Orkney Image Library - Crew of the St Ola

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No: 1119 Contributor: Marion McLeod Year: 1900 Area: Stromness

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Crew of the St Ola

Marion writes:
'Crew of the old St Ola. My great uncle is supposed to be the man bottom row extreme left [William Harcus of Stromness]. He was born 1874 and if this is him I estimate the date around 1894 to 1900 roughly. Maybe someone can give a better year and name the crew?'

The picture looks as though it was taken at Scrabster.

Picture added on 14 November 2005

Comments:

Further info on this pic. from Jim Wilson in Reading - "The gentleman second left in the second row is my grandfather Jerry Wilson his brother Tom Wilson is the fifth gentleman in the same row also wearing a beard. They were both born and bred in Fair Isle Shetland. They both sailed in a ship called the Express which was before the St. Ola arriived. I think the Capt. was Capt. Robertson, they also served under Capt. Swanson. I was just a peedie bairn when my grandfather died so unfortunately I did not get to know him.
Among my fathers papers is an artical in the Orcadian dated 1926 refering to my grandfathers retirement."

Added by marion mcleod on 23 May 2006

Yes it is Captain Robertson, he is my great-grandfather.

Added by Neal Johnston on 13 January 2010

Can anybody give me a picture of the crew from the next St Ola in the 50's. I am John Park from Edinburgh.

Anonymous comment added on 06 January 2017

Studying this photograph I believe that the crewman standing fourth from the left is George Bain Swanson. He joined the crew of St Ola in February 1906 and was promoted to Mate in February 1909, having passed his exams for mate on 13th February 1909. A letter dated 27th October 1911 advised him that he had ben appointed Master.
It seems that this photograph must have been taken between February 1906 and February 1909.

Added by Bruce Gorie on 28 March 2025

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