Close fraternity

Recent mention in The Courier of a maritime tragedy at Johnshaven in 1920 interested a Montrose reader who emailed to say that there is a close bond between coastal lifeboat stations.

“Such life-saving facilities are traditionally sited where there is an established need for such provision,” he says. “Sometimes the location of various stations has moved over the years, for a variety of reasons. Similarly, some stations have been closed – always a sad day for the communities involved.

“Johnshaven is one such station which has ceased to be active but memories and built evidence of the earlier crews and their efforts in fair weather and foul, have long been maintained.

“The story of the loss of the Danish sailing vessel Fredensborg, with two of her crew and a member of the local lifeboat crew in December 1920 is currently being marked by various events. The tragic occasion is graphically told within the pages of A Wild and Rocky Coast by Roy Souter.

“Also the recently published Montrose Lifeboat Station – More Than 200 Years of Service records the handover of awards made by the Royal Danish Government in October 1921.

“In the chapter headed Flanking Stations is the following: ‘In October 1921 a presentation of silver tankards to the coxswain and crew of the Johnshaven lifeboat station took place. All were handed over by Captain R. C. HoyerMillar, Danish vice-Consul in Montrose, on behalf of the King of Denmark. The awards were made in respect of the services given to the vessel Fredensborg which had been wrecked in St Cyrus Bay on December 21 1920.’

“The youngest member of the lifeboat crew on that day was Barclay Cargill who later became harbourmaster at Stonehaven. His grand-nephew was the late Bill Cargill, coxswain/mechanic of the Montrose lifeboat Moonbeam.

“Among those present at the ceremony were Charles Ross, A. A. Mearns and John Clark of the Montrose Lifeboat Committee. This event underlined the working relationship between neighbouring stations along the coast with the Montrose lifeboats still visiting Johnshaven harbour.”