Articles

9th February 2013 - Fraserburgh RNLI Remember 1953 Lifeboat Tragedy

Crew members and guests today commemorated the tragic loss of the Fraserburgh Lifeboat 60 years ago, by dropping wreaths in Faserburgh Bay.

From FRASERBURGH THROUGH THE YEARS - 9th February 1953 – The Fraserburgh lifeboat ‘John and Charles Kennedy’ while escorting fishing boats into the harbour capsized and was lost.  Six of the seven-man crew were lost; coxswain Andrew Ritchie, mechanic George Duthie, bowman Charles Tait, assistant mechanic James Noble, and crew members John Crawford and John Buchan.  Second coxswain Charles Tait junior, son of the bowman was the only survivor.  Between 1937 and 1953 this lifeboat was launched 99 times and saved 199 lives, the most ever recorded for any lifeboat since the first one in 1806.

Standing at the stern of the lifeboat is our Chairman Stan Bruce's cousin John Buchan who lost his father in the tragedy.  His mother Frances and brother Lawrence Buchan were also onboard.  Frances is the last remaining widow of those lost.