Invergordon Image Library | Invergordon Harbour

	345
	Invergordon Museum and Heritage Centre
	1953

Invergordon Harbour

The Harbour Invergordon. The photo was used for a postcard and shows battleships moored in the Firth. HMS Vanguard can be seen moored in the Firth on the right side of the photo. It is known to have visited in 1952 and in 1953.
Picture Added on 13 May 2004.

Comments

I think I remember the landing craft. Was it there for some time? What was it used for?
Added by Brian McKenzie on 19 October 2004.

Smart observation, Brian. This is the west harbour and I wonder if the boat tied up on the left is the Invergordon/Cromarty ferry - the Endeavour?
Added by Malcolm McKean on 19 October 2004.

On the subject of landing craft, during WW2 there were two landing craft out at Balantraid Pier (past Saltburn) being used for training for the D-day landings. My Auntie (Jessie Ross, Tommy Ross the Ironmonger's wife) lived at the Pier and was always giving them cups of tea.
Added by Jet Andrews on 19 November 2004.

Don't remember the landing craft, but the boat on the left is the "Muriel" owned by Hec Macrae; the large navy ship is the HMS Vanguard.
Added by Harry O'Neill on 24 November 2004.

Talk here of the Invergordon Ferry being in this picture. My gr. gr. Grandfather Donald (Daniel) Hogg was a seaman on a ferryboat and lived in Invergordon - I am guessing this one. He drowned 31/1/1889 - he was only 35 years old. Any history around that I could find something on this, thanks, Anna Hogg Verner (Canada)

Added by Anna Hogg Verner on 04 April 2005.

Anna, that is going back a ways and the picture #325 would be more fitting as later boats were motor boats, maybe someone else could help, maybe the museum? ....or?
Added by Harry O'Neill on 04 April 2005.

The vessel on the left in the harbour is not the Endeavour or Muriel. Although its name escapes me at present, it was a pleasure craft owned by Angie Toochie.
The Endeavour was based at Cromarty, and not left berthed unattended at Invergordon. The Muriel was more usually berthed on the west side of the harbour.
Added by Ronald Stewart on 18 September 2005.

Definitely not the Endeavour. I knew every copper nail in her. Was the Muriel Old Hec McRae's boat? If it was to be one or the other it has to be the Muriel.
Added by Pat Swanson on 18 September 2005.

Yes Pat, the Muriel was Hec Mcraes boat, it looks like her; but Ronald could be correct, hard to say.
Added by Harry on 19 September 2005.

Muriel was a larger vessel with wheelhouse aft giving full standing headroom; there was a cargo hold ahead of the wheelhouse. This vessel has a raised coachroof and no wheelhouse; the hull shape is also very different from the Muriel.
The owner Angie Toochie was more correctly called Mr Angus Ross, who lived on Seabank Road.
Added by Ronald Stewart on 19 September 2005.

Muriels canopy was added late fifties for engine repairs etc. It was very small (least profile for ducks)
Hec told me he had got her from Glasgow and she was an ex-lifeboat. He painted her at the east side
of the harbour. She was normally moored ahead of RAF and ferry boats at west side. I think it is her.
Added by Bob Fair on 20 September 2005.

Guess both were similar boats...However when I was on the Muriel with Robert Macrae she didn't have any wheelhouse, just a cowling over the engine (which I used to crank) - the rest of the hull was open. I do remember one time the engine stalling and we were towed back in by one of the RAF fast boats...Hello Bobby Fair
Added by Harry on 20 September 2005.

I think there is still some confusion here!
Muriel was NAAFI boat operated by Hec, I think! Another NAAFI boat was called Catterick.
Also, I think Bob describes the boat used by Hec, with his punt for duck shooting. I never recall that boat being called anything other than "Hecs Boat".
Perhaps if I mention a fire on board, it might revive memories of Muriel and Catterick??
Or am I completely confused??
Added by Ronald Stewart on 27 September 2005.

I think you might be right Ronald, about the NAAFI boats. I think he also called his own motor boat the Muriel (maybe after the NAAFI boat?). He also had a daughter called Muriel. Long time now Harry O'
Added by Bob Fair on 01 October 2005.

Regarding the boat in the picture belonging to Angus Ross of Seabank Road - her name was 'Caber Feigh'. She lay there for years but was well looked after. The Muriel was a Naffi boat of the MFV type which Hec Mcrae ran - the Chaucer was the other he had. Hec's motor boat never had a name that I knew - it was always "hecs boat".
Added by Duncan Murray on 02 January 2006.

The wife of the owner of the Cabar Feidh (spg?) features in picture #241.
Added by Ronald Stewart on 25 January 2006.

Has anyone tried to identify the ships at the Admiralty Pier? I wonder, is the inner ship HMS Tyne or perhaps HMS Apollo..both of which were regular visitors and always moored alongside? The outboard ship looks very like a destroyer. Would be very interested to know...
Added by Duncan Murray on 14 February 2006.

Hard to say there Duncan, picture not clear, but know the Apollo had 3 or 4 funnels, can't make out in this picture....
Added by Harry O'Neill on 15 February 2006.

The inner vessel could be the Apollo - the Apollo if I recall rightly had 3 very regular straight funnels similar to the inner vessel - 2 funnels are clearly visible and the third may be obscured by the building on the pier. I think the Tyne was a larger vessel than the one in this picture.
The thick dark mast and straight cut stern of the outer vessel is similar to the old Daring class destroyers and HMS Daring was a regular visitor although I am not sure if that fits with the timescale of HMS Vanguard. Interestingly the ship launched on the Clyde recently was the first of the new Daring Class Destroyers.

(A larger version of part of the picture has now been provided - hopes this helps with identification - Site Admin.)
Added by Graham Mackenzie on 15 February 2006.

The inboard of the two warships in the centre is an Abdiel-class minelayer (APOLLO, ARIADNE or MANXMAN - the other three were lost during the war); the outboard ship I'm reasonably sure is either BATTLEAXE or BROADSWORD ('Weapon' class destroyers - note the twin 4" gun mounting aft). The better the definition that can be achieved the more likely a positive identification of the ships, and the date the photo was taken.
Added by Mark Brady on 16 February 2006.

Battelaxe and Broadsword were certainly regular visitors in the 50s. Another regular was the Cadiz.
Minesweeper Welcome was based at Inverg for a long time.
Added by Bill Geddes on 16 February 2006.

Can anyone remember the large boat that was tied up at the top of the RAF pier (1st pier) - think it was just prior to the second war. It was coloured grey - think the name was Ellen Dhu. Never saw it except being tied up almost in the corner.
Added by Douglas Will on 21 February 2006.

Hi duncan, just seen the website of Inver.G and it is really good. It brought back memories of nearly 50 years ago, as if it were yesterday. It's been 50 year or so when I left Invergordon and I have just returned to Scotland to live after being adrift for so long. I now live in Callander, Perthshire, and spend most of my semi-retirement sea & fresh water fishing. It would be nice if us old boys of yesteryears could maybe meet up and have the crack. Talking of boats & ships (which I miss dearly), I saw a programme years ago about a small Para-Handy-type boat and could not believe that it was the VIC 56. It used to supply the Navy in the 50s and is now in private ownership somewhere in south of England. Hope to hear from somebody soon. Regards John Maclaren
Added by John Maclaren on 26 March 2006.

Hi john..been a while hasnt it?..the boat in the picture I don't think is the Vic 56 - it looks more like the old Vic 32 which was one of the water lighters..very similar ..but perhaps I'm incorrect..anyway many a hour we spent together down that part of the town..boats I still like ..even do a bit of yachting from time to time..see your nephew Mark now and again hope we will meet up again ...50 years seems a long time...regards Duncan
Added by Duncan Murray on 29 March 2006.

HMS Apollo had three funnels. I was a POs messman on it in 1957.
Added by J Flynn on 11 April 2006.

The landing craft in this picture, (behind the right hand car) is almost certainly the same vessel as appears in picture #885 of HMS Eagle. The landing craft was loaded with ships stores and can be seen alongside an MFV, just below the funnel of HMS Eagle.
Added by Ronald Stewart on 14 May 2006.

Does anybody have further pictures or stories of the Muriel or the Chaucer? My father, Dick Bailey, was on both during the early part of WW2 when they were NAAFI boats and would be interested.
Added by A P Bailey on 17 May 2006.

She could well be Apollo. I too served on her '57-'58 and we called at Invergordon in June '58 (arriving in atrocious weather). Alongside a nearby jetty at the time was a ?tanker Artemis. Artemis was burnt out at sea a few days later. I always thought it ironic that in mythology Apollo and Artemis were brother and sister! They met up just before the end.
I also served in Vanguard briefly in September-November '56 at Devonport. She was acting as Training ship in place of Ocean which had gone off to Suez. Vanguard then went to Portsmouth to be mothballed prior to breaking up.
Added by David Elkington on 14 January 2007.