# Johnshaven Lifeboat Station

Johnshaven Lifeboat Station was located at Fore Street, in Johnshaven, a village approximately 40 miles (64 km) north-east of Dundee, in the county of Aberdeenshire, historically Kincardineshire, on the east coast of Scotland.
A lifeboat was first placed at Johnshaven in 1891 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Johnshaven Lifeboat Station was closed in 1928.

## History

At the meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 12 June 1890, following a report by the district inspector, it was decided to establish a lifeboat station at Johnshaven, Kincardineshire.
A 31-foot self-righting 'Pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with (ten) oars and sails, equipped with all all the latest improvements, water ejection tubes, water ballast tanks, etc. was placed at Johnshaven on 5 August 1891. A new boathouse and launching slipway had been constructed on Fore Street.
A Service of Dedication and Naming Ceremony was held on 3 October 1891, a day marked in honour locally as a holiday. Over one thousand people took part in a parade of the lifeboat, the largest ever seen in the village, the lifeboat, and crew in their cork life-jackets and red caps, drawn on its carriage by six horses. The cost of the lifeboat and equipment was from the bequest of the late Mr. Alexander Davidson of Hampstead, a London trader but native of Scotland. In front of an enormous crowd, in accordance with his wishes, the lifeboat was named Meanwell of Glenbervie (ON 320). With the Montrose Band playing, and the crowd cheering, the lifeboat was then launched on display.
At 11:45 on 21 December 1920, the Johnshaven lifeboat James Marsh (ON 639) was launched to the aid of the Danish schooner Fredensborg of Korsør, on passage from Copenhagen to Grangemouth with a cargo of scrap iron, and a crew of nine. The vessel had lost all her canvas, and was dragging her anchors in St Cyrus Bay. With the nine crew aboard the lifeboat, they set to return home, but caught by a large wave, the lifeboat was upset, and all aboard were pitched into the sea. The lifeboat self-righted, but two of the Fredensborg crew, and lifeboat man James McBay, a veteran of World War I, were lost. The lifeboat was then thrown onto the shore and badly damaged.
The King of Denmark made a monetary award to the widow of James McBay. In recognition of the efforts of 1920, the Danish King awarded a silver cup to each member of the Johnshaven lifeboat crew, inscribed "Awarded by the Royal Danish Government, in recognition of bravery and self-sacrifice on the occasion of the rescue of the crew of the schooner Fredensborg, of Korsør, wrecked in St. Cyrus Bay, on the 21st December, 1920".
The Carnegie Hero Fund added the name James McBay to the 'Roll of Heroes', and a sum of 10s. per week was granted to his widow.
At a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 19 January 1928, it was decided to close Johnshaven Lifeboat Station.
The lifeboat house still stands at Johnshaven, and is currently occupied by the Johnshaven Heritage Museum. The lifeboat on station at the time of closure, James Stevens No. 11 (ON 438), was sold from service.

## Station honours

The following are awards made at Johnshaven.
* RNLI Silver Medal
       John Simpson, fisherman - 1907
* The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
       John McBay, Coxswain - 1920
       Robert Stewart, J.P., Honorary Secretary - 1928
* Silver Cup, awarded by the The King of Denmark
       Coxswain and each of the lifeboat crew - 1921

## Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Johnshaven lifeboat.
* Lost when the lifeboat James Marsh capsized after service to the Danish schooner Fredensborg, 21 December 1920.
       James McBay (38)

## Johnshaven lifeboats

| ON | Name | Built | In service | Class |
| 320 | Meanwell of Glenbervie | 1891 | 1891–1900 | 31-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 449 | Sarah Ann Holden | 1900 | 1900–1914 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 639 | James Marsh | 1914 | 1914–1921 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 438 | James Stevens No. 11 | 1899 | 1921–1928 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
    Station Closed in 1928
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
    Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.