fisher's 2nd lifeboat which floated clear when the ship sank was picked up and brought into Wick on Monday.
Men rescued by the Woodburn were: 2nd Officer, Alfred Hart, (59), Lamorna Ave, Gravesend; Chief Eng, Joseph Brown, (44), 150 Grosvenor Road, South Shields; Bosun, Denis Kinsella, (50), 20 Mellawes Ave, Arklow, Eire; Maxwell Harvey, (32), donkeyman, 90 Holly Ave, Jesmond, Newcastle; Alex Gray, (31), 2 Glenjarvie Ave, Glenluce, Wigtownshire; John Harding, (17), 18a George St, Tamworth, Staffs; John Hellawell, (17), 8D Windsor Gardens, Liverpool".
Also in the John o' Groat Journal of 18 January 1957 there were photos of crew at Wick and one of the Woodburn.
Possible position is 120 degrees, 5.4 mls or 8 mls E of Noss Head, or 58 25 95N, 02 54 00W or 58 31 17N, 02 49 25W. More likely to be 58 24 50N, 02 56 83W.
The Sound Fisher (ex Benveg and Polperro) was 68m long by 10m wide as was 1130 gross tons.
A report from the 'John o' Groat Journal' of 18 January 1957 reads; "Five hours after she had been abandoned by her crew of 14, the Barrow-in-Furness coasting steamer, Sound Fisher, (1130 tons) overturned and 4 miles east-south-east of Wick on Sunday afternoon.
After seven men had been picked up from their lifeboat by the Aberdeen trawler Dulcibelle, the other seven clinging to the stern of the ship were rescued by the trawler Woodburn also of Aberdeen, using breeches-buoy. The Woodburn made for Wick and the Dulcibelle for Aberdeen.
Bound for Ghent, Belgium with a cargo of scrap metal the Sound Fisher left Lyness Orkney at 2:00am on Sunday morning. About an hour later the ship began to develop a list to port. It was not serious but at 5:00am the Sound Fisher suddenly lurched over on her side with her port rail under the water. The position was now so dangerous the master, Captain William Manderson, ordered his crew to abandon ship. Most of them were asleep at the time and awoke with the sudden list to find water pouring into the cabins.
Distress flares were fired and a message was sent to Wick Radio station for aid. Capt. Manderson asked that the ships in the vicinity should be sent to the scene and also asked for a lifeboat to standby.
Four or five trawlers in the area immediately went to the aid of the Sound Fisher and Wick Lifeboat was launched. Fortunately the weather was fair but the seas were choppy. The crew of the Sound Fisher managed to launch her port lifeboat and six men got into it. As they were holding the lifeboat to enable the other men to clamber in, it got crushed between one of the trawlers and the ship's side. Capt. Manderson who had been directing operations went into the lifeboat to help to get her clear. Damaged and leaking, the lifeboat was swept clear of the ship and they were unable to get back. The occupants were picked up by the Dulcibelle, (Skipper William Holland).
Captain Manderson wanted to return to his ship but was advised against it when the Woodburn went in and took off the other seven men.
It was shortly before 8:00am that the Woodburn arrived at Wick and berthed at the North Quay. An ambulance and a nurse, (Mrs W.Henderson), were waiting to take 2nd Officer, Alfred Hart to hospital. He had been injured during the rescue operation.
The other six men who had received every help from the trawler crew, including clothing were taken to the Deep Sea Mission where Mr D.McMillan and his staff had everything in readiness for them.
Mr David Sandison, fish salesman, local secretary for the Shipwrecked Mariners Society, arranged for all the men to get a complete new outfit of clothes and footwear. a young member of the crew, John Hellawell, 17, of Liverpool was still suffering from shock and exposure and he was taken to hospital.
Wick Lifeboat returned to her station at 9:00am. The Woodburn which had a catch of 120 boxes remained in the harbour until her fish was discharged for sending south. She left for the fishing grounds at night.
The trawler Cotsmuir, came into Wick bay in the forenoon towing the damaged lifeboat from which the seven men were picked up by the Dulcibelle. Wick pilot boat, under pilots Wm.Thain and Angus MacDonald then took over the lifeboat and towed it into the harbour. The lifeboat was badly damaged. In addition to the hole in her bow the engine housing was smashed and other equipment was badly damaged.
Meantime the abandoned steamer, drifting on her side was being carried towards the coast by the tide. The Dulcibelle and three other trawlers remained near the stricken ship. It was thought there might be possibilities of taking the Sound Fisher in tow and beaching her. At 1:30pm however when the ship had drifted to within 4 miles of Wick, she overturned and sank almost at once.
In an interview aboard his trawler, the Skipper of the Woodburn said, "We were fishing 3 or 4 miles north of the steamer. We saw the first flare go up and hauled our gear immediately and made for the spot". Meantime other trawlers had also proceeded to the scene. When the Woodburn arrived she found that the Dulcibelle and the Bon Accord were also approaching. Describing the position at that stage, Skipper James Masson said, "We could see the Sound Fisher's crew on the deck with their lifebelts on. The steamer was awash on her port side. Some of the men got away in a lifeboat and were picked up by other trawlers. Seven of the crew were left at the stern and we moved in as close as possible. A breeches-buoy was rigged up between us and the Sound Fisher and we took six men off through the water. There was no-one left to operate the breeches-buoy for the seventh man. We moved our bow close in to the stern of the Sound Fisher and the last man was able to jump aboard us".
The last man off was the 32 year old donkeyman, Maxwell Harvey of Newcastle. Interviewed aboard the Woodburn he paid tribute to 2nd Officer Alfred Hart, Gravesend for the way he had organised the breeches-buoy rescue. He said the 2nd Officer was waiting to go off last, but he was injured when he was flung back from the rail, as a result of the impact of the trawler crashing into the steamer in the heavy seas. "We helped Hart into the breeches-buoy and got him over the side". The Skipper of the Woodburn then took the trawler stern close to the stern and "I was able to jump on to the forecastle".
The first two to be rescued by breeches-buoy were John Hellawell and John Harding both 17 and serving on their first ship since they left the training school, Vindicatrix, Sharpness, Gloucester. Chief Engineer, Joseph Brown said he was on duty in the engine room when the ship suddenly listed. "We got orders to abandon ship", he said. "Half of the crew got into the small boat on the port side and it was intended that the rest of us should join them. Those in the boat however, could not hold onto the steamers rail because of the swell and the small boat drifted away". Denis Kinsella the bosun said he was asleep in his bunk when the ship gave a sudden lurch. "Water was pouring in on us and we scrambled on deck. We could hardly keep our feet on the sloping deck and had to hang on like crabs. We all went off to the stern".
Interviewed in hospital, Alfred Hart told how Maxwell Harvey had stayed to the last and had helped him get off after his injury. "I was hauling back the breeches-buoy to get Harvey away next when the trawler was thrown against us by the heavy seas. I was holding on to the rail and it broke away, flinging me back against the capstan. Seeing that I was hurt, Harvey would not leave and instead helped me into the breeches-buoy. I saw the trawler move in close again, Harvey climbed onto the ships poop and jumped aboard the Woodburn".
Hart was on duty on the bridge of the steamer when she began to list. He immediately informed the master. When the steamer took another heavy list to port it was decided to abandon ship.
On Monday morning six of the men landed at Wick including Hellawell, who was able to leave hospital, left by train for their homes in the south. Hart, who made a good recovery is expected to leave hospital today, (Friday). The seven men landed at Aberdeen by the Dulcibelle also went home on Monday.
The Sound Fisher's 2nd lifeboat which floated clear when the ship sank was picked up and brought into Wick on Monday.
Men rescued by the Woodburn were: 2nd Officer, Alfred Hart, (59), Lamorna Ave, Gravesend; Chief Eng, Joseph Brown, (44), 150 Grosvenor Road, South Shields; Bosun, Denis Kinsella, (50), 20 Mellawes Ave, Arklow, Eire; Maxwell Harvey, (32), donkeyman, 90 Holly Ave, Jesmond, Newcastle; Alex Gray, (31), 2 Glenjarvie Ave, Glenluce, Wigtownshire; John Harding, (17), 18a George St, Tamworth, Staffs; John Hellawell, (17), 8D Windsor Gardens, Liverpool".
Also in the John o' Groat Journal of 18 January 1957 there were photos of crew at Wick and one of the Woodburn.
Possible position is 120 degrees, 5.4 mls or 8 mls E of Noss Head, or 58 25 95N, 02 54 00W or 58 31 17N, 02 49 25W. More likely to be 58 24 50N, 02 56 83W.
The Sound Fisher (ex Benveg and Polperro) was 68m long by 10m wide as was 1130 gross tons.