Rapid

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

On 17th January 1912 the steam trawler Rapid of Peterhead lost her rudder east of Shetland. On trying to anchor off Out Skerries she lost an anchor and on trying to anchor north of Whalsay, she lost her remaining anchor. With her engine still running, she manoeuvered into Vidlin Voe, but struck fast on the "Back" a skerry only visible at low tide .

Seven of the eight brave men known as the "Vidlin Heroes"

Diploma from "The Carnegie Hero Fund Trust" to Mitchell Georgeson, now in The Cabin Museum.

The description of the ensuing rescue accompanying the photograph is as follows :
  "A GALLANT RESCUE - On 17th January 1912, during a  strong south- south-east gale, the steam trawler 'Rapid' of Peterhead was driven on the Back Rock in Vidlin Voe where she became badly holed and took a dangerous  list.  The seven Vidlin men shown in the above photograph and an eighth,  Gilbert Georgeson, launched a small boat and rowed about three-quarters of a  mile to the stranded vessel.  The sea was running so high that they could  approach no closer than about eight or ten yards and from there a line was  thrown aboard the wreck so that the nine hands were one by one safely hauled through the sea aboard the boat.  Later that year the rescuers were presented with gold medals by King George V at Balmoral.

  The men in the photo are: Back row (left to right),  Mitchell Georgeson, Hector Rendall, Gilbert McWhirter.
Front Row, Alex Pearson, Robert Peterson, Robert Robertson, Charles Gilbertson."