During a violent gale, the 270 ton brig Thomas Dougall was driven onto the rocks at Occumster, 10 miles south of Wick at 4am in the morning. Mr Robert McAlistair got a crew of eight local men together and they launched a small fishing boat and made their way out through a very heavy surf. Great skill and courage were needed to reach the wreck, but this they did and rescued three men, who were found clinging to the cross-trees of the vessel's broken mast, totally exhausted.
The Captain and five of the crew had been drowned when the ship first struck the rocks, another four men managing to jump onto a rock from where they were hauled to safety by some locals. For his gallantry that day, Mr McAlistair was awarded a Silver Medal by the RNLI.
The Captain and five of the crew had been drowned when the ship first struck the rocks, another four men managing to jump onto a rock from where they were hauled to safety by some locals. For his gallantry that day, Mr McAlistair was awarded a Silver Medal by the RNLI.