Barra Island History

1931  The lifeboat station was established and the lifeboat was kept afloat at moorings in Castlebay.

1939–1945
 During the Second World War the lifeboat launched 46 times and rescued 2,114 people.

1942 Crew Member John McNeil died of pneumonia after the boarding boat had capsized following a service on 22 January.

1943 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Murdo Sinclair for rescuing 15 crew from the steamship Urlana aground under high cliffs. After nine hours, in gale force winds, continual rain and heavy seas, the lifeboat managed to tow a motor boat with the survivors in to Carbost on the opposite side of Loch Bracadale.

1979 During a service to the coaster Lone Dania the 52ft Barnet class lifeboat R A Colby Cubbin No 3 capsized on 18 November. The Islay lifeboat, a Thames class named Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit, also capsized whilst on service to the same casualty. Both lifeboats righted successfully without loss of life.

It was the first time that either of these classes of lifeboat had capsized on service and the RNLI’s inquiry found that ‘… there was no failure of the lifeboats or their equipment which contributed to the capsizes’.

The winds were gusting to force 12 and the waves were around 30ft high with a 10 per cent chance of the waves being 60ft high. These seas were described by the investigator as ‘diabolical’ and the coxswain of the Islay lifeboat stated that the weather was as bad as he had experienced in 17 years in the lifeboat service.

1988 An Arun class lifeboat arrived at the station.

1991 A new boat store was built providing a workshop, crew facilities and a kitchen.

1994 A new Schat launching davit for the boarding boat was installed on the quay.

1998 The station’s new Severn class lifeboat Edna Windsor arrived in June and a new alongside berth was completed in October.

2006 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Donald MacLeod after he and his crew escorted a damaged yacht to safety on 21 June. In severe gale conditions and with 11m seas breaking over the lifeboat, Coxswain MacLeod went through the notorious Sound of Barra to intercept the yacht, then guided it back to safety through the Sound of Sandray.

Coxswain MacLeod also received a Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman for a service on 20 June to two other yachts.

Station honours

At Barra Island lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Silver Medal 1
Bronze Medal 1