A north-east lifeboat crew has commemorated the lives of volunteers who perished while attempting to rescue Danish fishermen.
The Duchess of Kent lifeboat set off in a fierce storm to try and help a fishing boat, the Opal, on January 21, 1970.
But the vessel was struck by a massive wave and overturned 35 miles off the coast.
The disaster claimed the lives of John Stephen, 45, and his crew members, engineer Fred Kirkness, 56, James Buchan, 29, William Hadden, 34, and James Slessor Buchan, 48.
The only survivor was second engineer John Jackson Buchan.
At a poignant ceremony to mark almost 50 years since their comrades’ tragic deaths, Fraserburgh Lifeboat’s current crew placed a wreath on the station’s memorial statue.
And last weekend, the victims were remembered on the 47th anniversary of the tragedy.
A spokesman for the lifeboat explained that laying a wreath at sea for the men had become a “tradition” for the local station.
He said the boat travelled four miles north-east of the harbour where the crew gathered for a “few words” from coxswain Victor Sutherland.
And he added: “[Mr Sutherland] then laid a wreath followed by a minutes silence in memory of the crew members of the Duchess of Kent.
Mr Sutherland believes it is important the port never forgets the sacrifice of the men.
He said: “They will never be forgotten.
“It’s something we can’t forget about because it’s in our ethos – ordinary men who are doing their best to help a stranger at sea.
“Those five lads paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
Seventeen years prior to the Duchess of Kent disaster, six other members of Fraserburgh Lifeboat died when their vessel capsized within sight of the harbour.
The lifeboat had been helping fishing boats back into port in turbulent conditions.
Only one of the seven crew members survived.
