Peterhead Lifeboat Station History

	Station History



Brief History of Peterhead Lifeboat Station
Geddes Award Past & Present Lifeboats Lifeboats Last Slipway Launch
There have been two stations at Peterhead. The first established in 1865 and closed in 1928 and the present station established in 1912. This is an important station. There is a considerable amount of traffic, particularly trawlers close inshore. Number two lifeboat totally wrecked on the Horseback during a full south south-easterly gale on 26 December 1914 when on service to the minelayer Tom Tit. Three of the crew of 12 were drowned, second coxswain James Geddes, Thomas Geddes and David Strachan. Committee of Management voted £600 to the local fund and Carnegie Fund made weekly contributions to dependants. (The crew of the vessel Tom Tit were rescued by rocket apparatus.) The men of Peterhead have been awarded 21 medals, one Gold, 11 Silver and nine Bronze, the last being voted in 1943.
Before a lifeboat station was established at Peterhead eight Silver Medals were awarded for gallantry for rescues off the coast.
1865 1900 1908 1911 1912 1914 1916 1917 1928 1933 1942 1943 1965 1979 1980 1987 1988 1998 1999 2005 2006	The RNLI established a lifeboat station and a boathouse was built on the east side of North Harbour. A larger boathouse was built. The slipway was removed and the lifeboat was kept afloat on moorings in the harbour. A second boathouse and roller slipway were built to the west of the South Harbour for the No.2 lifeboat. The station's first motor lifeboat was placed on service. The No.2 lifeboat was totally wrecked during a service to the minelayer Tom Tit. Second Coxswain James Geddes and Crewmembers Thomas Geddes and David Strachan drowned. (See Geddes Award) A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain James Cameron for rescuing 74 people from the wrecked steamship Kiev. A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain James Cameron for rescuing 41 people from the wrecked steamships Tregarth and Boscastle. The No.1 Station was Closed. A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain John Strachan and Bronze Medal to Motor Mechanic David Wiseman for rescuing nine men from the trawler Struan grounded at Scotstown Head. A Gold Medal was awarded to Coxswain John B McLean (See Photo), Silver Medal to Mechanic David Wiseman and Bronze Medals to Alexander Hepburn, William Strachan, Alexander Strachan, William Summers, Alexander Gowans and George Cordiner for rescues to three ships aground in Peterhead Bay. Over 75 Hours they rescued 44 crew from the steamer Runswick, 26 crew from the steamer Fidra and 36 crew from the steamer Saltwick. (Read the story) A Bronze medal was awarded to Acting Coxswain Captain James Winter for rescuing 12 crew from the wrecked trawler Loch Wasdale just before she sank. A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station. The thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic John Buchan for rescuing the Seven crew from the oil rig supply vessel Smit Lloyd 47, which went aground on the west shore of Peterhead Harbour. The boathouse was extended. The thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic John B McLean for standing by the fishing vessel Constant Star while the crew of eight were rescued by helicopter in a northerly gale and heavy seas. The new Tyne class lifeboat Babs and Agnes Robertson was placed on service. The lifeboat was placed in a new berth to the west of the South Harbour. The new berth and shore facility were completed in May. Crew member Stephen Ritchie was awarded a Testimonial on Vellum from the Royal Humane Society for diving into the harbour and rescuing one man after two fishermen fell into the harbour while returning to their trawler in January. The RNLI announced that Peterhead would become the first Scottish station to receive a new Tamar Class lifeboat. Tamar Class Lifeboat 16-03 "The Misses Robertsons of Kintail" arrives on station at Peterhead to replace the current Tyne Class Lifeboat 47-019 "Babs and Agnes Robertson"