The steel coastal steamship Dunira was managed by J & G Frew of Glasgow for her owners, the Home Trade Steam Carrying Co. Ltd of Glasgow. She was launched from the yard of Bow, McLachlan & Co Ltd of Paisley (Yard no 148) on 18th September 1901. She measured 90.0′ x 20.2′ x 8.1′ and her tonnage was 150 gross tons, 57 net tons. The vessel was powered by a 2 cylinder compound steam engine, also manufactured by Bow McLachlan delivering 24 registered horse power.
Dunira profile and deck plan
Lloyd’s register 1913
On the 15th December 1913, the Dunira was being towed to Greenock by another company ship, the Dunscore, as her engines had failed off the Isle of Man. As the two ships approached Portpatrick the tow line snapped and the Dunira was swept towards the rocky coast in a freshening westerly breeze. The crew’s distress rockets were quickly answered by the Portpatrick lifeboat which succeeded in taking off two of the crew while the Dunira held at anchor a few hundred yards from the shore. Before the lifeboat could rescue the remaining three crewmen the anchor chain parted and she was again driven towards the shore. Coxswain Smith succeeded in snatching the three men from the pitching, rolling ship, sustaining considerable damage to the lifeboat in the process, before the Dunira was finally washed ashore at South Witch Rock approximately three quarters of a mile south of Portpatrick harbour where she became a total wreck.
SS Dunira aground at South Witch Rock.
In January 1914, at a meeting of the General Committee of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the cox of the Portpatrick lifeboat, James Smith jun., was awarded their silver medal. A pecuniary award was also presented to the rest of the crew in recognition of their gallant actions which resulted in the saving of the 5 crew aboard the Dunira.
Extract May 1914 issue Lifeboat magazine.
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