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Burghead tribute to local crew of Rosebud II 50 years after disaster


By Lorna Thompson

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SCORES of people gathered in Burghead this week to remember seven of its sons who perished at sea 50 years ago.

A short and poignant service was held on the pier on Monday to mark one of Burghead's darkest days – December 14, 1970 – when the fishing vessel, Rosebud II, ran aground in stormy seas at the treacherous Torran Rocks, off Mull, with all hands lost.

It was a heavy loss for Burghead to bear – and lives on still in the village's collective consciousness.

The men were skipper Alexander Davidson (28), Brian Peterkin (23), David Robertson (19), John Crawford (35), Robert McKenzie (23), and brothers Sandy McKenzie (32) and Billy McKenzie (30).

The sinking triggered one of the biggest air and sea rescue operations ever mounted in the Hebrides.

During the emotional memorial dedication led by local funeral director Dan Ralph, relatives, friends and villagers were joined by members of crews who were involved in the search.

A relative of one of the seafarers, former Burghead man Hamish Whyte, organised the memorial. Mr Whyte, a cousin of Brian Peterkin, now lives in Dumbarton.

A marble open book, inscribed with the names of the crewmen, an image of the Rosebud II and an anchor, has been positioned at the head of the harbour.

A marble open book has been placed at the harbour in Burghead in memory of the seven crewmen who died in the Rosebud II disaster 50 years ago. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
A marble open book has been placed at the harbour in Burghead in memory of the seven crewmen who died in the Rosebud II disaster 50 years ago. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Mr Ralph said during the service that loss was a regrettable feature of life in a fishing community.

He said: "Within our memory we've lost the Brothers (2006), the Premier (1990) and the Rosebud. Beyond that, the Prominent (1913), the Salmon Coble (1894), and other boats and men with names now lost in the mists of time."

A minute's silence was held after Mr Ralph read out the names of the crew, including the bynames they were best known by in the close-knit community.

In his closing words, Mr Ralph urged the crowd to pay heed of the last line of the stone inscription, "Aye in oor minds".

He said afterwards that he felt privileged to have been involved, adding: "The loss of the Rosebud crew was a very bad time. I was 22 at the time. Two of the crew were in my class at school.

"It was extremely hard on the whole community – and for fishing communities in general – and utterly devastating for the families."

An emotional memorial dedication was held at the harbour in Burghead on Monday to mark the loss of seven local men who died in the Rosebud II disaster 50 years ago. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
An emotional memorial dedication was held at the harbour in Burghead on Monday to mark the loss of seven local men who died in the Rosebud II disaster 50 years ago. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

The Rosebud II grounded in a fierce south-west wind.

All vessels in the area were alerted after a Mayday signal was intercepted by a Birmingham radio ham.

Fishing boats headed out into the darkness towards the Torrans and a Shackleton aircraft circled the area. An RAF helicopter from Leuchars joined the hunt for the missing crew.

In the morning the fishing boat Reliant found wreckage from the Rosebud II drifting half a mile from Eilean a Chalmain.

Mr Ralph's own great-grandfather, Duncan Macleod, was one of five to die in the Salmon Coble disaster off the Burghead headland – which left 33 children fatherless.

The event was the second sea disaster memorial to be held in the village this month as December 12 marked the 30th anniversary of the loss of the MV Premier off Shetland, which claimed the lives of crewmen from Burghead, Hopeman and Lossiemouth.

Skipper John Edwards and his brothers, Joe and Neil, died alongside Sandy Main, Billy Main and John Ross.

A commemoration was held on Saturday, December 12, to remember the Premier crew.


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