Montrose Lifeboat Station

Montrose Lifeboat Station is located at Wharf Street, in the harbour town and former royal burgh of Montrose, on the North Sea coast, 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Dundee, in Angus, Scotland. A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1800 by the Montrose Lifeboat Committee (MLC). Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1869. The station currently operates 13-10 Ian Grant Smith (ON 1317), a Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat, on station since 2015, and the smaller D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, Margaret Olive (D-897), on station since January 2025. History In the late 1700s, Montrose was already a thriving port, and in 1800, the Shipowners and Shipmasters from Montrose decided to acquire a lifeboat for Montrose. The boat was one of 31 commissioned from lifeboat builder Henry Greathead of South Shields. It is recorded that the first lifeboat was launched 52 times, saving 164 lives. In May 1807, a lifeboat management committee was established, to raise funds for a replacement boat. It was felt that the existing boat was too heavy. Greathead agreed to build a smaller 8-oared boat, but fitted with 10 oars, for £130, which was commissioned in June 1807. The Town Council granted land at the south-west corner of the bleachfield, for the construction of a boathouse, which cost £63. A launch carriage was built by Robert Gibb of Lochside, costing a further £84. The committee managed to raise nine guineas locally (£9-9s-0d), with gifts of £20 from the Town Council, and £50 from the Insurance underwriters at Lloyd's of London. However, this clearly didn't cover the amounts needed, and even by 1818, the committee were still in debt. In June 1818, the lifeboat and all equipment was transferred to the management of the local Magistrates and Town Council, who agreed to pay off the outstanding amount, just under £50. In December 1818. the Town Council handed over management of the lifeboat to the Harbour Light Committee, an independent body elected by Shipowners and Masters. It was agreed that funding of the lifeboat would instead come from a toll on all vessels entering the harbour. In 1869, after a visit by Capt. John Ward, RNLI Inspector of Lifeboats, it was agreed that the management of the station would be transferred to the RNLI. A new 33-foot self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, was funded by the merchants of Mincing Lane, London, and duly named Mincing Lane. The existing lifeboat was retained as a No.2 lifeboat. A new lifeboat house was built on the north side of the River South Esk, close to the old lifeboat house, and a slipway constructed at a cost of £100. A gift of £400 had been made to the RNLI by Mr Davies-Griffith of Caer Rhûn Hall in Conwy. The gift was appropriated to the (so far unnamed) No.2 lifeboat, which was then named Roman Governor of Caer Hun, after the Roman Villa and earthworks discovered on the donor's property. A new 30-foot boat in 1874 would be given the same name. On 21 December 1872, the East Prussian brig Henriette of Memel, on passage from Sligo, was driven ashore on the sands north of Montrose. The lifeboat Mincing Lane (No.1) set out from the harbour, whilst the Roman Governor of Caer Hun (No.2) was hauled up the beach to the scene on her carriage before being launched. Approaching the wreck, the Coxswain and three crew were washed out of the No.1 lifeboat. 5 men from the brig took their chance and jumped into the lifeboat, which then set about retrieving the four lifeboat crew, who by now had been in the water for 20 minutes. All 4 were recovered, but Coxswain William Mearns had been hit on the head by the ships rudder, and crewman Alexander Paton died some days later from exposure. The three remaining people aboard the Henrietta were rescued by the No.2 lifeboat. For this service, Coxswain William Mearns, (No.1 lifeboat), and his son Coxswain William Mearns Jnr., (No.2 lifeboat), were each awarded the RNLI Silver Medal. Coxswain William Mearns would later retire from the service on health grounds, especially due to injuries received that day. In 1885, a third station was opened at Kirkside, some 4 miles (6.4 km) to the north of Montrose, at the mouth of the River North Esk. A place of frequent shipwrecks, it would save hauling one of the Montrose lifeboats to the site. A boathouse was constructed by James Ford & Sons, at a cost of £312-13-0d, and the 34-foot lifeboat Resolute (ON 90) was placed on service. The boat was funded from the legacy of G. M. Grey of Dundee. The lifeboat would be launched just once, on 11 March 1887, but ran aground, and failed to carry out any service. No details are available of the casualty vessel. After five years of inactivity, the station was closed in 1892. The lifeboat was used for demonstration purposes until 1903, when it was broken up. The boathouse still exists, and is currently in use as the St Cyrus National Nature Reserve Visitor Centre. Whilst on exercise in 1900, the No.1 lifeboat Robert Henderson (ON 367) was driven onto the rocks. No lives were lost, but the lifeboat was severely damaged, and withdrawn from service. A new boathouse was constructed for the new boat, Sarah Jane Turner (ON 465), and £100 was received for the sale of the old boathouse to the Montrose Harbour Board. Montrose No.1 station would receive their first motor-powered lifeboat in 1926, the 45-foot 6in Watson John Russell (ON 699). At the same time, a launch tractor was placed at Montrose No.2 station replacing horses. It would be another 14 years before the 'pulling and sailing' No.2 lifeboat would be replaced, by the Surf-class lifeboat, the Norman Nasmith (ON 836). The Norman Nasmith remained at Montrose until the No.2 station was closed in 1950. A new station building was constructed in 1989, providing improved crew facilities, and a souvenir shop. The 1900 boathouse would be demolished in 1998. In 1994, a D-class (EA16) Inshore lifeboat was assigned to the station. In 2015, the station would say goodbye to their long serving Tyne-class lifeboat 47-034 Moonbeam (ON 1152), on station since 1989, and receive the new £2.2 million Shannon-class lifeboat 13-10 Ian Grant Smith (ON 1317). Station honours The following are awards made at Montrose. RNIPLS Silver Medal David Edwards, Master Mariner – 1832 Robert Mearns, Master Mariner (Jnr) – 1832 John Nichol, Master Mariner – 1832 Alexander Coul, Fisherman – 1832 Charles Coul, Fisherman – 1832 Robert Japp, Fisherman – 1832 William Finlay, Fisherman – 1832 John Peart, Fisherman – 1832 Alexander Watt, Fisherman – 1832 RNLI Silver Medal William Mearns, Coxswain (No.1 lifeboat) – 1873 William Mearns Jr., Coxswain (No.2 lifeboat) – 1873 David Duncan, Coxswain (No.1 Lifeboat) – 1885 James Watt, Coxswain – 1899 David Mearns, Master of the steam trawler Southesk – 1913 Medals and Diplomas, awarded by The Norwegian Government Crew of Montrose Lifeboat No.2 station – 1916 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum David Duncan, Coxswain (No.1 Lifeboat) – 1884 James Watt, Coxswain (No.2 Lifeboat) – 1884 James C. Clark, Honorary Secretary – 1940 A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution James Robert Paton, Coxswain – 1970 Each of the six crew members of the Montrose lifeboat – 1970 Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) Capt. Niall A. McNab, Honorary Secretary – 2000NYH Joyce Marr, Johnshaven Ladies Guild – 2000QBH British Empire Medal James Robert Paton, Coxswain – 1972QBH Roll of honour In memory of those lost whilst serving Montrose lifeboat. Died 29 December 1872 from the effects of exposure, following service to the East Prussian brig Henriette of Memel on 21 December 1872. Alexander Smith Paton (24) Montrose lifeboats Montrose Lifeboat Committee lifeboats Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list. Montrose / Montrose No.1 Station Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats Motor lifeboats Montrose No.2 Station No.2 Station closed, 1950. Montrose No.3 Station (Kirkside) No.3 Station (Kirkside) closed, 1892. Inshore lifeboats Launch and recovery tractors Montrose No.2 Station See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats Notes References External links Montrose RNLI Lifeboat Station