Archaeology Notes

Event ID 771318

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/771318

NM45NW 8001 c. 40 57

N56 38 W6 14

NLO: Quinish Point [name: NM 408 571]

Sound of Mull [name centred NM 58 46]

Tiree [name centred NM 00 45].

Location formerly entered as NM 4139 5724 [N56 38.1 W6 13.6].

Trawler wrecked off Mull. 14 members of the crew drowned. Coastguards still unable to board wreck. None of the crew of the Milford Haven deep sea trawler ROBERT LIMBRICK survived when the ship struck a rock off the north west coast of Mull early on Tuesday morning and foundered off Quinish Point [name: NM 408 571].

The sole vistim of the worst storm in Scottish seas in the living memory of seamen. So far, only two of the bodies have been recovered, and attempts by coastguards to board the stricken vessel, which is only 25 yards from the shore, were abandoned yesterday (Wednesday), because of the heavy swell. A litter of wreckage covered 1000 sq.yds. of shore. The ship's lifeboat was found, almost undamaged, high and dry on the shore, its protective covering intact, not having been used. A few hours after the sinking, shocked villagers and coastguards gathered on the ugly beach at Quinish. Bodies of two of the crew were washed up almost beyond normal high water mark.

Source: Oban Times, 9 February 1957.

(Classified as steel steam trawler: former names cited as Star of Freedom, and Sir Galahad, and date of loss as 5 February 1957). Robert Limbrick: this vessel stranded at Quinish Point. Photo in GH.

Registration: Milford Haven. Built 1942. 273grt. Length: 52m. Beam: 7m.

(Location of loss cited as N56 83.03 W6 13.67).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. Quinish Point is situated on the NW coast of Mull, facing Coll.

The significance of 'GH' remains unclear.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 9 April 2008.