Remembering a sea rescue hero
The steamship’s crew looked doomed as they headed for rocks in a storm. One crofter woman saved them by acting as a human lifeline, SYMA MOHAMMED writes
STORM was brewing when the William Hope steamer left Fraserburgh in October 1884.
It was an ill-fated voyage for a ship that would never meet its intended cargo 65 miles away at Burghead, Moray.
Hurricane winds drove the vessel off course – perilously close to the rocky shoreline at Troup Head.
Despite the captain’s desperate efforts to steer towards safety, the steam ship and its 15 crew were at the mercy of the North Sea as they careered toward the jagged coast.
A local woman, who had seen the plight of the ship from her croft, ran down to the beach and waded into the choppy water.
Unsure if the woman was real or an apparition, the sailors helplessly launched a rope in her direction.
The woman attempted to catch it but missed.
The sailors tried again, holding their breath.
This time her grip held and she wound it around her frame three times before driving her feet into the sand like a human anchor.
Miraculously, she effectively moored the listing vessel as it pitched and fell as one by one every sailor disembarked and clambered to safety along the taut rope.
This woman was 36-year-old Jane Whyte, of New Aberdour, whose fortitude and quick-thinking are credited with saving the lives of all onboard.
Bill Pitt, chairman of the New Aberdour, Tyrie and Pennan Community Council who launched a project to celebrate the feat, said Mrs Whyte’s actions should inspire others.
“She was not only a brave woman, she was a strong woman,” he said.
“She had eight children back at her house and yet she tied a rope around her waist.
“If she had not stayed there, the men would not have lived. It’s kind of mad.
“The world is full of Donald Trump stories and tragic stories. This is a really good story – we need more good stories.
Robbie Kelman, 60, is the great-greatgrandson of Jane Whyte, and has been involved in organising a series of events in her memory.
He recalls growing up visiting New Aberdour Beach and hearing his father crowing about Mrs Whyte’s heroics.
He said “I am so proud of her and I think she was a remarkable lady.
“In her time, women were mostly seen and not heard. But she was a very independent, bright lady who became a mother of nine children in the end.”
Mr Kelman will be performing a song he wrote about Mrs White, which has been released on itunes, in order to fundraise money for a permanent exhibition in her honour. He is writing a musical about the north east of Scotland that will feature Mrs Whyte’s story.
Mrs Whyte was bestowed a Board of Trade bronze medal for Saving Life At Sea, a RNLI Silver Medal For Gallantry in recognition of her bravery and £10, which she used to buy her croft,
Jacqueline Macdonald, 69, of Inverness is the great-greatgranddaughter of Mrs Whyte.
She and her sisters have been in possession of the RNLI medal that
Mrs Whyte received.
Mrs Whyte wore the medal as a brooch and passed it down to her granddaughter before she died.
Mrs Macdonald said she was delighted that the heroine was receiving the recognition she deserved.
“As a child, people did not believe [I was related to her],” said Mrs Macdonald.
“When I would tell my friends I had a relative like Grace Darling, they thought I was telling lies.
“Now a lot of people have been reaching out through Facebook and have been telling me what a wonderful relative I had!”
Valour may run in the family. It has emerged that Ms Whyte is related to VC hero George Findlater, a junior piper in the Gordon Highlanders who was shot in the ankles during an advance against opposing defences at the Battle of the Dargai Heights, part of the Indian frontier war from 1897-1898 called the Tirah Campaign.
Lionised by the British press, Mr Findlater lay prone and unable to walk, but while exposed to enemy fire he continued playing the pipes to encourage his battalion’s advance.
To date, the only testament to Mrs Whyte’s bravery has been a memorial plaque in New Aberdour Beach, close to the decaying walls of her former home.
However, today a memorial service will celebrate the woman described by the 19th century press corps as “Grace Darling of the North”.
Mr Pitt was keen dig to deeper into the story Jane Whyte’s story.
With the help of one of her descendants, they urged to local council put out a call for information and were overwhelmed by the response.
In the course of amassing records, it emerged that this month marked the 100th anniversary of Mrs Whyte’s death, sparking plans for a centenary memorial service today.
A permanent storyboard on New Aberdour beach to commemorate her bravery will be unveiled.
▪ The memorial ceremony will take place at 3pm at New Aberdour beach. A storyboard documenting Jane Whyte’s heroics will be unveiled by Kate Nicolson, daughter of Lady Saltoun, the chief of the Clan Fraser.
If she had not stayed there, the men would not have lived. She was brave woman and a strong one as well