The deaths of two volunteer crew with the RNLI have been recalled by one of today’s volunteer coxswains ahead of Remembrance Day.
Davie Orr, one of six coxswains with Aberdeen RNLI, has taken part in a special audio recording to mark incredible stories of courage from the Second World War.
He has studied the service return for a grim moment in the charity’s history when two crew died on 26 January 1942 in an incident at Newburgh, north of Aberdeen.
Newburgh’s lifeboat, the John Ryburn, was returning from a call out when the boat capsized. The lifeboat was only 300 yards from the safety of shore when the accident occurred.
Seven crew were washed onto the beach but two of them, James Walker and George Whyte, were unconscious and could not be revived.
Although the RNLI station closed in 1965 the boathouse remains, a poignant memory of a history that saw the saving of 155 lives since 1877 at Newburgh – but the loss of two of their own.
Mr Orr, who is also a coastal lifeboat trainer with the RNLI, said: ‘Reading the service return was a vivid reminder of the dangers that can occur at sea, not just in 1942 with the tragic loss of two volunteers in Aberdeenshire, but also the dangers that are faced even now when the charity launches its lifeboats around the UK and Ireland.
‘The RNLI played a big part in the Second World War in saving lives at sea, but, on this occasion, there was the heartrending loss of two of our own.
‘We will never forget those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in rescuing those in distress at sea.’
The recording is in a podcast narrated by award-winning historian Dan Jones and highlights incredible RNLI stories of courage from the Second World War.
Hayley Whiting, Heritage Archive and Research Manager at the RNLI is also featured in the podcast and she said: ‘We’re delighted to have created this Stories of Courage podcast, featuring some truly remarkable RNLI stories from the Second World War to mark Remembrance Day.
‘When war broke out in 1939, the RNLI didn’t change, it carried on its mission to save lives which was often under extreme danger and this podcast pulls together a snapshot of some of those stories.
‘Some of the stories featured in this podcast are from the RNLI archive and some are new, untold stories that we have gathered thanks to a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant that we were awarded last year.’
The podcast was created thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to research and share stories from the Second World War. The grant was made possible by the National Lottery players.
Picture: Davie Orr, volunteer coxswain at Aberdeen Lifeboat Station. Credit Nigel Millard
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Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639,
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Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929,
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Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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