Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)

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Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)

22 Aug 05 - 07:11 AM (#1546958)
Subject: Lyr Req: The Arbroath Lifeboat tragedy
From: Hand-Pulled Boy

This song written by Fred Dallas about the disaster in 1953 seems to be well hidden on the internet. I can only remember 3 verses. If somebody has the words to the full song I'd be grateful to know wht they are. Cheers.

22 Aug 05 - 07:38 AM (#1546969)
Subject: Lyr Add: ARBROATH LIFEBOAT TRAGEDY (Fred Dallas)
From: John MacKenzie

The Arbroath Lifeboat tragedy
(Fred Dallas)

Oh listen while I tell you of the Arbroath tragedy
Of how six gallant lifeboatmen were thrown into the sea
On October twenty seven in the year of fifty three
And only one brave man was saved in that calamity

The night was dark and stormy and the lifeboat standing by
And all at once a rocket jumped into the angry sky
The "Robert Lindsay" ventured out to find the reason why
But nothing could they find that night no matter how they tried

Four hours they searched that Tuesday morn until the break of day
But not a bit of wreckage could they find in Arbroath bay
"It's home and mugs of cocoa for us sailors while we may
Or else we'll never see the shore," they heard the Cox'n say

As they came back across the bar it was an awful sight
The lifeboat overturned them in the sea as black as night
They couldn't reach the shore alive though struggle as they might
And only Archie Smith was saved upon that dreadful night

Two brothers sank beneath the waves, a father and a son
The bowman, Thomas Adams went the way that they had gone
And when the boat was washed ashore beneath the morning sun
The Cox'n, David Bruce, was lash'd the steering wheel upon

So let's remember all the men who go down to the sea
And all their wives and sweethearts dear wherever they may be
And working men who give their lives in dire necessity
The fishermen who died that night in Nineteen Fifty-Three.

Giok

22 Aug 05 - 07:42 AM (#1546971)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Arbroath Lifeboat tragedy
From: John MacKenzie

3rd line 3rd verse should read 'Home and mugs of cocoa'

1st line 4th verse amful should read awful.

That's after I checked it twice doh!

Giok

Corrections made as specified.
-Joe Offer-

22 Aug 05 - 10:12 AM (#1547108)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Arbroath Lifeboat tragedy
From: GUEST, Hamish

McGonagall would have been proud. ~;^)

22 Aug 05 - 12:43 PM (#1547151)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Arbroath Lifeboat tragedy
From: Joe Offer

Hi, Giok - could you please check the lyrics and see if I made corrections correctly? It's a great song - did you get the lyrics from listening to a recording, from a songbook, or what?
-Joe Offer-

22 Aug 05 - 12:59 PM (#1547165)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Arbroath Lifeboat tragedy
From: John MacKenzie

It's from a song book called '101 Scottish Songs' selected by Norman Buchan published in 1962.
I definitely lean towards the doggerel camp as far as these lyrics are concerned, only the naming of those that lost their life save it from irredeemable and terminal maudlin-ness.
Corrections are fine thanks.
Giok

22 Aug 05 - 03:36 PM (#1547276)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Arbroath Lifeboat tragedy
From: Hand-Pulled Boy

Thank you John. I've always liked the song. Let's hope I can do it justice!

23 Aug 05 - 09:11 AM (#1547620)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Arbroath Lifeboat tragedy
From: GUEST, Hamish

I went to school in Arbroath: but sometime after 1953, not having the forward planning to be born until 1954. But I remember we went up to the harbour to see the launch of the replacement(?) boat, so I guess they must have had a loan boat for a few years. It was a Big Event, and the song reminds/informs me of the reason: it must have been quite poignant for the small, tight-knit fishing community for them to have a capsize-proof boat, the like of which might have prevented the deaths of 1953.

This, from www.scotsindependent.org:

27 October 1953: Six of the seven members of the crew of the Arbroath lifeboat, Robert Lindsay, drowned when their boat capsized in Arbroath Harbour just before dawn after a fruitless all-night search with the Anstruther lifeboat for the source of flares reported by Elie Coastguard. Returning to station, she attempted to run before the seas into harbour but went over. The only survivor, local fisherman Archie Smith, managed to grab a rocket line fired from the shore. It was widely surmised at the time that the distress flares had been fired by the Dundee sand ship Islandmagee which was lost that week with her crew of six on passage from Dundee to Leith.

And this, from The Arbroath Herald:

Six men lost their lives in the Arbroath lifeboat, Robert Lindsay on 27 October 1953.

David Bruce, coxswain, had served on Arbroath lifeboats for 30 years starting on the last two oar and sail boats. He was survived by a wife and married daughter.

Harry Swankie, mechanic, was due to retire from the lifeboat the previous August after 32 years of service. He left a wife and four daughters. His nephew, William Swankie, left a wife and two young daughters.

Thomas Adams, the owner of a small fishing boat, also left a wife and two young daughters. The Cargill brothers, Charles and David crewed a fishing boat with their other brother. Both were engaged to be married.

The sole survivor was Archibald Smith.

--
Hamish

23 Aug 05 - 09:18 AM (#1547627)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Arbroath Lifeboat tragedy
From: GUEST, Hamish

More research: I was 14 at the time. This, from RNLI:

In 1968 a D class lifeboat entered service at the station.

08 Nov 05 - 01:20 PM (#1600071)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)
From: GUEST,Keith Rattray

Hello i am glad to see the brave men & families were not forgotten after the price paid by them , well done on this thread for remembering them !! here is the definitive link to tragedy ;

http://www.dmcsoft.com/tamh/tour.php?tourid=11&page=3

The tragedy stunned Arbroath for many years to come and like Hamish i remember snippets and the revered talk years after . K Rattray

09 Nov 05 - 04:08 AM (#1600488)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)
From: Gurney

As I remember, there was a stink kicked up by lifeboatmen sometime around 1965, because of the perceived unseaworthiness of the lifeboats they manned. I think it was because they were not self-righting. Several crews refused to use the 'proper' lifeboats but turned out in their private MFVs.

MFV = motor fisheries vessel, a dated-looking but apparently remarkably good design. Are they still around in Scotland and the north of England?

09 Nov 05 - 05:43 AM (#1600522)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)
From: Hamish

Gurney: There's precious little in the way of the traditional fleet left, due to quotas and government sponsored decommissioning of boats. But there are still some, yes. And there are still some being built to pretty much the same specifications even now.

09 Nov 05 - 07:53 AM (#1600581)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)
From: GUEST,Reagle

The story has caught my attention.

Has anyone got a midi for this. I'd really like to hear the melody.

R

10 Nov 05 - 05:20 PM (#1601720)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)
From: GUEST,anon

thanks for posting the song, i never realised this topic was remembered by so many... my great grandfather was Harry Swankie (obviously i never met him) 3 of his 4 daughters are still alive.. the song brings a tingle to your spine

15 Nov 05 - 02:48 AM (#1605288)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)
From: GUEST

THANKS FOR WORDS OF THE SONG MY DADS COUSINS WERE THE CARGILL BROTHERS,

15 Nov 05 - 05:13 AM (#1605327)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)
From: GUEST

Fred (as he was then) Dallas sings this song on a 1960 HMV LP called 'A Pinch of Salt - British Sea Songs Old and New' Serial No. HMV CLP 1362

23 Mar 06 - 05:55 PM (#1701338)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)
From: GUEST,Joseph Moffat,

I WAS VERY INTERESTED TO COME ACROSS THE POEM BY FRED DALLAS ON THE SHOPPIE PROGRAMME.
   I REMEMBER THAT DAY. I WAS AT DUNDEE TECH. COLLEGE TAKING MY FOREIGN GOING MATE'S CERTIFICATE, ONE OF THE CREW LIVED IN KYDD STREET A FEW HOUSES UP FROM MY AUNT MURN STIRLING. I HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR LIFEBOAT MEN.
                            JOE MOFFAT, MASTER MARINER, Rtd.
                            Rangiora, New Zealand.

24 Mar 06 - 02:06 PM (#1701947)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arbroath Lifeboat Tragedy (Fred Dallas)
From: GUEST

Bring back McGonnigal!! This must be the most boring pedestrian song and tune ever.