# Barra Island Lifeboat Station

Barra Island Lifeboat Station is located at Castlebay, a village at the southern end of the Isle of Barra, part of the Outer Hebrides, an archipelago sitting off the north-west coast of Scotland.
A lifeboat was first placed at Barra Island by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in September 1931.
The station currently operates a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, 17-12 Edna Windsor (ON 1230), on station since 1998.

## History

For many years, the only lifeboat serving the Outer Hebrides was the boat based at the Stornoway station, established in 1887. Following an increasing number of wrecks and loss of life in the area, at a meeting of the RNLI management committee on 16 July 1931, it was agreed that a new station be established at the opposite end of the islands, at Castlebay, to be known as Barra Island Lifeboat Station.
An eight-year-old 45ft Watson-class lifeboat was renamed 684 RM (ON 684), and placed on service at Barra Island in September 1931. The lifeboat had previously been named John R. Webb at Tenby, but they retained the name for their new boat.
On 31 March 1932, the lifeboat mechanic at Barra Island witnessed the steam trawler Eamont, of Fleetwood, hit a submerged rock as she headed to Castlebay. The lifeboat 684 RM was launched, and took off one of the crew who was injured. She then stood by as the vessel was refloated.
In 1932, a new boat was ready for Barra Island. This would be a 51-foot Barnett-class lifeboat, costing £9,443, and capable of 184 miles at top speed. It was decided to name the boat Lloyd's (ON 754) in recognition of the longstanding support of Lloyd's of London to the RNLI. In 1802, on the proposal of its Chairman, John Julius Angerstein, £2000 had been provided and 26 lifeboats built, and there were 39 on station when the Institution was founded as the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in 1824. The Institution had received £9000 in the preceding five years to 1932.
Relief 45ft Watson-class lifeboat Duke of Connaught (ON 668) was launched at 9:00 on Sunday 5 September 1943 to the 9000-ton steamship SS Urlana, with a crew of 40 men, which had run aground 40 miles (64 km) away at Idrigill Point, on convoy passage to London from Buenos Aires. The crew of the Urlana has set about a transfer to the Thurland Castle, another steamship from the same convoy, which was standing by, and the lifeboat arrived at 14:15 to find the last 15 men in their own motor-powered ship's boat. At that point, the ship's boat's engine failed, and the lifeboat managed to set up a tow, before the boat was dashed on the rocks, and the 15 men were transferred safely to the Thurland Castle. Conditions too difficult to head for home, the lifeboat set out for Carbost, Loch Harport, overcoming their own engine problems en route. The lifeboat finally returned to Castlebay at 16:00 on Tuesday 7 September. Coxswain Murdo Sinclair received the RNLI Silver Medal, with monetary awards to the crew.
In 1955, the RNLI would receive one of the largest bequests received to date. Mrs E. M. M. Gordon Cubbin, late of the Isle of Man, left sufficient funds to provide four lifeboats, each costing in excess of £30,000. Two 46ft 9in Watson-class lifeboats were to be stationed at Douglas and Port St Mary, and two larger 52-foot Barnett-class lifeboats were for Mallaig and Barra Island. Barra Island received the lifeboat R. A. Colby Cubbon No.3 (ON 935) in 1957.
On Sunday 18 November 1979, both the Islay lifeboat, 50-002 Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit (ON 1032), and the Barra Island lifeboat, R. A. Colby Cubbon No.3 (ON 935), were launched just after midnight, to the aid of the Danish coaster Lone Dania, listing badly 6 miles (9.7 km) north west of Skerryvore Lighthouse, after her cargo had shifted in terrible condition. The wind strength varied from strong gale, force 9, to violent storm and hurricane, force 11 to 12, and gusts of up to 65 knots were recorded at nearby airports. At 01:43, The Islay lifeboat was capsized. The lifeboat self-righted, and the crew were OK, with just the odd minor injury, but the boat had engine problems, a failed radar and windscreen wipers, and it was decided to return to port.
At 03:46, with the boat under full speed, the Barra Island lifeboat also capsized. Self-righting by virtue of an inflatable air-bag, the boat was upright almost immediately, but had suffered worse damage. She had windows smashed, and the propellers had been fouled by the lines from the drogue and couldn't be freed. The crew had suffered a few injuries, but were otherwise safe. Another coaster, Sapphire, which had also been heading to the Lone Dania, changed course, and the Barra Island lifeboat was towed back to port. The Lone Dania later made port under escort with another coaster. Coxswain Alastair Campbell of Islay lifeboat said they were the worst conditions he had encountered in 17 years as a lifeboatman, and in his previous career as a merchant seaman.
A new boat store was constructed in 1991, with workshop, kit-room and crew facilities, followed in 1994 by a 'Schat' launching davit for the boarding boat, and in October 1998, an alongside berth was constructed.
Barra Island station would receive a new Severn-class lifeboat on Saturday 13 June 1998. She was funded by the generous bequest of Edna Windsor, who died in Malaysia in 1993, along with further legacies from Elizabeth Robertson Brechin, Irene Isabel Seaman, Evelyn Mary Stonehouse and Elsie Taylor. At a ceremony on 24 April 1999, Brenda MacInnes, granddaughter of Murdo Sinclair, Barra Island's first Coxswain, named the lifeboat 17-12 Edna Windsor (ON 1230).
In 2023, it was announced that the Barra Island lifeboat station would receive an upgrade of facilities.

## Station honours

The following are awards made at Barra Island
* RNLI Silver Medal
       Murdo Sinclair, Coxswain - 1943
* RNLI Bronze Medal
       Donald MacLeod, Coxswain - 2006
* Lady Swaythling Trophy for outstanding seamanship in 2006 awarded by The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society
       Donald MacLeod, Coxswain - 2007
* A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
       Donald MacLeod, Coxswain - 2006
* Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)
       Donald William MacLeod, Coxswain - 2013QBH

## Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Barra Island lifeboat.
* Following the capsize of the boarding boat after a service call, 22 January 1942
       John McNeil (Taken ill and died of pneumonia)

## Barra Island lifeboats

| ON | Op. No. | Name | In service | Class |
| 684 | – | 684 RM | 1931−1932 | 45ft Watson |
| 754 | – | Lloyd's | 1932−1957 | 51-foot Barnett |
| 935 | – | R. A. Colby Cubbon No.3 | 1957−1984 | 52-foot Barnett |
| 1020 | 48-015 | Hugh William Viscount Gough | 1984−1988 | Solent |
| 1143 | 52-41 | Ann Lewis Fraser | 1988−1998 | Arun |
| 1230 | 17-12 | Edna Windsor | 1998− | Severn |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
* ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.