Introduction / The Island / Accidents and Wrecks

Hope PD 366
(Wrecked on Pharay Holm, 28th December 1908)

The wreck of the trawler “Hope” from Peterhead on the Pharay Holm on the night of Monday 28th December 1908 was probably one of the most memorable and heroic events in the history of Pharay. She had been operating in the North Sound with two other boats, the Strathmartin and Donside.

It had got dark early that afternoon with a severe snowstorm. The wind steadily increased through the night and the sea was lashed into foam that blew across the land. The trawlers were dragging their anchors and the Hope was drifting down on the other two. They managed to get steam up. Unfortunately, the anchor cable of the Hope got cut by the propeller of one of the other trawlers and she drifted at the mercy of the sea. In the darkness and a snowstorm, she was driven ashore at Welky Geo on the Pharay Holm. The crew managed to reach the shore of the Holm.

The alarm was raised from Pharay at first light. Low water had been about seven in the morning and by this time the flood tide had set in with Lavey Sound a tide race. It was decided to use William Burgar of Cott’s boat to attempt what was to become a dramatic rescue. The five men who were picked to man the boat were to become known as the “Pharay Heroes” and received various awards and gifts including the Board of Trade Silver Medal, which was presented to them by King Edward VIII at Balmoral.

The wreck was eventually broken up for scrap.