BOATING ACCIDENT, HOUTON. 19th June 1920
Scapa Flow and approaches - northern sheet. 1923. (UKHO)
Dundee Courier - Monday 21 June 1920
DUNDEE NAVYMAN IS DROWNED IN BOATING ACCIDENT AT SCAPA FLOW. P.O. William Dand, torpedo Instructor 38 Ann Street, Dundee, was one of a party of five naval officers who were drowned in a boating accident at Scapa during the weekend. The party were in a boat belonging to H.M.S. Lucia, which is at present lying at Scapa Flow, when the craft capsized and five men were drowned. Mrs Dand received intimation yesterday of the tragic fate her husband. Deceased, who was thirty years of age, served in the navy during the war.
Dundee Courier - Tuesday 22 June 1920
FIVE DROWNED AT SCAPA FLOW WHEN SQUALL UPSETS BOAT.
Our Kirkwall correspondent forwards particulars of the boating accident already reported in the "Courier," winch occurred at Scapa Flow on Saturday, when naval men were drowned, one of whom, P.O. Wm Dand, torpedo instructor, hailed from 38 Ann Street, Dundee. The men, belonging to H.M.S Lucia present at anchor, at Lyness, Scapa Flow, left Houton Pier in a small whaler going towards Lyness but on rounding Orrakirk Point a squall caught the boat, which was under full sail and swamped her. A strong southerly wind was blowing at the time, and the sea was rough. Mr James Andrew Ritchie fisherman, Seaview, Houton, brought one man ashore. Artificial respiration was carried out, but without success. It is believed this man was P.O. Dand. A naval inquiry is to be held to-day at Lyness.
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Wednesday 23 June 1920
ORKNEY BOATING ACCIDENT.
FIVE SAILORS LOST OFF HOUTON HEAD.
A boating accident occurred on Saturday off Houton Head, Orkney, when four sailors were drowned, and a fifth who was rescued died later from exhaustion. It is believed that the men belonged to H.M.S. Lucia, at present at anchor off Lyness, Scapa Flow. At four o'clock in the afternoon the men left Houton Pier in a small whaler, and half hour later on rounding Orrakirk Point a squall caught the boat, which had full sails, and swamped her. A strong southerly wind was blowing at the time, and the sea rough. Mr James Andrew Ritchie, Seaview, Houton, who effected the rescue at the Holm Sound disaster some time ago, brought the fifth man ashore. Artificial respiration was carried out for one and half hours, but without success.
Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands - Wednesday 23 June 1920
TRAGIC OCCURRENCE IN SCAPA FLOW.
NAVAL SAILING BOAT CAPSIZED.
FIVE LIVES LOST.
Information reached Kirkwall on Saturday evening of a boating accident in Scapa Flow, whereby five lives were lost. It appears that early to the afternoon a boat, manned by five members of the crew of the light cruiser Lucia, which was then lying at Lyness, proceeded to Houton, Ophir, for the purpose of purchasing dairy produce. Houton pier was made without mishap. During the period the men were ashore the wind, which was blowing from the north - east, increased considerably, which, combined with the ebb. tide made a nasty sea. Before undertaking the return journey, the crew were warned of the danger of attempting a crossing, but they ignored the advice proffered and left Houton pier under full sail. All apparently went well until Houton Head was rounded, when the boat was struck by a squall and was seen to swamp and fill with water.
A small boy, named Ritchie. who had observed the accident from the farm of Quoys, at once went to Houton and informed his father, who at once proceeded to the scene of the accident in his motor-boat. Owing to the time it took the boy to reach Houton, and before the motor-boat could reach the capsized boat, the best part of an hour had elapsed. One man was discovered hanging on to a rope, but there was no trace of the other four. As the rescued man was in a state of collapse, the motorboat at once returned to Houton pier. Artificial respiration was at once resorted to by the officers from the air station, but, in spite of every attention, the man succumbed.
Shortly after the motorboat left the scene of the disaster, the Stromness motor lifeboat, which had been summoned, put in an appearance. Dr Duncan, who was onboard the latter boat, landed at Orphir and examined the rescued man, but he pronounced life extinct.
The naval boat which was recovered and taken into Stromness, was found to still contain the eggs purchased by the men before they left Orphir.
Morpeth Herald - Friday 02 July 1920
ALNWICK NAVAL SEAMAN DROWNED The sad news has been received Alnwick that Petty Officer William Pattinson, H.M.S. Lucia, has been accidentally drowned off Scapa Flow by the capsizing of the whaleboat when under sail. Petty Officer Pattinson joined the Royal Navy at Harwich in 1910, and his future, was most promising, being regarded most trustworthy and efficient officer. During the war he served various vessels, where he did good work. Petty Officer Pattinson was 26 years of age and was married Alnwick scarcely two years ago. The deceased’s father Mr. Wm. Pattinson, has been senior passenger clerk Alnwick Railway Station for many years.
Western Times - Tuesday 06 July 1920
KINGSTEIGNTON. Mrs. Hart, Dickers Cottages, Kingsteignton, has been notified that her husband, P.O. Charles Hart, of H.M.S. Lucia, has lost his life through the capsizing of ship's whaler at Scapa Flow.
Dundee Courier - Monday 21 June 1920
DUNDEE NAVYMAN IS DROWNED IN BOATING ACCIDENT AT SCAPA FLOW. P.O. William Dand, torpedo Instructor 38 Ann Street, Dundee, was one of a party of five naval officers who were drowned in a boating accident at Scapa during the weekend. The party were in a boat belonging to H.M.S. Lucia, which is at present lying at Scapa Flow, when the craft capsized and five men were drowned. Mrs Dand received intimation yesterday of the tragic fate her husband. Deceased, who was thirty years of age, served in the navy during the war.
Dundee Courier - Tuesday 22 June 1920
FIVE DROWNED AT SCAPA FLOW WHEN SQUALL UPSETS BOAT.
Our Kirkwall correspondent forwards particulars of the boating accident already reported in the "Courier," winch occurred at Scapa Flow on Saturday, when naval men were drowned, one of whom, P.O. Wm Dand, torpedo instructor, hailed from 38 Ann Street, Dundee. The men, belonging to H.M.S Lucia present at anchor, at Lyness, Scapa Flow, left Houton Pier in a small whaler going towards Lyness but on rounding Orrakirk Point a squall caught the boat, which was under full sail and swamped her. A strong southerly wind was blowing at the time, and the sea was rough. Mr James Andrew Ritchie fisherman, Seaview, Houton, brought one man ashore. Artificial respiration was carried out, but without success. It is believed this man was P.O. Dand. A naval inquiry is to be held to-day at Lyness.
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Wednesday 23 June 1920
ORKNEY BOATING ACCIDENT.
FIVE SAILORS LOST OFF HOUTON HEAD.
A boating accident occurred on Saturday off Houton Head, Orkney, when four sailors were drowned, and a fifth who was rescued died later from exhaustion. It is believed that the men belonged to H.M.S. Lucia, at present at anchor off Lyness, Scapa Flow. At four o'clock in the afternoon the men left Houton Pier in a small whaler, and half hour later on rounding Orrakirk Point a squall caught the boat, which had full sails, and swamped her. A strong southerly wind was blowing at the time, and the sea rough. Mr James Andrew Ritchie, Seaview, Houton, who effected the rescue at the Holm Sound disaster some time ago, brought the fifth man ashore. Artificial respiration was carried out for one and half hours, but without success.
Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands - Wednesday 23 June 1920
TRAGIC OCCURRENCE IN SCAPA FLOW.
NAVAL SAILING BOAT CAPSIZED.
FIVE LIVES LOST.
Information reached Kirkwall on Saturday evening of a boating accident in Scapa Flow, whereby five lives were lost. It appears that early to the afternoon a boat, manned by five members of the crew of the light cruiser Lucia, which was then lying at Lyness, proceeded to Houton, Ophir, for the purpose of purchasing dairy produce. Houton pier was made without mishap. During the period the men were ashore the wind, which was blowing from the north - east, increased considerably, which, combined with the ebb. tide made a nasty sea. Before undertaking the return journey, the crew were warned of the danger of attempting a crossing, but they ignored the advice proffered and left Houton pier under full sail. All apparently went well until Houton Head was rounded, when the boat was struck by a squall and was seen to swamp and fill with water.
A small boy, named Ritchie. who had observed the accident from the farm of Quoys, at once went to Houton and informed his father, who at once proceeded to the scene of the accident in his motor-boat. Owing to the time it took the boy to reach Houton, and before the motor-boat could reach the capsized boat, the best part of an hour had elapsed. One man was discovered hanging on to a rope, but there was no trace of the other four. As the rescued man was in a state of collapse, the motorboat at once returned to Houton pier. Artificial respiration was at once resorted to by the officers from the air station, but, in spite of every attention, the man succumbed.
Shortly after the motorboat left the scene of the disaster, the Stromness motor lifeboat, which had been summoned, put in an appearance. Dr Duncan, who was onboard the latter boat, landed at Orphir and examined the rescued man, but he pronounced life extinct.
The naval boat which was recovered and taken into Stromness, was found to still contain the eggs purchased by the men before they left Orphir.
Morpeth Herald - Friday 02 July 1920
ALNWICK NAVAL SEAMAN DROWNED The sad news has been received Alnwick that Petty Officer William Pattinson, H.M.S. Lucia, has been accidentally drowned off Scapa Flow by the capsizing of the whaleboat when under sail. Petty Officer Pattinson joined the Royal Navy at Harwich in 1910, and his future, was most promising, being regarded most trustworthy and efficient officer. During the war he served various vessels, where he did good work. Petty Officer Pattinson was 26 years of age and was married Alnwick scarcely two years ago. The deceased’s father Mr. Wm. Pattinson, has been senior passenger clerk Alnwick Railway Station for many years.
Western Times - Tuesday 06 July 1920
KINGSTEIGNTON. Mrs. Hart, Dickers Cottages, Kingsteignton, has been notified that her husband, P.O. Charles Hart, of H.M.S. Lucia, has lost his life through the capsizing of ship's whaler at Scapa Flow.
Those Lost On The Whaler
The body of Petty Officer William Dand was the only one recovered. He is buried at Dundee Eastern Cemetery.
Headstone for William Dand. Dundee Eastern Cemetery. Image courtesy John G Duffus
P.O. William Dand J 5946 (Dev) *** We are aware of the date differences and are currently in communication with CWGC to get this both verified and amended....Wendy***
P.O. William Pattinson J 11184 (Dev)
P.O. Charles Hart 218441 (Dev)
A.B. Harold Scrivner J 20222 (Dev)
A.B. Ernest Barrett J 8093 (Dev)
Footnote: Petty Officer (1st Class) George Rowe, HMS Lucia, could indirectly by classed as a 6th victim of this tragedy when in August 1920 he took his own life. The deceased father, William Rowe, stated at the inquest ''He had appeared very depressed and had stated that he had not felt well since he lost his three messmates in a boating fatality about six weeks ago''.