Steel steam trawler Samuel Baker was ordered by the Admiralty in the latter years of World War One. Launched from the yard of Hall Russell and Co Ltd., Aberdeen (Yard No 610) on 7th June 1917 she measured 115.5′ x 22.3′ x 11.8′ Her tonnage was 194 gross tons, 72 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine delivering 78 registered horse power. In 1921 she was purchased by the Don Fishing Co Ltd., Aberdeen who renamed her Braconmoor and registered her in this port as A767.
Builders long section-Lloyd’s Register
On 4th January 1930 she set out from Aberdeen bound for the fishing grounds under the command of her skipper Archie Brown with a crew of eight men. In the early hours of the morning the following day as they passed through the Pentland Firth heading west they ran into a heavy squall which reduced visibility to virtually zero. Due to this difficult weather, the darkness and the prevailing sea conditions she ran aground on a reef off Tor Ness Point, Hoy and stuck fast.
Braconmoor ashore on Hoy
The distress flares from Braconmoor were spotted from the shore and a message relayed to the Longhope Lifeboat Station where the crew were quickly raised, the boat launched and they were soon speeding to the scene. An hour later they reached the wreck and found her lying close to dangerous rocks with a heavy surf breaking over her. The coxswain John Swanson laid out a kedge anchor and attempted to drift down to the Braconmoor but twice they were swept past the stranded vessel. Finally, he was able close enough to her to use a line throwing gun to get a rope aboard. This allowed them to set up an improvised breeches buoy and, one by one, the crew were pulled across to the lifeboat from Braconmoor. Archie Brown was the last to leave the vessel but unfortunately, when he was pulled aboard the lifeboat, he was found to have passed away while he was being towed through the surf. The Braconmoor became a total wreck.
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