Memorial for victims who died in boat tragedy off Gourock

Local councillors Sandra Reynolds and John Crowther are campaigning for a tribute to those who died in the sinking of the Catherine - also recorded as the Mary - of Iona on August 10 in 1822 to be erected at Chapel Street cemetery in Gourock.

The memorial would commemorate the lives of the workers from Mull and Iona - mostly women and children - who perished when the boat was hit by the steam tug the Hercules, near to Cloch Lighthouse.

The people of Gourock joined together at the time to pay for the burial in the old cemetery opposite Eastern school, but there were not enough funds to pay for headstones.

Cllr Reynolds and Cllr Crowther now want Inverclyde Council to consider adding a memorial at the cemetery, and perhaps another close to the site of the disaster, to keep the memories of the individuals alive.

Cllr Crowther said: "Everything about this disaster has been forgotten about.

"It's only right that councillors bring it to the attention of the people of Inverclyde.

"It won't cost the earth to do and it will be something that's very much appreciated by the people of Mull, and by the people of Inverclyde."

On the fateful day, 46 people looking for work during the harvest season left Mull on a small vessel headed for Greenock via the Crinan Canal, a journey which was scheduled to take just over two days.

The boat spent the first night in the shelter of the canal and then journeyed around Bute and into the Firth of Clyde on the second day.

As the Catherine/Mary was unable to reach Greenock on the second night, the crew and passengers settled down close to the Cloch Lighthouse just before 9pm.

On its way from Glasgow, the Hercules struck the boat right through the stern and she fell to pieces and sank under the waves.

Of the 46 people on board, only two men and two women survived, making the tragedy the second worst shipping disaster in the waters off Gourock, only surpassed by the sinking of the Comet II in October 1825 when 62 people lost their lives.

William Russell, master of the Hercules, along with two crew members, Archibald McArthur and Archibald McLarty faced charges of culpable homicide but were released without trial.

Cllr Sandra Reynolds said she was originally approached by Inverkip man David Carnduff about a memorial after he carried out extensive research with help from Tom Aitchison and families in Mull.

She is planning to take plans forward at the next meeting of the Gourock town centre regeneration forum.

Cllr Reynolds added: "The people of Mull have always felt a sense of injustice as their families have been largely forgotten.

"It would be lovely for them to have their relatives recognised.

"There's been very positive feedback from families and I know that many people in Gourock are in favour of taking things forward."

Cllr Crowther said plans for the memorial tie in with Inverclyde Council's heritage strategy.

He added: "There's so much history here in Inverclyde that is forgotten about.

"We have a heritage strategy at the council and we have to abide by that by raising awareness of important points in Inverclyde's history.

"A small commemorative plaque is a small price to pay in memory of those who sadly never returned to their families."