Introduction / Barbara Allan / Westray Allans / Marion Allan and James Harcus / Elizabeth Harcus and Robert Burgess (Burgar) / William Burgar and Mary Stewart Groat

Pharay Heroes

Islands situated as Orkney is, in the midst of sometimes treacherous seas, are visited by shipwrecks from time to time. Over the years many Orcadians have been responsible for saving the lives of countless seamen. Most rescuers could rightfully be called heroes, but the efforts of five young men from Pharay in December 1908 were so extraordinary that they became known as the Pharay Heroes and received honours and recognition commensurate with their action.

The trawler "Hope" was fishing near Fersness Bay, Eday. A raging snow storm came up but the trawler appeared to be safely moored in the bay, sheltered by Pharay to the west. However, the Hope's main anchor chain was cut by another trawler, and at about 6 am on 29th December 1908 she was forced ashore on Pharay Holm by the rough seas of the storm. The captain of the Hope, Alexander Youngson and his crew managed to get ashore in the darkness of the early morning hour in spite of near 80 mile per hour winds and a lifeboat damaged on the rocks. Pharay Holm is a tiny, uninhabited island just to the north of Pharay, and separated from Pharay by half mile wide Lavey Sound; the rocky island did not provide much shelter for the men.

John Harcus of Doggerboat, Pharay was the one who first became aware of the shipwreck and the stranded men, about dawn or 9 am. Conferring with neighbors, they decided to attempt rescue using William Burgar's yawl, "a well-built boat, 13 feet of keel, named 'Mary' and a good sea boat." The yawl was manned by five men: Robert Reid of Holland, William Burgar of Cott, James Groat of Leaquoy, John Harcus of Doggerboat, and John Drever of Windywall. Five of the eight settlements of Pharay were represented.

A cable was attached to the yawl and connected to shore to help get the boat back to Pharay. According to Captain Youngson, he saw the yawl make two unsuccessful attempts at rescue, one about 10 am and one about 1 pm. Both times the sea was so stormy that the yawl could not reach the stranded men. Finally about 5 pm the yawl was able to reach the crew. It took two trips to transport all the stranded men back to Pharay. They had suffered badly from exposure - one who lost his senses was found walking into the sea but was rescued. They were divided among the Pharay crofts where they were well cared for. They stayed on Pharay for four days before the storm let up enough for the crew to get to Kirkwall.

One crewmember, James Ray, stayed with the Seatter family (John Seatter and his wife, Ann Drever) at Quoy. A baby born soon after to Mrs. Seatter was named James Ray Seatter. Later James Ray's wife had a baby girl who was named Annie after Mrs. Seatter.

The five Pharay rescuers became known as the Pharay Heroes. In September 1909 Dr. Andrew Carnegie honoured them at a town hall meeting in Kirkwall, and presented each man with a cheque for 10 pounds. They also received other gifts, including "a lump of gold in its raw and natural state" from "the distant colonies." The greatest honour, however, occurred on 2nd October 1909, when the men were presented with the Board of Trade medal for gallantry in saving life at sea by King Edward VII at Balmoral Castle. In addition to receiving the medal in a formal ceremony, each man also received a briar pipe and a tin of tobacco from the King. Throughout all the honours, the men remained humble and reserved. William Burgar spoke for all when he thanked Dr. Carnegie for honouring them, but said they performed the rescue "purely as a duty."