Whilst battering their way north through very heavy seas in a Northeast gale with torrential rain and zero visibility, on the evening of 21 September 1942 HM tug St. Olaves and the water barge Gold Crown which she had been towing, got into difficulties when the tow line parted parted when they were just south of Duncansby Head. Although another line was secured but this also parted and as the crew of the tug tried desperately to get another line aboard the barge, the tug was driven onto the rocks. The crew of the barge, which at that time was still afloat alongside the tug, decided that they would be safer on board the tug, which was the larger of the two boats, the barge eventually being driven ashore at the Ness of Duncansby.
Four of the tugs crew courageously volunteered to try and get ashore in one of the life-rafts and after a most perilous journey managed to scramble ashore. The crew of 27 returned to the barge to see if they could launch one of their ships boats, as one of those on board the tug was smashed to pieces as it was being launched, it being impossible to launch the other because of the tug's serious list.
Meanwhile the Wick lifeboat, City of Edinburgh had been launched at 3.05am, commanded by coxswain Neil Stewart. In the pitch dark and torrential rain he could see nothing and had to rely on dead reckoning and his own experience to try and find the casualties which he had been told were on the rocks near Duncansby Head, some 15 miles from Wick. When, by the estimated speed of the lifeboat, he believed that they must be off the headland, he radioed for the light to be turned on in the lighthouse, (being wartime it was normally extinguished). The message came back that it had been on since 1.00am, but it was not until 5.45am that the lifeboat men saw a faint glimmer of light through the murk. They had been right alongside the lighthouse all the time.
At 6.00am in the first grey light of dawn, Coxswain Stewart spotted the two stranded boats, close to the Ness of Duncansby, between Stroma and the mainland and as the lifeboat approached her crew could see a large group of men on board the barge. Their situation was clearly desperate and so, although he was uncertain of the depth of water around the stranded boats, or indeed if there were any hidden rocks in the area and despite the very heavy seas, Coxswain Stewart took the lifeboat straight in towards the barge. With exceptional skill and great courage he took the lifeboat alongside the barge and ropes were quickly thrown across and secured. All 27 men scrambled aboard the lifeboat, the ropes were cut and Coxswain Stewart headed for the tug. The remaining 4 men were quickly rescued and the lifeboat was taken out into deeper water.
The whole rescue had taken less than 10 mins, but had been fraught with danger throughout. Coxswain Stewart set course for Wick and the 35 exhausted, wet and very cold men were landed at 9.05am.
For his outstanding seamanship and great courage, Coxswain Neil Stewart Jnr. was awarded the RNLI Bronze medal for this very difficult rescue. William Mowatt, the lifeboat's motor mechanic, was awarded the Institution's Thanks on Vellum and a Letter of Thanks was sent to the Honorary Secretary, Mr John Duncan.
George Rendall, the Skipper of the barge Gold Crown, a man of vast experience at sea, especially in those Northern waters, later said, "No praise is too high for the lifeboat crew and no seafaring man could have handled the lifeboat better than the Coxswain did that morning".
Later most of the gear was salvaged by Stroma fishermen, working along with the Metal Industries salvage vessel Bertha.
The tug St. Olaves was completed in 1919. She was 468 gross tons, 40m long by 9m wide and London registered.
Possible position 58 38 88N, 03 03 01W.
Four of the tugs crew courageously volunteered to try and get ashore in one of the life-rafts and after a most perilous journey managed to scramble ashore. The crew of 27 returned to the barge to see if they could launch one of their ships boats, as one of those on board the tug was smashed to pieces as it was being launched, it being impossible to launch the other because of the tug's serious list.
Meanwhile the Wick lifeboat, City of Edinburgh had been launched at 3.05am, commanded by coxswain Neil Stewart. In the pitch dark and torrential rain he could see nothing and had to rely on dead reckoning and his own experience to try and find the casualties which he had been told were on the rocks near Duncansby Head, some 15 miles from Wick. When, by the estimated speed of the lifeboat, he believed that they must be off the headland, he radioed for the light to be turned on in the lighthouse, (being wartime it was normally extinguished). The message came back that it had been on since 1.00am, but it was not until 5.45am that the lifeboat men saw a faint glimmer of light through the murk. They had been right alongside the lighthouse all the time.
At 6.00am in the first grey light of dawn, Coxswain Stewart spotted the two stranded boats, close to the Ness of Duncansby, between Stroma and the mainland and as the lifeboat approached her crew could see a large group of men on board the barge. Their situation was clearly desperate and so, although he was uncertain of the depth of water around the stranded boats, or indeed if there were any hidden rocks in the area and despite the very heavy seas, Coxswain Stewart took the lifeboat straight in towards the barge. With exceptional skill and great courage he took the lifeboat alongside the barge and ropes were quickly thrown across and secured. All 27 men scrambled aboard the lifeboat, the ropes were cut and Coxswain Stewart headed for the tug. The remaining 4 men were quickly rescued and the lifeboat was taken out into deeper water.
The whole rescue had taken less than 10 mins, but had been fraught with danger throughout. Coxswain Stewart set course for Wick and the 35 exhausted, wet and very cold men were landed at 9.05am.
For his outstanding seamanship and great courage, Coxswain Neil Stewart Jnr. was awarded the RNLI Bronze medal for this very difficult rescue. William Mowatt, the lifeboat's motor mechanic, was awarded the Institution's Thanks on Vellum and a Letter of Thanks was sent to the Honorary Secretary, Mr John Duncan.
George Rendall, the Skipper of the barge Gold Crown, a man of vast experience at sea, especially in those Northern waters, later said, "No praise is too high for the lifeboat crew and no seafaring man could have handled the lifeboat better than the Coxswain did that morning".
Later most of the gear was salvaged by Stroma fishermen, working along with the Metal Industries salvage vessel Bertha.
The tug St. Olaves was completed in 1919. She was 468 gross tons, 40m long by 9m wide and London registered.
Possible position 58 38 88N, 03 03 01W.