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Broch Photo House, Fraserburgh (2026)

28/08/2026

Alan Paterson dived from the top of the Golden Horn at Fraserburgh Harbour on this day in 1949, 28th August.

It was a 75 foot dive with 15ft clearance and was the highlight of a diving display by the Fraserburgh Amateur Swimming Club on the 28th August 1949

“Alan Paterson appeared at the top and vaulted lightly over the rail clad in a white costume.
A few screams were recorded as he did this.
While he loosened his muscles, our excellent compere, Sid Craig, informed the crowd of the details. This was a real attempt to break Fraserburgh’s high diving record. The height—75 feet, with a width of 15 feet necessary to clear the parapet and pier. Mr Craig concluded and then-silence.

His perfectly executed dive took Alan less than two seconds, be entered the water cleanly at an average velocity of nearly 45 miles per hour.

When he broke the surface after the dive there was a very audible sigh of relief, then a mighty thunder of applause.
Alan received congratulations on every side as he climbed the ladder to the pier.“

Photo by George Dey

27/08/2026

SUNRISE AND MIST AT FRASERBURGH 27TH AUGUST 2026

26/08/2026

SUNRISE AT FRASERBURGH 26TH AUGUST 2026

18/08/2026

No one knew the name of the shy hero who rescued a 6 year old boy from drowning at Fraserburgh Harbour until 15 year old James Elrick turned up for work on Monday morning dressed in his best Sunday suit.
There had been a commotion on Saturday evening when six year old George Powe had been playing at fishing and had fallen into the harbour. No one on the quayside could swim and the outlook looked really bleak as George disappeared from view sinking under the water until a young man appeared from nowhere and dived into the water. He too disappeared from sight for a few anxious moments and the crowd of people who had quickly gathered at the side held their breath, fearing the worst. There was wild cheering when the youth eventually surfaced with young George held firmly in his grip and he dragged him to the side of a nearby drifter where they were both lifted out.
While everyone was making sure that young George was okay, his rescuer slipped away quietly, was without anyone noticing.
When the local Fraserburgh Herald reporter arrived at the harbour and began asking questions no one could tell him the name of the young hero who had just saved a life.
He had just disappeared.
The mystery wasn't cleared up until Monday morning when 15 year-old James Elrick turned up for his work as a messenger at the office at Fraserburgh Harbour in his best Sunday suit.
“What’s going on here, why are you wearing your Sunday suit today, James?" inquired his boss Mr King, the harbour superintendent.
“My other suit’s wet, sir" James replied.
“And how did it get wet?” asked his employer. Mr King didn’t want the boy to get his best Sunday suit marked with oil when on duty at the patent slipway.
"I took a little boy out of the harbour on Saturday evening," James quietly mentioned.
Mr King, was of course delighted to hear this and proud to find that his message boy was indeed the young unidentified hero who everyone was speaking about and who had acted with such bravery just two days before.
The mystery which had been puzzling Brochers over the weekend had been solved.
Mr King got in touch with the Fraserburgh Herald and their reporter arrived quickly to interview James.
He actually found James a difficult subject to interview because he was so quiet but eventually with a little help he got him to tell the story in his own words.
"I was standing at the door of the office talking to a chum about six o'clock on Saturday evening," said James, " when he cried “I heard a splash- that's somebody fallen into the harbour!”
"There was a commotion a short distance from us at the Middle Jetty in front of the Whitehall Hotel, and we ran along there. I could see a head bobbing up and down in the water near the bow of the herring drifter “Acquisition”.
“A man who had been putting coal on board his ship was trying to help. He was hanging on by the gunwale with his hands, and he lowered himself over the side and held out his boot near the surface of the water in the hope that the child- a boy six years of age who had fallen in the water while sitting on the edge of the pier playing at fishing with a bit of string in his hand— might be able to catch bold of it.
“When the man saw that this wasn’t working, he told the people on the pier to run for someone who could swim. As I could swim myself, I cast off my jacket and jumped into the water, which was very foul and oily in that corner of the dock.
"I dived under the boy and brought him to the surface, and managed to hold him above water until the coal man threw me a rope from the boat.
I grasped it with one hand the other being around the wee boy who looked limp and lifeless.
"In this position we were hauled up on to the deck of the drifter. By this time I was quite exhausted with the strain upon me, and the dirty water I had swallowed made me feel squeamish.
"When I got ashore somebody offered me a cigarette, and although I am a member of the Boys' Brigade and do not smoke I was glad of it to put the nasty taste out of my mouth. I was glad to get away up the pier and home to bed, and that was why I left without anybody knowing who I was."
James Elrick didn't know the name of the child he had at such great personal risk saved from a watery grave, and he was sent off to make enquiries.
While he was absent one of his companions said to the reporter “You should ask him about the help he gave a cyclist who was hurt last week.”
When James returned he informed the reporter that the boy he rescued was George Powe, son of Archie Pawe, ship painter, 12 Castle Lane.
Miss Gladwell, of the People's Mission, who happened to be in the vicinity when he was brought ashore, took charge of him and took him home.
“Great work, James” said the reporter ”And now, James, what’s this about you helping at the scene of a cycle accident?"
James blushed
“I don't know his name either” he said in an apologetic tone. “I was out in
Strichen Road one evening, and I saw a boy about 16 years of age doing tricks on his bicycle-putting his legs on the handle-bars and that sort of thing.
"While doing this he lost his balance and fell to the ground and lay there, I went up and examined him, and found that a bone in his arm was broken. I picked up two pieces of wood for splints, and with my handkerchief bound up the injured limb. I told him he should go to a doctor at once. and he went off, and I have not seen him since."
“And how were you able to ascertain that it was a broken arm James?”
"Oh, we get that in the ambulance class in the Boys' Brigade.
“That's how I knew to give him first aid treatment. We also have a swimming club in connection with the 3rd Company - South U.F Church — and I learned to swim about four years ago, and I enjoy the pastime very much, Sometimes I swim across the Faithlie Harbour and back. I can do that quite easily”
The next two Fraserburgh Heralds carried reports on the rescue and of James’s bravery and modesty.
A few weeks later in Aberdeen Boys' Brigade officers from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland, and from South Africa, attended the conference of the Boys' Brigade Council over the week-end of the 15 and 16th of September 1928.
On Sunday evening in the Music Hall, Corporal James Elrick, 3rd Fraserburgh Company, was presented with the B.B. Cross for Heroism.
Colonel Roxburgh said he could not remember any previous occasion when they were able to present the BB Cross for heroism during a Council conference. It would be memorable as one of the remarkable things in connection with what had been such a remarkable meeting.
He then told the story to a packed and hushed audience of how the BB Cross was being awarded to Corporal Elrick “for rescuing a child from drowning, with great risk to himself, in Fraserburgh harbour” the Colonel said ”The child had disappeared, and Corporal Elrick had to dive into deep and muddy water and bring him to the surface between the bows of two steam drifters. “
Amid a scene of great enthusiasm and loud cheering, Colonel Roxburgh then presented the BB Cross to Corporal Elrick who accepted the award with a shy smile, a little embarrassed at the thunderous applause he was receiving from the appreciative audience.
He so deserved it
Copyright Billy Watson 2026

17/08/2026

In 1937, 85 year old Major Gordon, a wonderful old man with a remarkable memory turned back the Pages of Local History, and boy, could he tell some stories!
William Gordon was born in Fraserburgh on the 17th August 1852 and could hold an audience for hours on end with his tales of the Broch in bygone times.
In October 1937 he looked back at all the changes in the Broch he had witnessed since the middle of the nineteeth century and shared some of the recollections of a long, long lifetime.

“I get nothing else but “Major" Gordon" he began. “Most people, I believe, don’t even know my right name. I was born on the 17th of August in 1852 in a house which occupied the site of Boots the chemists’ present shop.
“This town used to be surrounded by toll bars - you had to pay to get in or get out.
One of these toll bars was at the bowling greens on the South road ; another was at Smiddyhill on the Strichen turnpike ; and a third was at Townend at the top of High Street, then called Back Street, as it was really the last street in that direction.
”The Kethock burn used to run clear in those days and the tide came up very near where the railway is. There were no fences down that way —nothing but beach. Nearer the town were the “boilyards," where the whalers boiled their oil where the railway is there was mineral well.
There is a small house there now but no water comes from this well. Adjoining were a number of saw-pits.
Greenland Whalers
The Greenland whalers kept their oil-tanks opposite the Warld's End.
There were six of these ships here at that time—the Melinka, Harvey, Enterprise, Sovereign, Vulcan, and the Lord (or Lady) Saltoun. They always went off to Greenland about the end of March or beginning of April.
A large number of men were required to man these whalers.
Eight men were needed for each small boat used for chasing the whales.
An uncle of mine was carpenter aboard the Enterprise when she was wrecked.
“There were lots of sailing ships built in the Broch at that time. They were splendid vessels and were the pride of the East Coast. One very fast ship was the Orion. She did not belong here but they performed rather a feat when they took every plank out of her and put a new one of the same shape in its place.
The Old Breakwater
I can just remember when my aunt took me down to see them building some parts of the old Balaclava Breakwater. It was very narrow, had very low parapet at the back, and did not extend nearly far the present one.
“The braes that led from the Shore to Broad Street used to be much steeper than they are now. The formation of Broad Street has not changed much but the houses have.
They used be very small and all the gables pointed to the roadway.
“There were great many small curing yards in Fraserburgh and every one possessed a smokehouse. Boats were engaged at the herring fishing from 18th July to I8th September and at the other end there was always a lot of spents which they made into red herrings.
Large quantities were exported to Spain.
“School Street was about the boundary of the town and it seemed long way to the Windmill, which was driven by four huge sails. These arms were blown off in a storm and they used a portable engine afterwards to supply power to the saw-mill.
Died During Cholera
“Woodman's School, which I attended when I was seven years old, stood in Bellslea Park.
My father died during the year of the cholera, 1866.
He was a ship’s carpenter.
“Sanitary conditions, you will understand, were once very primitive in the Broch. The curing yards were so small that women and coopers worked in the streets.
The smell of pickle lying rotting underfoot was unbearable.
“Bigger yards came into existence. There used be a deep hole through the “Trochy” but a Mr Bisset filled it up and made a yard of it.
The first bellman I remember was James Porter. Robbie Linkie was another but he used to have great quarrels with a rival for the post who was also a bit of a character. They used to nearly come blows over it. One q***r chap was nicknamed Robbie “Steelie.” He could not walk but sat on a stool and moved along the street on this.
"The gaol used to be right outside the town. It was real gaol with a cell and was used for those who had committed small offences. Coopers and ships’ carpenters were apt to start fighting on Saturday nights with villagers from Broadsea.
We had only two policemen, Lachie MacPhail and Magnus Mowat, and the loons played lot of tricks on them.
"The Artillery Volunteers started in 1868. The first time they appeared I went to see them with my mother. The battery was just by the end of Maconochie’s works, which did not exist then of course.
We were afraid to approach too near when they started firing.
They afterwards shifted the guns to the Links
“The same year we went to Rosehearty, where I remained for twelve years. I saw the wreck the Veteran in 1874 and, in the year after I saw the laying of the foundation stone of the new breakwater.
Barefooted Boys
When we were boys we went barefooted from May to September. Shoes and stockings were almost unknown during the summer. I remember watching a procession in Broad Street, although I can't remember what it was all about.
A man, who seemed be some kind of officer, was mounted on a horse. The horse tramped on a boy’s bare foot, and I can still see the blood which scared me very much at the time.
“A procession was held at the time of the fall of Sebastopol. These were the kind of amusements In which we delighted. Occasionally we rejoiced in the visit of travelling company but on the whole we had to provide our own enjoyment
“The first steam boat I saw in Fraserburgh was the Orcadian, which came across from the Orkneys with some cattle, (She was about the size of a drifter but was higher out of the water. The first steamer actually belonging to Fraserburgh was the Chieftain's Bride and the next was the Strathbeg, a much bigger boat I think the latter was wracked.
I spent thirty years in the Artillery and some time in company of the National Reserve. Near the end of the war I was six months in the volunteer force.
Refused Promotion
“I joined the Artillery in 1874 as a gunner. The battery was commanded by Captain Wemyss Park. He told me to put up a corporal's stripe but I said that I did not want it. His reply was that if I did not do as I was told they would have no use for me, so I was promoted whether I liked it or not “
They asked the men to select a sergeant themselves. I was not keen on letting my name go forward as I considered there were better man than me
However I was duly raised to that rank and later became Company Major.
I was in the band for twenty-six years.
“As a battery were were very efficient and never returned from Wapinshaw at Aberdeen without bringing home a prize.
When the 1897 Jubilee Celebrations were on Corporal Fyvie was first for his work with a 64 pounder gun, and I had first prize for 32 pounder.
“I was one of the first to presented with Queen Victoria’s Long Service Medal.
Daring the war one of my sons served in mine sweepers and another was in the Field Artillery in Mesopotamia. There used to be much difficulty in obtaining water in Fraserburgh. A number of fountains were scattered through the town, but they were not nearly enough.
At Winchester's Corner, which was apposite Boots, I have seen twenty or thirty women waiting their turn for a pail of water. One fountain was situated in Hanover Street and another at the back of the private Bowling Club.
“I used to watch them making ropes the old “roperee" on the links.
Everything was done by hand and I used to think very fascinating.
A sawmill belonging to a Mr Gray stood on the links.
One night it was burned down and I could see the blaze from Rosehearty. They built another but it was also burned down some years later.
There were no amusements on the links at that date.
Cattle grazed all around. Golf really started in Rosehearty. I think it was introduced there by Lord Pitsligo. There were four holes made of stone
At New Year all the fishermen went out to play but in the summer they were too busy.
“About 1869 William and Francis Morrow, William Taylor, William and Peter Noble, along with some others, introduced golf into Fraserburgh. “They had no elaborate set of clubs but just used one to play with. They often played for drinks and a public house nearby was well patronised.
“It was rather dangerous times. I was once playing when a ball hit on the chest and bowled me right over. We played shinty at Rosehearty with short sticks that reached to about our knees. When I came back to the Broch I found that the sticks used here were much longer and the players took both hands to them.
The game was locally known “scuddy.”
Early Cricketers
“An Artillery sergeant raised a cricket club which became one of the finest in the north, beating Aberdeen and many other teams round about. James Milne, solicitor, Wattie Flett, James Murray, saddler, and Mr McKay, joiner, were among the old cricketers.
“When the railway came in 1865 I saw the first engines arrive, coupled together. They ran backward and forwards, testing bridges and rails. The directors of the company arrived later in some carriages and held a banquet in the Town Hall.
“The Artillerymen lined up on both sides of the line and when the train arrived they fired a salute. In the evening they fired a salute with the heavy guns.
Adventure at Sea
“In my young days the herring boats did not go out of sight of land. I went to sea, as a boy, with my father’s uncle. A thick fog came down as we steered for home.
“I was sitting beside my relative, who was steering, when I happened to look and remarked, "Look, what a black cloud! He gave a great shout of "Turn out, there! We’ll be into the Pennan rocks! "
“What I imagined was a cloud was the cliffs towering above us.
Had we been proceeding at any speed we would have been lost.
My remark saved the men and the boat too. We were not long in putting about.”

16/08/2026

Seven Fishermen were saved at Fraserburgh Beach by James Brown’s Bravery on the 16th of August 1899.

James Brown, an ex Gordon Highlander, from New Pitsligo saved seven men from drowning at Fraserburgh Beach on a horrendous night on the 16th of August 1899.

Three hundred boats of the Fraserburgh herring fishing fleet had been caught in a violent hurricane on the night of Thursday 16th of August 1899, and the town was soon gripped by a commotion of shock and worry

The quays of the harbour and sands bordering the bay were soon filled and crowded with fishermen’s wives, families and friends who all had loved ones out in the gale and were extremely anxious for their safety and hoping they would see them home safely that night.

Distress flare lights were seen in the bay about eleven o’clock, and the lifeboat and the steam tug “Promise” went out to render assistance.

There were two boats who were in real trouble.

The first was the 73 ton schooner the “Pioneer”, of Portsoy, and the second was the fishing boat “Diadem”, of Cullen, which had anchored in the bay.

Both vessels had dragged their anchors, and were driven onto the beach, and stuck there about 50 yards from the shore with huge breakers washing over them.

The lifeboat went to the aid of the "Pioneer" and was successful in rescuing all of the 5 man crew of the “Pioneer” along with the wife of the Captain, Mrs Gair.

But while the oar driven lifeboat was tending to the first boat, and then taking the survivors back to the safety of the harbour, they were filled to capacity, and therefore unable to go immediately to the aid of the second boat.

That unfortunately would have to wait, when there was no time to wait.

It was the brave deed and determination to succeed of James Brown, from New Pitsligo an ex-Gordon Highlander, which saved the crew of the second boat , the “Diadem”.

Not one of the seven man crew of the “Diadem” could swim, and for them to have leapt into the surf without holding on to any ropes from the shore would have meant certain death among the huge breaking waves.

James Brown, a 35 year old New Pitsligo labourer ran from the crowd with a rope around his waist and plunged into the sea, and with great courage battled through the crashing waves and bravely swam out to the “Diadem”.

There were huge cheers from the anxious crowds waiting on the beach when they saw James reach the boat and being hauled aboard by the grateful hands of the desperate crew.

Joy turned to despair though when, incredibly, the rope broke and all contact with the beach was lost and for a moment it seemed that all hope was lost as well.

James though, never one to give up, dived from the boat once more into the raging sea and swam to the shore and there he picked up another stronger rope. He then about turned, and facing the raging sea once more he swam out to the “Diadem” a second time.

This time the rope held, and one by one the crew of the “Diadem” were hauled and dragged through the surf in a horrific gale by many willing hands on the shore some of who were knee deep and some waist deep at the water’s edge.

Exhausted and frozen but safe at last the seven fishermen all made it to the shore alive and were tended to right away.

Seven fishermen. Seven lives saved and all thanks to the bravery of one man.

James was hailed as a hero that night among everyone who had witnessed his bravery and the courageous deed was spoken about for years.

The story of how he had saved the lives of the seven fishermen made the newspapers all over the British Isles and beyond.

The RNLI recognized his bravery at a meeting several weeks after the event.

The Lifeboat magazine of the 1st of February 1900 noted on page 551
“Voted the thanks of the Institution, inscribed on vellum and framed, together with the sum of £3 to Mr James Brown, formerly one of the Gordon Highlanders and present at the battle of Dargai, in acknowledgment of his highly meritorious services, rendered at considerable risk of life, on the occasion of the stranding of the fishing-boat Diadem, of Cullen, in a N.W. gale and a rough sea, near Fraserburgh, between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, on the 16th August.

James Brown, who had neither lifebelt nor line, went through the surf and brought a rope ashore from the vessel; this rope, however, parted and he went out a second time and brought ashore another, by means of which the vessel's crew of seven men were rescued.
The Board of Trade had also awarded him a bronze medal in recognition of his services on this occasion.”

James Brown’s brave action in going out and saving 7 people is another great example of a local hero whose story has almost been forgotten about but remains an inspirational tale to all who read it.

It was a fantastic thing to do and his descendants can feel very proud of him.

Copyright Billy Watson 2026

The photo of James Brown in his later years was supplied by his great granddaughter Sarah Watt. Thanks Sarah.

16/08/2026

William Killoh, a brilliant young student was drowned in a tragic accident in Fraserburgh Bay a hundred years ago today on the 16th of August 1926.

The Fraserburgh Herald told the story a few day after the tragedy

BRILLIANT STUDENT DROWNED.
TRAGIC BATHING FATALITY AT FRASERBURGH BEACH.

Mr Wm. J. F. Killoh, who was drowned while bathing at Fraserburgh Beach on Monday evening last, was a young man of high promise, who was loved by all his friends and esteemed throughout the community.

He won many honours at Fraserburgh Academy, and finished his career there as Dux in Mathematics and Science, being awarded the Dr John Clark Memorial Prize.

On passing to Aberdeen’ University as an arts student he took an excellent place in all his classes—he was in his third year—and the close of last session was first (equal) in Mathematics, gaining a scholarship cf £25, per annum.

During the college vacation, he could not afford to remain idle, and was employed in the office of the Scottish Drifter Insurance Company.

It is pathetic to think that, in connection with the tragedy that deprived the gifted young man of 21 years of his life, he had bathed only on two of the occasions during the whole summer, and that on the evening in question he probably went because his people were away for the day and he was feeling lonely. Taking his little brother, a boy of nine years with him, he called upon a friend, Mr Charles Clark, music teacher, who agreed to accompany Wm to the beach.

They went to the South end of the Reclaimed Ground, where rocks project from the water here and there, and Mr Clark stood on the shore while the two Killohs bathed.

The little boy paddled about at the edge of the water, and William swam about in a somewhat choppy sea. He was not a strong swimmer, and perhaps he tried more than he had stamina for in going to a rock 40 yards distant from the shore.

Cry for Help.

It was while he was returning from this rock, and halfway back that he got into difficulties.
What happened can only be guessed at; probably he felt himself in the grip a nasty undercurrent that runs at that spot. At all events, he called out to his friend : "Oh ! Charles,” and after swimming a few strokes more suddenly disappeared beneath the surface and did not rise again.

Alarmed by the disappearance of Mr Killoh, his brother went ashore and he and Mr Clark ran off in search of assistance. The distracted little fellow raced along the reclaimed ground, and meeting nobody on the way to the South Breakwater, he spied a lifebuoy hanging on a post there, and made a frantic and futile effort to remove it. He then scampered in the direction of the Coastguard Station where Mr Clark had preceded him.

Mr Baker, the station officer, with a few of his men, and Mr Miller, fishery officer made all haste in reach the spot. They searched in the water for a considerable, time, but failed to find any trace of the body.

Meantime, the news of the calamity had spread in the town, and Mr David Mailer, the beach rescue, who comes off duty at six o’clock, on being informed, rushed to the reclaimed ground, and entered the water.

This was half an hour after the accident, and of course, there was no hope of Mr Killoh being alive.

The Rescue eventually came upon the body wedged between two rocks in five feet of water, and brought it ashore. It was taken to the Beach Pavilion, and efforts made to restore life, but without avail.

The body was afterwards conveyed to the home of the deceased at 38 Braebeads.

Mr Killoh’s father, a slater by trade, is at Pittsburgh, U.S.A., where he has been employed during the past few years, Mts Killoh had been spending the day in Aberdeen with a relative, Mr Sperring, home on holiday from Canada, and arrived home by motor bus 2 hours after the tragedy. The sad news was broken to her by Rev. Thos. Johnstone, minister of the Congregational Church, and she could not at first realise the awful truth.

Omens of the Tragedy.
A “Herald" representative had a conversation with Miss Jessie Killoh, a sister of the deceased, who informed him that the family had for some time dreaded that something bad was going to happen to them. “We all recollected,” she said, “that on the night that Willie returned from the University at the end of June, a picture fell from the wall on to the floor without any apparent cause. The cord was not broken, neither was the hook on which the picture hung displaced.

”On Sunday night—the night before my brother was drowned,” she continued, “my mother thought she heard her son give two piercing screams. She sat up in bed and listened, but all was silence, and she concluded that she had been in a nightmare.”

The sister also related a strange coincidence which happened about a month ago.

"My mother,” she said, "was on the links one evening and she went to see a fortune teller there. This woman told her that a dark fellow, 21 years of age, would have an accident, and counselled her to beware. Shortly after this the young student and a friend went for a cycle run and they laid their machines on the side of the road, while they went into the Rosehearty Tennis Courts to watch the play. When they returned for their cycles they found that a motor omnibus had passed over them, smashing them to bits. "

When Willie returned home with the wreckage his mother recalled the prediction of the fortune teller, and expressed pleasure that no worse an accident had been in store.

Little did poor Mrs Killoh imagine then that in a few weeks, her brilliant son, the apple of her eye, would meet his end in such an unexpected and tragic fashion.

Since the terrible occurrence Mrs Killoh has been confined to bed, and receiving medical attention.

Students as Pall-Bearers.
The funeral took place to Kirkton Cemetery on Thursday afternoon. There was a large concourse of mourners, including Mr Lees, the rector, and teaching staff at the Academy, and local students at King’s College carried the coffin from the house to the hearse, and also to the grave. The service was conducted by Rev. Thomas Johnstone, Congregational Church.

Among many beautiful floral tributes was one from the students one from the Public Tennis Club, and one from the Fraserburgh Cricket Club.

Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties' Advertiser - Tuesday 24 August 1926

15/08/2026

A Broadsea fisherman saved a grounded boat from becoming a wreck on the 15th of August 1903.

It was a dark and foul night on the 15th of August 1903 with a dense fog and nasty sea running on the Broadsea Shore. Not at all like the photo above taken on a clear night a couple of days ago.

Alex Crawford (“Siddy”) sensed something was going to happen, maybe that’s why he couldn’t sleep in his house in Broadsea.

The Aberdeen trawler A279 “Vine”, skippered by James Buthlay, while on its way from the fishing grounds to Aberdeen with a shot of fish, went ashore at low tide on the rocks at Broadsea Point, Fraserburgh on the morning of the 15th of August 1903 at about 2.30.

The Vine blew its siren for assistance and “Siddy” Crawford, already wide awake wasted no time in jumping out of bed, he didn’t even take the time to put his clothes on, and in the pitch darkness ran down to the shore in his nightwear. He didn’t need for it to be lit. It was a route he could’ve have done blindfolded, his feet striking the same familiar stones and rocks that they had thousands of times previously, for years and years.

From the dim lights in the distance he made out that a trawler stuck was on the rocks, and he knew exactly where it was and what had to be done to avoid disaster.

Once on the dark stony shore he untied the small boat that he kept there and pushed it off into the water through and up and over the rushing breakers and into the teeth of the gale.

It was pitch black but “Siddy” knew every rock and every mark from his long experience and expertly negotiated every channel and gap in the rocks and made his way to the trapped boat.

“Siddy” was almost swamped by the time reached the stranded vessel, and crew of the “Vine” were amazed see his almost n**e figure scrambling up the side of their boat.

“Siddy” told the skipper in command of the Vine, “If you listen to me and do what I tell you I’ll get you out of this.”

The skipper had no alternative but to agree and hand over command. The boat was trapped in a maze of rocks and this soaking wet stranger who had just appeared out of nowhere had already gone a long way to justify his own confidence in being able to guide the Vine to safety by getting on board in the first place.
The fact that “Siddy” Crawford had managed to reach the boat from the shore in impossible conditions was both incredible and very impressive.

The skipper of the Vine gave “Siddy” the go ahead to take command and get his boat to safety.

The tide was coming in, and “Siddy” Crawford applied his intimate knowledge of the locality, and with the strenuous efforts of the crew, succeeded in getting her off within an hour of his having stepped on deck.

He brought the Vine round to Fraserburgh harbour and berthed in the North harbour where she was found to badly leaking and a large portion of the keel has been torn. The vessel which belonged to the crew was fully insured.

“Siddy” Crawford’s kind and brave gesture in guiding the Vine and her crew to safety was a great example of a fishermen using his wealth of local knowledge, years of experience and huge amount of expertise to help others in need when they they found themselves in a difficult position.

Well done to the old Broadsea fisherman.

Copyright Billy Watson 2026

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