Islay History
1912 A Silver Medal was awarded to Duncan Campbell for rescuing four crew from the wrecked steamship Ena on 21 October 1911.
1934 A lifeboat station was established at Port Askaig and the lifeboat was kept on moorings.
1939 The station’s first motor lifeboat was placed on service.
1948 The station was re-named Islay.
1950 Coxswain Duncan McNeil received the King's Commendation for bravery for fastening a rope to a drifting mine so that the lifeboat could tow it ashore on 12 April.
He also received a gift from Mrs BM Porter for the bravest deed of the year by a member of the lifeboat crew.
1953 On 31 January Second Coxswain A McNeil and Assistant Mechanic John McTaggart both collapsed in the engine room and died while the lifeboat was searching for the trawler Michael Griffiths'.
1957 An award of a case of rum for the longest winter service was made by the Sugar Cane Manufacturers Association of Jamaica for a service lasting 26 hours on 26/27 January.
1959 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain James Gillies for rescuing four crew from the fishing vessel May in hurricane force winds.
1970 Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Second Coxswain M Mackay and Assistant Mechanic Archibald Campbell for rescuing two women and four children who were stranded on Chum Island. Framed Letters of Thanks were also sent to Coxswain D J McPhee and the remaining crew.
1973 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Acting Coxswain Malcolm Mackay for rescuing the three crew from the coaster Raylight on 25 December 1972.
A Bronze Medal was awarded to Acting Coxswain Malcolm Mackay for rescuing the Captain and his nine crew from the tanker Olga aground on Bhride Island. The lifeboat was on service for 57 hours from 27 March to 30 March 1973.
1979 The Islay lifeboat, the Thames class Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit, capsized at 1.45am on 18 November on a service to the coaster Lone Dania. The Barra Island lifeboat also capsized at 3.46am whilst on service to the same casualty. Both lifeboats righted successfully without loss of life. Winds were gusting to force 11–12 with wave heights of 30 ft and occasional 60ft seas.
1992 A collective Framed Letter of Thanks was presented to Coxswain Mechanic Thomas Johnston, Second Coxswain Emergency Mechanic Alasdair Barker, Assistant Mechanic James Hamilton, Deputy Second Coxswain Iain Spears and Crew Members David MacLellan and Michael Stringer for a service carried out on 18 December 1991 to the Russian fish factory vessel Kartli.
1996 A deeper mooring berth was provided for a new Severn class lifeboat to be placed on station. New crew facilities were also provided.
1997 The Severn class lifeboat, ON-1219 Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II replaced the Thames class lifeboat.
Station honours
At Islay lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 2
Bronze Medal 3
Silver Medal 1
