Wrecks and Rescues

Of shipwrecks, dramatic sea rescues and loss of life, there have been many over the years on the coastal stretch of the parish of Banchory-Devenick. Many of these losses occurred in respect to the white fishing community that stayed and worked from Findon, Portlethen and Downies – a combination of stormy weather and treacherous coastline claiming local fishers on a regular basis and these occurrences were so common that they often didn’t merit more than a line or two in the local press.  

The rocky coast not only claimed the lives of some of the local white fishing population but acted as a watery grave for those seamen of a more transient nature, those that were “just passing through” and were caught out by tide, weather and the unknown and uncharted rocks of the area. There have been a number of large ships lost in this vicinity as well as those small boats that fished from the local villages. 

I’ve listed many of the tragedies, great escapes and miraculous rescues here. Many of these incidents occurred in a bygone age which makes it challenging to give an accurate account of the stories behind them. I should say now that although this list is quite comprehensive it is by no means exhaustive and there will be a number of incidents and wreckages that I’ve been unable to uncover.