RNLB Emma Constance (ON 693)

RNLB Emma Constance (ON 693)
History
Owner:	Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Builder:	Saunders Roe
Official Number:	ON 693
Donor:	Legacy of John Mackie of York
Station	Aberdeen
Cost:	£16,000
Laid down:	1926
Christened:	19 September 1927 by Lady Maud Carnegie
Fate:	Sold out of fleet in 1951.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Barnett-class
Type:	Motor lifeboat
Displacement:	44.5 tons
Length:	61 ft (19 m) overall
Beam:	15 ft (4.6 m)
Installed power:	two RNLI DE6 petrol engines delivering 80Bhp
Propulsion:	Twin Screw
Speed:	9.5 kn (17.6 km/h)
Range:	150 miles at full power
Crew:	6

RNLB Emma Constance (ON 693) was a Barnett-class lifeboat^[1] stationed at Aberdeen Lifeboat Station,^[2] in the Scottish city of Aberdeen from 1927^[3] until August 1951. The lifeboat was designed by James R. Barnett^[4] who was a consulting naval architect to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Description

The Emma Constance was a large lifeboat being 61 feet long and 15 feet wide, and was one of only three Barnett class Marks of this size. She had a draught of over 4 feet.^[2] These lifeboats were the largest in the RNLI fleet at this time, and over the years has only been surpassed by the 70 foot Clyde-class lifeboats built in the 1960s. The Emma Constance was built in the yards of Saunders Roe of East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, and was laid down in 1926. She was driven through the water by means of twin screws with their power coming from twin RNLI DE6 petrol engines with each engine housed in its own separate watertight compartment.^[2] These two compartments were two of total of fourteen watertight compartments that made up the boat's hull. The lifeboat was able to carry a fuel load of 500 gallons which was distributed between three separate fuel tanks which were at the rear of the engine compartments. There was also an auxiliary petrol engine installed which powered a generator for the lighting the windlass at the front of the boat and a capstan to the back of the boat. Although the Emma Constance had the most up-to-date technology installed, the designers also covered all eventualities by providing a full set of sails^[2] in case of motor power loss. Another feature of this 61 foot Barnett-class was a specially designed jumping net which was supported forward between the two side funnels and two stanchions aft. This net allowed potential rescuees to jump from their ship into the net and then be hauled on to the lifeboat.^[2]

The Christening

The Christening of Emma Constance took place on the 19 September 1927 in front of a gathered estimated crowd of 12,000 people. A small temporary jetty was erected for the ceremony and the Bandsman of the 4th Gordon Highlanders provided suitable music. The naming was performed by Lady Maude Carnegie. The proceedings ended with a short cruise for the V.I.P.s on the new lifeboat followed by a lifesaving demonstration.^[5] The Emma Constance had in fact already been called out on her first service by the time of her Christening when she was launched on the 21 July to aid a Trawler called Vanetia which had run aground at Girdleness although on arrival at the scene her assistance was not needed. On the 6 September she also launched to the aide of the trawler Ben Tore.

Service and rescues

First rescue

The trawler Ben Torc was out of Aberdeen^[6] and was returning to port when on the 6 September she ran into a dense fog accompanied by heavy rain. A south-easterly wind then blew up, causing a heavy breaking sea. Just before 10 pm and only 1 mile from the harbour, the breaking seas turned the 188-ton Ben Torc almost 360°.^[7] The skipper, George Ross got the trawler positioned pointing seaward, mustered his crew in the wheelhouse and sounded the siren to alert that his vessel was in distress. The seas were now breaking over the forward part of the trawler, but help was on the way. The coastguards, named Davis and Fenn, who were manning the Gregness station^[8] had climbed down the Gregg Ness cliffs to the scene^[9] and had managed to get a lifeline across to the trawler at great danger to themselves. The trawlermen were nevertheless not prepared to risk the lifeline and asked that the lifeboat should come to their aid. At 10:27 pm the Emma Constance was launched with Coxswain Tom Sinclair at the helm. When she arrived she used her searchlight to illuminate the scene of the casualty. The Ben Torc was now stricken on to the rocky outcrop known as Gregness Point.^[10] The area was full of half submerged rocky outcrops and the lifeboat carefully picked its way to position itself alongside the Ben Torc. The trawler's five crew immediately jumped aboard the lifeboat but the skipper, George Ross fell into the raging sea but was hauled aboard by line, his bowler hat still on his head much to the amusement of everyone. With all six crewmen safely aboard the lifeboat returned to the station arriving back at her moorings by midnight. This ended the lifeboat's second service but her first life saving rescue.

Trawler George Stroud

A notable rescue performed by Emma Constance took place on the 25 December 1935, but the rescue was only partly successful, with the loss of three crew men aboard the casualty. The Aberdeen trawler George Stroud^[11] was returning to her berth in the harbour when disaster struck. The trawler was struck by an up-swell of sea which washed her starboard of her intended course and flung her against the wall of the north pier. The trawler was then crashed and battered along the pier until she ran aground 200 yards from the seaward side of the pier. The master and crew all took refuge in the trawlers wheelhouse and waited for help. The North Pier Lifesaving Brigade was soon on the scene and lit up the area using the headlights from a motor car. The LSA soon got lifelines to the stricken vessel by means of rocket lines, but the crew of the trawler would not use the lines preferring to wait to be saved by the lifeboat. The Emma Constance was launched and made her way, in a strong south-easterly wind and heavy seas, to the scene of the incident. Coxswain Tom Sinclair^[12] took the lifeboat between the pier and the trawler but crew of the trawler did not respond to the lifeboatmen's calls to jump aboard. Eventually one man made a safe transfer to the lifeboat. Following this a heavy sea broke across the lifeboat throwing her against the piers foundation damaging the lifeboat.^[12] This swell also smashed away the wheelhouse of the trawler. Coxswain Sinclair then manoeuvred the lifeboat five more times into the narrow space between the pier wall and the wreck, despite the lifeboats starboard propeller being fouled.^[12] One crewman was spotted in the sea and although the lifeboat managed to get a line to him he disappeared below and was drowned. The lifeboat continued searching for the remaining crewman of the trawler with floodlights. On the remains of the smashed wheelhouse another crewman was seen desperately holding on to the wreckage. He was saved by the efforts of the LSA^[12] operating from the pier. Although the tragedy saw the loss of three of the crew Coxswain Thomas Sinclair was awarded a Bronze Medal^[12] for his part in the rescue and his determination and skill in taking the Emma Constance five times into the narrow space between the pier wall and the wreck despite the damage sustained to the lifeboat.

SS Fairy

On Saturday 23 January 1937^[13][14] the full force of a South-easterly gale was blasting the east coast of Scotland. Fighting its way through the storm was the 249-ton^[14] collier Fairy of Kings Lynn bound for Aberdeen from Goole. In the late afternoon of the next day the steamer arrived at the harbour only to find that the raging sea was being driven sideways across the harbour entrance and as a consequence the port was at this time declared shut. On Monday 25 January^[14] the Fairy had made little progress and was thirty miles off-shore and the seas were filling the ship. The captain alerted the crew that he was turning back towards the coastline and that they should all start bailing. Nine miles from the coast the Fairy sent a distress signal to a nearby German Trawler Hendrick, which immediately took the Fairy in to tow. By the evening the ships had made slow progress to a point just off Donmouth. Coastguards raised the alarm after flairs were seen. Emma Constance was launched at 4.38pm^[13] with Coxswain Tom Sinclair at the wheel. When the lifeboat reached the two vessels she hailed the Fairy and asked if all was well and did they needed further assistance. The Captain of the Fairy, George Croxford indicated that he would like to stay on his ship for as long as safely possible and so the lifeboat stood by. The Fairy and her towing ship made slow progress and some time later in the evening the towline parted. The Hendrick tried in vain to re-connect the towline but was unable to. At 10.pm the Fairy ran aground onto the sand^[15] and the seas began to sweep over the ship. The Emma Constance made an approach toward the stricken ship but the violent seas lifted the body of the lifeboat across the rails of the Fairy. A second large surge lifted her back off the ship and she then made another approach and this time successfully rescued the seven crewmen. During the rescue one of the crew fell into the sea between the ship and the lifeboat and at great personal risk life-boatman John Masson^[5] grabbed hold of the crewman and hauled him aboard the Emma Constance. With the crew now safe the lifeboat asked the nearby ship Montrose that they radio Aberdeen that the rescue had been a success and all were safe and the lifeboat was returning. At this time the Emma Constance was not equipped with radio equipment. Later back at the North Pier a look out was kept for the returning lifeboat. Conditions were as bad as ever and the waiting parties were very concerned as to the whereabouts of the lifeboat. Coxswain Tom Sinclair had wisely ruled out to risk returning to Aberdeen harbour with conditions as bad as they were. He headed for the calmer waters of the Moray Firth^[5] but was unable to pass his intentions on to Aberdeen. Everyone at Aberdeen feared the worse for the Emma Constance and it was with great relief when word arrived of the safe arrival of the badly damaged lifeboat at Macduff in the Moray Firth on Wednesday 27 4.30pm.^[5] The lifeboat had been out for three days. For his part in the rescue Coxswain Sinclair received an RNLI Silver Medal.^[14] Mechanic Alexander Weir and crew member John Masson were awarded Bronze medals^[14] and The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum^[14] was accorded to Second Coxswain George A Flett; Second Assistant Mechanic James Cowper; Assistant Mechanic Robert J B Esson; John M Noble and Alexander S Masson in recognition of their meritorious conduct during this rescue.

Record of service and rescues

RNLB Emma Constance (ON 693)
Date	Casualty	Wind/Weather	Lives Lost	Lives saved	Details
1927
July 27	Venetia	Heavy seas, Moderate Gale			Stood Down when vessel towed to port by Tug
September 6	Ben Torc	Moderate south-easterly Breeze, Moderate seas.		6	Casualty Stranded off Gregness, Took of Six Men
1928
February 26/27	Isle of White	Medium south-south-west breeze, Moderate seas			Casualty Stranded of Belhelvie Beach, rescued by Newburgh Lifeboat
March 18	Agnes H Weatherly	South-south-west Breeze			Casualty Stranded 1 mile from Donmouth, No assistance required
June 6	Regain	Strong south-westerly breeze, rough seas		8	Casualty Stranded 1 mile of Belhelvie CG station, towed to safety
October 25	HM Drifter Lunar Bow[16]	South westerly fresh breeze, Moderate Sea			Stood By, towed to safety by Tug
October 25	HM Drifter Lunar Bow	South westerly fresh breeze, Moderate Sea		2	Rescued 1 injured naval rating and 1 midshipman
1929
January 10	Shetland	South-eastly breeze, Rough seas			15 ft of water in Vessels hold, Flooding taken under control
November 29	Wild Rose	South-eastly strong breeze, Rough seas			Vessel stranded on rocks, Nine rescued from beach
1930
January 22	John G Watson	South westerly strong breeze, Rough Seas			Stranded 6½ miles north of Aberdeen, Stood By, Rescue achieved by No.2 lifeboat
1931
January 7	St Merryn	Westerly light breeze, Smooth seas			Stranded and re-floated without the aid of lifeboat
April 9	Rightway	South westerly moderate breeze, moderate seas			Vessel stranded of Collieston CG station, Crew rescued by LSA
June 2	Loyal Friend	Northerly moderate breeze, moderate seas			Lifeboat stood by following vessels collision with north pier
December 3	Nairn	South easterly whole gale, very heavy seas			Lifeboat re-called, not required
1932
August 14	Whitehills Lifeboat	Smooth sea			Towed broken down lifeboat back to port
1933
January 1	Trawler Venetia	Southerly strong gale, very heavy seas	9		Vessel stranded 3 miles north of Stonehaven,[17][18] Vessel total loss with all hands
January 18	Ben Screel	Variable light breeze, Heavy seas			Vessel stranded of Girdleness, lifeboat stood by, crew rescued from shore
January 19	General Birdwood	Northerly moderate breeze, moderate seas			Escorted Vessel
April 4	Lifeboat launched to False Alarm				Lifeboat re-called after launch
July 3	Cretan of Glasgow	Calm and smooth seas			Lifeboat not required, Vessel towed by pilot tug
October 20/21	Fair Isle	South-easterly fresh breeze, Rough seas			Vessel with broken rudder, towed by other vessel. lifeboat escorted vessel back to Aberdeen.
October 23/24	Granero of Drammen	North-easterly moderate gale, rough seas		7	Vessel stranded at Cawton Ness, crew saved by lifeboat and the LSA
December 29	Strathleven of Aberdeen	South-easterly moderate breeze, very heavy seas			Damaged steering gear, towed in by lifeboat, stood-by to other vessels
1934
January 1	Fishing Vessels of Gourdon & Stonehaven				Lifeboat on Stand-by
December 20	Unknown Trawler	Variable light wind, smooth seas			Search for vessel, nothing found
1935
February 14	Local Fishing boats	Northerly moderate gale			Search of vessels caught in gale, All safe
February 2	Eldorado	South-south-easterly gale, heavy seas			Stood by, LSA safely landed crew north of Donmouth
June 24	Balmoral Castle of Aberdeen	Northerly moderate (Fog), moderate seas			Vessel stranded, refloated on high tide
September 9	Ebor Abbey of Aberdeen	West-south-westerly moderate breeze, moderate seas			Lifeboat re-called, rescue by others
November 5	fishing vessels Procure & Quest of Banff	South-south-easterly moderate breeze, heavy seas			Escorted back to port
December 25	George Stroud of Aberdeen	South-easterly strong breeze, heavy seas	3	1	Grounded against North Pier, 1 taken off vessel by lifeboat, 1 taken off by LSA
December 31	Strathairlie of Aberdeen	Light Variable winds, slight swell			Vessel with broken rudder, lifeboat stood-by
1936
January 17	WM Porter Aberdeen pilot cutter	East-north-easterly fresh breeze, Rough seas		3	Pilots fouled rudder on the wreck of George Stroud. Three taken off by lifeboat
January 21	Local Fishing boats	East-south-easterly moderate gale, rough seas			Stood-by until vessels safely in port
February 6	Pretoria of Aberdeen	South-westerly moderate gale, rough seas			vessel involved in collision, lifeboat assistance not required
February 23	Ocean Gift of Banff	East-south-easterly strong gale, very heavy seas			Adrift in harbour, lifeboat crew mustered but no launch
December 16	Margaret & Frances of Cockenzie	South-south-westerly strong gale, Very heavy seas	2		Vessel stranded off Belhelvie CG station, Vessel found but a total loss
1937
January 21/22	Strathebrie of Aberdeen	South-easterly strong gale, very heavy seas			Vessel taken into toe
January 23	Utility of Aberdeen	South-easterly strong gale, strong flood			vessel hung on stern moorings,vessel towed to fishmarket
January 26	Fairy of Kings Lynn	South-easterly gale, very heavy seas		7	See description Service and rescues section
April 16	Paul Rykens of Aberdeen	Calm, dense fog			Vessel stranded, re-floated under own power
RNLB J & W (ON 722), Relief (Watson-class)
December 30	Calvinia of Aberdeen	North-north-westerly moderate breeze			vessel lost prop, search aborted after vessel was towed into Aberdeen by others
1938
August 25	Carry On	Variable fog banks, slight swell			Vessel aground, towed off by lifeboat
December 4	Branch of Montrose	Southerly moderate gale, rough seas.			Reported in difficulties, search carried out, vessel towed to port by others.
1939
January 22	Unknown Vessel reported capsized	East-south-easterly slight breeze, slight seas			Search carried out but nothing found
World War II
September 15	Vessel reported torpedoed	North easterly moderate breeze			Launched to scene, re-called, not required
October 10	Solstad of Oslo	South-easterly storm. heavy seas			Search carried out, vessel towewd to port by others
October 31	Cairnmona[19] of Newcastle upon Tyne	Easterly light to moderate breeze, rough seas			Vessel torpedoed of Rattray Head by U-13,[20] survivors landed by others
December 12	Cimbria of Copenhagen				Crew mustered only, no launch
December 18	Trinity NB[21] of Aberdeen	West-south-westerly, moderate seas	3		Vessel reported bombed, search carried out, no trace found, survivors picked up by Danish schooner Start
1940
January 9	Gowrie[22] of Dundee				vessel sunk by enemy aircraft four miles east of Stonehaven, crew rescued by others, search carried out for wreckage but nothing found.
January 9	Feddy[23] of Copenhagen	South-south-westerly fresh breeze		2	Vessel bombed and on fire, crew members taken off, ecorted vessel.
January 9	Ivan Kondrup[23] of Copenhagen	South-south-westerly fresh breeze	1		Vessel bombed. reached port under own steam, one crewman missing
January 10	Feddy[23] of Copenhagen	South-south-westerly light breeze			vessel towed into Aberdeen,
February 9	Lily of Aberdeen	South-westerly wind, moderate swell		3	Vessel disabled, found by lifeboat and taken into tow
March 3	Unknown bombed vessel reported	North-westerly moderate breeze, slight seas			Search carried out but nothing found
July 18	Shipping convoys attacked off Aberdeen on the 17 July[24]				Lifeboat and crew on standby at the station
October 20	Conakrain[25] of Freetown	East-south-easterly breeze, rough seas			Torpedo damaged in air attack of Girdleness,[26] taken into tow by tug, escorted by lifeboat
October 21	Conakrain[25] of Freetown			2	Two taken off vessel in Aberdeen bay in heavy weather
October 23	Conakrain[25] of Freetown	Easterly moderate gale, moderate seas		23	Crewmen taken off vessel at request of the Royal Navy
1941
April 3	Cairnie	East-south-easterly force 7 to 8, very heavy seas		7	Vessel bombed and in distress, Aberdeen harbour entrance, steering damaged and grounded.[27]
July 24	Unknown vessel	Calm, smooth seas			search carried out, nothing found
August 8	Unknown vessel				lifeboat on stand-by only
October 2	RAF Aircraft	Westerly force 4, moderate seas			ditched Pilot rescued by others, lifeboat re-called
1942
March 13	Unknown vessel	South-south-westerly force 6, heavy seas			No record kept of launch
March 3	HMS Hyderabad and the tug Bruno	Southerly force 3 to 4, smooth seas			Both vessels grounded, lifeboat towed of tug, corvette refloated herself.
April 4	Bon Accord of Aberdeen				No record kept of the launch
1943
April 2	Unknown vessel				No record kept of the launch
April 7	schooner Else of Thisted, Denmark	North force 6 to 9, very rough seas			Vessel towed into port with lifeboat escorting
November 29	Trevorian of st Ives	Smooth seas			No record kept of the launch
1944
October 23	Keilehaven of Rotterdam	South-easterly breeze force 3 to 4, growing swells		40	Crew abandoned ship to US Ship but some returned to vessel by lifeboat
1945
April 10/11	Albert Victor of Vága	Easterly breeze force 3 to 4, braking surf		9	run aground, Lifeboat took off crew and pilot
April 13	Maria of IJmuiden	Light easterly breeze			Lifeboat stood-by
RNLB John Russel (ON 699) Relief (Watson-class)
July 30	May Lily of Peterhead	Slight seas			Vessel with engine failure,Lifeboat made search, vessel made port under own power
October 19	HM Motor Fishing Vessel 1172	South-south-easterly breeze force 3 to 5, Moderate to rough seas		5	Vessel disabled, towed into Aberdeen by lifeboat.
December 19	T L Devlin of Granton	Southerly breeze force 5 to 7			Escorted vessel to port
December 21	Sparkling Star of Peterhead	Light Southerly wind, smooth seas			Fouled prop, self-cleared, lifeboat stood down
1946
January 20	Spurs of Grimsby				vessel aground in navigation channel, Lifeboat damaged whilst standing-by
August 7	Harmonious II of Aberdeen	South-westerly breeze force 2 to 3, Light to moderate seas		6	Broken down vessel, towed into port
1947
October 20	Harvest Gleaner of Buckie	South-south-westerly breeze force 5, moderate seas			Towed into port by others, lifeboat stood down
1948
February 5	Northman of Aberdeen	Southerly breeze force 4 to 6,			Both vessel and lifeboat grounded, pulled of by tug
1949
January 13	Welbeckof Grimsby	South-westerly breeze force 2, smooth to slight seas			Lifeboat then tug tow vessel off
September 23	Alirmay of Aberdeen	South-easterly breeze force 3 to 4			Lifeboat re-called, not required
September 24	Brightside	Easterly breeze force 1 to 2, slight seas			Stranded vessel, crew landed by others, lifeboat re-called
1950
September 19	Saga of Aberdeen	South-south-easterly force 8 to 9, very high seas			Vessel with engine failure, Aberdeen lifeboat re-called
September 19	Saga of Aberdeen	South-south-easterly force 8 to 9, very high seas			Second launch to vessel towed by Peterhead lifeboat, Aberdeen lifeboat escorted
September 26	Lyndburn of Aberdeen	North-easterly force 4, Rough seas		1	Vessel grounded, lifeboat takes of 1
1951
February 14	Yauwl of Aberdeen	South-easterly force 3 to 4, slight seas		2	Vessel broken down, towed into port by lifeboat

Retirement

On the 14 January 1951 Emma Constance performed her last launch. She went to assist the Yawl Glen of Aberdeen which had broken down 1 nautical mile east-north-east of Gregness. The lifeboat took the vessel into tow and returned to Aberdeen. In August 1951 the Emma Constance was retired from Aberdeen. Her replacement was a 52 ft Barnett class lifeboat called RNLB Hilton Briggs (ON 889). Following her retirement the Emma Constance was sold out of the RNLI fleet and was renamed several times becoming first the Southern Cross followed by Achilleus and then Griselda.

Preceded by Private Lifeboat Star of the Waves	RNLB Emma Constance (ON 693) 1927 to 1951	Succeeded by RNLB Hilton Briggs (ON 889)

References