With WW2 only hours away, the Wick lifeboat, City of Edinburgh was called out shortly before midnight on Saturday 2 September 1939 to go to the aid of the Grimsby Trawler, Navarre, ashore on Skirza Head. The lifeboat had already been on service earlier that day to escort the Washington, another Grimsby trawler, back to Wick after she had grounded in dense fog just North east of Duncansby Head. There was a strong southerly wind blowing, with rough seas as the lifeboatmen were summoned. Coxswain More was unable to take his place at the helm of the lifeboat, as he had been taken ill after returning from the service earlier that day. The second Coxswain was away on Naval service and so the lifeboat was launched at 11.40pm, under the command of one of the local pilots, Mr W. Thain. Thick fog fog hampered the search for the stranded trawler but she was eventually found on the rocks at Skirza Head, in an extremely dangerous position, below very high cliffs. Two other Grimsby trawlers, the Beaumaris Castle and the Straphan were also standing by after an unsuccessful attempt to tow her off. As there was considerable danger of the Navarre breaking up as huge waves crashed over her, Skipper Trindall gave the order to abandon ship but the small boat was swept away and smashed to pieces on the rocks. In pitch darkness, thick fog and heavy seas and with great skill, Acting Coxswain Thain of the Wick lifeboat then ran alongside the trawler and took off nine men. Two others were saved by the local lifesaving company using a line fired ashore earlier to the trawler. The lifeboat finally returned to Wick at 5.40am on the Sunday morning.
The Navarre became a total wreck.
The Navarre was built in 1918 by Bow, McLachlan & Co. Ltd, Paisley. She was 276 gross registered tons, (107 tons net), 38.3m long by 7.1m wide and had a draught of 3.9m. She was ex-Cesar De Paepe and ex-John Davis. She was owned at time of loss by Rhondda Fishing Co. Ltd. She had one boiler, a triple expansion engine of 87 Net HP and a single shaft, all of which were supplied by Fraser & Chalmers, Blyth.
The photograph shows the Navarre when she was working for the Admiralty and called the HMS John Davis.
Possible position 58 35 83N, 03 02 50W.
The Navarre became a total wreck.
The Navarre was built in 1918 by Bow, McLachlan & Co. Ltd, Paisley. She was 276 gross registered tons, (107 tons net), 38.3m long by 7.1m wide and had a draught of 3.9m. She was ex-Cesar De Paepe and ex-John Davis. She was owned at time of loss by Rhondda Fishing Co. Ltd. She had one boiler, a triple expansion engine of 87 Net HP and a single shaft, all of which were supplied by Fraser & Chalmers, Blyth.
The photograph shows the Navarre when she was working for the Admiralty and called the HMS John Davis.
Possible position 58 35 83N, 03 02 50W.