The steel steam trawler Thomas Graham was launched from the Bowling yard of Scott and Sons Ltd (Yard No 271) on 6th June 1918. She measured 115.6′ x 22.2′ x 12.2′ and her tonnage was 203 gross tons, 78 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by W H Allen Ltd, Bedford delivering 74 nominal horse power. Built for the Admiralty for use as a minesweeper and boom defence vessel she was completed only a few months before the end of World War One. In early 1919 she was temporarily assigned to the US Navy to assist in the post war effort to clear German mines from around the Scottish coast. After she returned to the Admiralty she was sold to the Bunch Steam Fishing Co Ltd of Grimsby. In 1927 she was sold again, this time to R W Catcheside of North Shields who re-named her Tynemouth Abbey. In 1932 she was purchased by her final owner, Harrow Baxter Steam Fishing Co Ltd of Aberdeen, who re-named her Sunlight (A221) in 1940.
Strath Class trawler Thomas Graham under way
Lloyds register 1946
On 13th January 1953 Sunlight departed from Aberdeen under the command of skipper Alexander Soutar with a crew of ten men aboard. The following day they started fishing east of the Pentland Firth and then proceeded to try their luck off Dunnet Head. As the weather deteriorated Soutar headed further west arriving off Thurso Bay around 2am on 15th January. At this point the skipper, who had been awake for 22 hours, took time for some rest leaving his crew to clear up the fish caught during the day and clean the decks of the vessel. As they worked the Sunlight was drifting in the darkness and, by the time the skipper woke up two hours later and returned to the bridge, their position was uncertain. The engine was restarted and Soutar set a course WNW at four knots. 15 minutes later Sunlight ran aground on a reef near Murkle Point. Her distress calls were answered by Thurso lifeboat (Coxswain Angus Macintosh) which, despite an initial futile search near Holburn Head, eventually located Sunlight and pulled alongside the wreck to safely take off the crew. The Sunlight was to become a total wreck. The skipper was found at fault for the loss of the vessel by not anchoring, not leaving someone on watch as they drifted in the darkness and by restarting the engine and setting course without first establishing an accurate position. His certificate was suspended for two years.
Sunlight aground at Murkle Reef
The wreck believed to be the Sunlight lies in approximate position 58° 36.517′ N, 003° 25.541′ W in depths of 5 metres. There are no recent reports of divers exploring the site. The wreckage, which is mainly the boiler, is reported to break the surface at the lowest tides. However, there must be some doubt that this is indeed Sunlight as the early dive reports mention a wooden hull. It is possible the majority of the wreckage was salvaged and the wood noted was decking rather than hull.
Location of wreck
