In the dark of a Tuesday morning on 11 December 1940, The Alex Hastie, a converted steam trawler, on patrol, was wrecked on the Holm of Ire, Sanday, Orkney. This is its incredible story and the outstanding courage of all those involved.
At the outbreak of the second world war 437 fishing boats were pressed into wartime duties.
The men manning these small fishing boats showed a courage that it is difficult to express in words as they joined the fight against Fascism.
The Scottish Fisheries Museum describes the different armed capabilities of the requestioned vessels :
Trawlers were armed and became minesweepers, or escorts, shooting down enemy aircraft and laying depth charges. They had a crew of 30, not all fishermen, the hold was converted to provide small cabins, a mess deck, and wardroom.
Fishermen joined the patrol service.
Drifters – cotton nets were swapped for galvanized steel anti submarine nets laid to block entrances to harbours and firths. They tended barrage balloons, took part in target training and some converted to hospital ships.
Some carried guns as patrol vessels or as ‘Liberty boats’ to take men to and from Royal Navy vessels. They were manned round the clock. – By Sea, Land and Air: Scottish Fishing Communities and World War II
The Alex Hastie was wrecked on the Holm of Ire having struggled in heavy seas to maintain her course. There was strict censorship of the news and it was not until January 1941 that The Orkney Herald and other news outlets were able to publish what had happened. It was a tale of selfless courage by both the islanders of Sanday and the crew of the Alex Hastie.
Account in The Orkney Herald 8 January 1941 (p6)
SANDAY RESCUE OF SHIPWRECKED CREW
MEN PULLED THROUGH SURF IN BREECHES BUOY
“Publication has now been permitted of a report of a shipwreck on the island of Sanday, in which the islands rocket apparatus crew carried out a notable rescue, saving the shipwrecked crew – including one injured man – from a dangerous position. The rescue was accomplished by means of the breeches buoy, and to operate this method the islanders had to stand waist deep in heavy surf. An account of the rescue follows.
Early on a recent Tuesday morning a trawler struck the rocks on outer Holm of Ire. It was dark at the time, the tide full, and a very heavy sea running. So the position of the crew one of dire peril. In answer to her signals of distress, the officer in charge of the life saving apparatus was at once informed.
Stromness lifeboat was also called, and at once left for the scene of the wreck.
On arrival at the nearest point to the Holms/Whale Geo, the crew of the apparatus were greatly hampered by the sea still being strong in the sounds which separate the Holms from Sanday. It was decided that in the circumstances it would not be possible to take any of the heavy gear out, so as soon as the tide allowed, the crew, with the help of ‘locals’ waded across with the boxes of lines and rockets.
On arriving at the wreck it was found that four boatmen who had landed on the lee side of the Holm had established communication with the wreck by means of a rocket fired by the crew, and that one had made a perilous landing. He brought the cheering news that all were aboard, although one had been badly hurt by a heavy sea. The ‘whip’ with breeches buoy attached, was quickly pulled out by the trawlers’ crew, made fast, and the work of rescue preceded with. The injured man was first placed in the buoy and safely landed.
As the trawler lay with an acute seaward list, the shipwrecked crew had great difficulty in getting their injured comrade over the bulwark and safely into the breeches buoy. Eventually the shipwrecked crew were all pulled through the surf to safety.
The injured man was conveyed to the house of Mr Muir, Arion, and was attended by Dr Marwick (daughter of Provost Marwick, Stromness). He was later conveyed to Balfour Hospital. The rest of the drenched and exhausted crew were cared for in several farm houses, and were soon recovering from their trying experience.
In the evening the Stromness lifeboat arrived on the scene and after being informed from the shore that the crew were safe, proceeded to her home station.
The life-saving crew deserve praise for the efficient manner in which they carried out this rescue under great difficulties. Their gear had to be carried for a mile over rocks and boulders to the scene of the wreck. Two sounds had to be crossed, over which the gear had to be rushed between seas.
During the rescue members of the life saving crew, waist deep in the water, were drenched by heavy seas. Further, their number has been depleted by present conditions, which made their work more strenuous. “
The rescue was also reported in The Sunday Post 5 Jan 1941 p 2, with the Headline: Gallant Night Rescue by Scots Rocket Brigade.
The crew of the Alex Hastie were all experienced seamen.
- A.Rose, Skipper (8927), 53 , Peterhead, m. Jeanie 160 Crown Rd (?). Date of present engagement 1/10/40, When to be onboard 2/10/40, Aberdeen. Previous vessel, Agnes H Hastie, Insurance: SNH
- J.Ellington,2nd Hand (17646), 47, Aberdeen, m. Violet 30 Menzies Road, Date of present engagement 1/10/40, When to be onboard 2/10/40, Aberdeen. Previous vessel, Agnes H Hastie.
- B.George, 2nd Engineer,57, Garleston, m Polly 23 Rodger St, North Shields, Pay 13/- a day,Date of present engagement 23/10/40, When to be onboard ‘at once’, Aberdeen, Previous vessel St Agnes?, Insurance: Prudential
- A.Oldroyd,2nd Fish, 43, Aberdeen, m Lily 61 Commerce St, Pay 10/- a day Date of engagement 10/7/40, When to be onboard 10/7/40, Aberdeen, Previous vessel ? (Garvie) Insurance: Scottish Legal
- A.Reid,Deck Hand, 48, Buckie, m Mabel 8 Richmond Place, Pay 10/- a day, Date of present engagement 10/7/40. When to be onboard 10/7/40, Aberdeen. Previous vessel ? (Garvie)
- Andrew Mayis (?), Deck Trimmer (rated Cook 5/8/40) , 46, Aberdeen, m Margaret 10 Seaton Road, Pay 10/- a day. Date of present engagement 10/7/40. When to be onboard 10/7/40. Aberdeen. Previous vessel, ? (Garvie) Insurance: Northern
- G.Weston,Deck Trimmer, 35, Aberdeen, m Ethel 132 Glenbervie Road. Pay 10/- a day. Date of present engagement 5/8/40. When to be onboard ‘at once’, Aberdeen, Previous vessel: Strathglass. Put into hospital Kirkwall – Balfour.
- Wm Stephen, Deck Hand, 50, Inverlochy, m Louise 2nd or Main ? St Inverlochy. Pay 10/- a day. Date of present engagement 14/8/40. When to be onboard ‘at once’, Aberdeen, Previous vessel: Cloughstone (?).
- James Smith, 1st Engineer, 46, Sandend, m Helen, 12 Walker Road, Pay 14/6 a day. Date of present engagement 1/10/40 When to be onboard 2/10/40 Aberdeen. Previous vessel: Braes of Mar.
- A.S.Day, Deck Hand, 44, Ramsgate, m Jean 9 Glenbervie Road, Pay 10/- a day. Date of present engagement 1/10/40 When to be onboard 2/10/40, Aberdeen. Previous Vessel: Glatian (?) Insurance: SNH
The Alex Hastie was a trawler built by JT Eltringham & Co Ltd, launched on 28 May 1914, and completed 1 August 1914, for Hastie & Sons Ltd. of North Shields and Aberdeen. She was of steel construction and screw propulsion. Now wrecked, she had also been requestioned for war service in the previous world conflict in 1914, as a minesweeper, and based at Lowestoft. In 1919 she was returned to Hastie & Sons to continue as her intended purpose as a fishing boat only to be requestioned for service in World War 2 in October 1939.
Click on this link for Trove.scot which has images of the wreck site and the remains.
On 23 December 1942 The Orkney Herald carried the following story on page 4:
Lewis Gun at a Sanday Farm
Ammunition and a machine gun taken from a wrecked trawler by a Sanday farmer were mentioned in a prosecution at Kirkwall Sheriff Court when Thomas Scott, Stumpo Farm, Burness was fined £5.
The accused who was defended by Mr James Flett, solicitor, Kirkwall, admitted having in his possession at Sumpo Farm, a Lewis gun and twenty rounds of .303 ammunition. The weapon and ammunition were ordered to be forfeited. Statements by the Fiscal (Mr John S. Cormack) and by accused’s solicitor, revealed that Scott had taken the gun and ammunition from a trawler wrecked at Sanday about 2 years ago. The fine was paid at the Bar.
Fiona Grahame
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