On the 6th December 1959, the MFV George Robb got into difficulties in a ferocious storm running aground just north of the Duncansby Stacks.
The vessel was originally designed and built as a minesweeper and saw Service during WW2. Originally powered by a three-cylinder, triple expansion engine (Steam engine). The vessel was later converted to a diesel engine. It has a single shaft and propellor.
Having undergone the conversion of the engine, the now, the fishing vessel went to sea, on its second fishing trip from Aberdeen, heading North to the fishing ground when the vessel ran into a storm.
The cause of the shipwreck is not clear, whether it was engine troubles, the sheer force of the storm, or navigational errors. No one really knows as sadly all crew members perished.
On that day local coast guards rushed to the location to give assistance, where possible. Sadly one of the Coast guards died
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Further reading:-
In December 1959 one of the worst storms in living memory brought disaster to shipping and caused great loss of life around Scotland. The full fury of the gale broke on Sunday 6 December abating on Thursday 10 December. For four days mountainous seas lashed the coast and ships on voyage were at the mercy of the storm. On the Caithness coast, two vessels were wrecked and 13 lives were lost.
Around midnight on Sunday (6 December) the Aberdeen trawler, George Robb, bound for the Faroese fishing grounds, was swept ashore near Duncansby Head and her crew of twelve perished. A Wick coastguard who had gone out with the L.S.A. (Life Saving Apparatus) to Duncansby collapsed and died on his way to the wreck.
The Leith cargo steamer, the Servus, was lost at Dunbeath on 7 December despite every effort to save her. She had been held in tow by another ship for some time, but in the end the master and crew of seven had to be taken off by the Cromarty lifeboat, and the derelict steamer was driven to her doom below Dunbeath Castle.
The people of Wick learned of the distress call from the George Robb when they heard the rockets sent off by the coastguards to call out the local Lifesaving Company. The Scarfskerry Company were also summoned. Meanwhile Longhope lifeboat had been launched and was heading towards the scene in heavy seas with the gale at its height, the Wick lifeboat being unable to leave harbour because of the gale and the immense breakers at the harbour entrance.
When the coastguards and L.S.A. Companies, under the command of Commander John L. Woolcombe, Coastguard Inspector for the Northern District, arrived at Duncansby Head Lighthouse, they learned that the trawler had already been located by some local persons. Among those who heard the George Robb's S.O.S. on their radio sets was Mr William Ham, farmer. Along with his wife Betty, (a trained nurse), he set off at once in his car from their home in Mey for John O'Groats and to the home of Mrs Ham's father, Mr John Green, New Houses. Accompanied by Mr Green, his son, John and daughter, Nina, and a neighbour, Mr Alexander Sinclair, contractor, they set off carrying torches, towards the cliffs to the south of Duncansby Head.
After proceeding more than a mile over the moor in the worst weather they had ever experienced, the party reached the cliff top and heard a siren sounding from the beach below. Mr Green said afterwards that he thought someone still aboard the trawler had seen their torches and sounded the ship's siren. "The siren was being sounded at five minute interval," he said, "but after it went four or five times it suddenly became silent."
With storm driven spray dashing over the cliff top it was difficult to see anything. "We could make out the faint outline of the hull," he said. "We got a glimpse of her between waves. The sea was crashing over her. We thought we saw a light in the wheelhouse but otherwise there was no sign of life." As there was nothing they could do, the party made for Duncansby Head Lighthouse and there met the Coastguards and Lifesaving Companies, and returned with them to the scene of the wreck.
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