Newburgh Lifeboat Station was located on the western shore of the River Ythan estuary near Newburgh, a village approximately north-east of Aberdeen, in the county of Aberdeenshire, on the east coast of Scotland.

A lifeboat was first placed at Newburgh in 1828, by the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), but the station closed in 1841. A new station was established at Newburgh in 1877, by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Newburgh Lifeboat Station was closed in 1965.

History In 1828, a lifeboat station was established at Newburgh by the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), later to become the RNLI in 1854. A lifeboat, probably 26-foot, rowing 6 oars, was placed at the station. No records of any service have been found, and the station closed in 1841.

At a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 3 May 1877, following representation from local residents and from the Inspecting Commander of H.M. Coastguard, and following the report of his visit by RNLI Inspector of Life-boats, Rear-Admiral John R. Ward, it was decided to once again place a lifeboat at Newburgh.

A tender was accepted for the construction of a boathouse, and a 30-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with (8) oars and sails, along with its launching carriage, was sent to the station. The expense of the lifeboat, its carriage, and all equipment, was provided from the legacy of the late Miss M. A. Birtwhistle of Cheltenham. At a service of dedication and naming ceremony on 18 November 1877, the lifeboat was named Alexander Charles and William Aird, and launched for a demonstration to the assembled crowd.

Whilst setting up a Haul-off warp prior to exercise on 3 November 1899, in a strong south-west gale, the lifeboat Ellen Newman and John Bentley (ON 255) was swamped, and three crew were washed overboard. Two managed to swim ashore, but one man, the Assistant Coxswain, was seen to be in difficulties by a retired Naval Lieutenant, who swam out, and brought him ashore. Lt. Eustace William Clitherow Stracey, RN (Retd.) was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.

On 13 October 1923, the Aberdeen fishing trawler Imperial Prince was wrecked off Belhelvie. The Harbour lifeboat (No.2) was launched, but broached as she approached the wreck. Four lifeboat men were washed overboard, but all regained the lifeboat. The Newburgh lifeboat James Stevens No. 19 (ON 459) was pulled overland to the scene, where with 11 crew from HMS Vampire and HMS Vendetta, both vessels had been at Aberdeen at the time, she was launched four times to the wreck. With assistance from the lifeboat, and the Coastguard Rocket Brigade, seven of the nine crew of the trawler were rescued. Two silver medals, and one bronze medal, were awarded for gallantry that day.

At 04:20 on 26 January 1942, the John Ryburn (ON 837) lifeboat crew were called, after reports of flares from a vessel in distress to the north, but it was soon confirmed that a ship was ashore at Cruden Bay, and that the coastguard rocket-brigade were on scene. The lifeboat crew were stood down. A second vessel was then spotted ashore at Hackley Head by assistant mechanic George Whyte, and after confirmation, the lifeboat launched at 08:40, into a strong south-east gale, heading to the SS Lesrix. The lifeboat arrived with the vessel, to find it well ashore with her back broken, with no sign of life, and in a position impossible for the lifeboat to reach. It was decided to head home. About north of the river Ythan, approximately from the shore, the lifeboat capsized. 15 minutes later, the seven crew were washed onto the beach, but two, crewman James Walker, and asst. mechanic George Whyte, were unconscious and could not be revived.

By 1965, it had been four years since the last call, and eight years since any lives were saved. With lifeboats stationed to the north at , and to the south at , the decision was taken to close Newburgh Lifeboat Station on 30 September 1965.

Since the station reopened in 1877, 155 lives had been saved. The boathouse still stands on the shore at Newburgh. The last lifeboat on station, John Ryburn (ON 837), was sold from service in 1966, and was last reported in 2010 as having been broken up.

In 2018, the original Newburgh service board dating back to 1889, which once resided in the Newburgh lifeboat house, was donated back to the RNLI by lifeboat enthusiast Keith Webb, and presented to the nearest active RNLI station at .

Station honours The following are awards made at Newburgh.

RNLI Silver Medal Lt. Eustace William Clitherow Stracey, RN (Retd.) – 1899 John Innes, Coxswain – 1923 Petty Officer Charles Albert William Essam, RN, HMS Vampire – 1923

RNLI Bronze Medal James Innes, Bowman – 1923

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum John Innes, Coxswain – 1923 Petty Officer Charles Albert William Essam, RN, HMS Vampire – 1923 James Innes, Bowman – 1923 11 Naval crewmen of HMS Vampire and HMS Vendetta – 1923

Letter of Thanks of the Institution William Gall – 1942 PC W. Gilmour – 1942 G. Grey, Aux. Coastguard – 1942 Alexander A. Cruickshank, Honorary Secretary – 1942 Surgeon Lt. Cmdr. Gerrard, RNVR – 1942 Dr Martin – 1942 J. Laing, Aux. Coastguard – 1942

Roll of honour In memory of those lost whilst serving Newburgh lifeboat. Lost when the lifeboat capsized, on service to the steamship Lesrix, 26 January 1942 George Whyte, Assistant Mechanic James Walker, crew member

Newburgh lifeboats Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats ON Name Built Class Comments 1828 1828–c.1841 ~26-foot Palmer-class lifeboat. Pre-621 Alexander Charles and William Aird 1877 30-foot Montrose Self-righting (P&S) 30-foot x 8-foot (8-oared) Montrose-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs M. A. Birtwhistle of Cheltenham, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £275. 255 Ellen Newman and John Bentley 1889 1889–1901 31-foot x 7-foot 3in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr J. Bentley of Camden Town, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £310. 459 1901 1901–1926 34-foot Dungeness Self-righting (P&S) 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) Dungeness-class (Rubie) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Stevens of Birmingham, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £672. 504 John and Amy 1902 1926–1935 34-foot Dungeness Self-righting (P&S) 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) Dungeness-class (Rubie) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Bayliss of Ryde, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £592.Previously at . 591 John and Robert C. Mercer 1909 1935–1941 34-foot Dungeness Self-righting (P&S) 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) Dungeness-class (Rubie) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Miss M.Mercer of Clayton-le-Moors built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London.Previously at .

Motor lifeboats ON Name Built Class Comments 837 John Ryburn 1941 1941–1965 32-foot Surf 32-foot x 9-foot 3in Surf-class lifeboat, legacy of Mr W. McCunn, with twin 12-hp Weyburn F2 engines, built by Alexander Robertson & Sons of Sandbank, Argyll and Bute, costing £3,791. Station Closed in 1928

Launch and recovery tractors Op. No. Reg. No. Type Comments T2 AH 5933 Clayton 1924–1930 T25 UW 3881 FWD Co. 1930–1932 T5 IJ 3424 Clayton 1932–1944 T33 FYP 356 Case L 1944–1947 T5 IJ 3424 Clayton 1947 T38 HYU 15 Case L 1947–1956 T34 1956–1965

See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

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