New memorial for 42 victims of Mary of Iona tragedy in 1822

Inverclyde Council have unveiled a memorial for the victims of a shipping tragedy that occurred off the coast of Gourock more than 200 years ago.

On August 1822, the Mary of Iona, a sailing sloop en route from Mull to Greenock, was struck by a steam tug, Hercules, on the Clyde close to Cloch Lighthouse.

The sloop was sunk with the loss of 42 lives and only four survivors.

The passengers on the Mary of Iona were mainly island women who were travelling to Greenock in the hope of securing harvesting work.

Pupils from Whinhill Primary Gaelic Choir and Gourock Primary Choir both sang, Inverclyde Council via Supplied

The incident, which had tragic repercussions on Mull and Iona where many children were left as orphans, became known as “The Drowning of the Harvesters”.

Victims were laid to rest in the Chapel Street Cemetery – but due to lack of funding at the time no headstones or memorials were ever put in place.

Thanks to the efforts of Inverclyde resident David Carnduff, Inverclyde Council has installed a new memorial in the cemetery to remember the disaster and those who perished 202 years ago.

A service was held on Wednesday at the Chapel Street Cemetery to unveil the memorial stone and pay tribute to the victims.

Provost Drew McKenzie said: “As a coastal community with a long maritime heritage, we are sadly only too familiar with shipping disasters, but this is one that is perhaps forgotten about, particularly due to the absence of a memorial.

“It was an honour for me on behalf of the people of Inverclyde to help unveil this new commemorative stone to remember the victims of this tragedy off the coast of Gourock more than 200 years ago.

“Thanks must go to Inverclyde resident David Carnduff for raising awareness of this tragedy and for working alongside a variety of partners to ensure a fitting memorial is now in place to honour the people who perished in this disaster.”

At the dedication service, pupils from Whinhill Primary Gaelic Choir and Gourock Primary Choir both sang, and a piper played a lament.

Names of the 42 who died in the tragedy were also read out.

Councillor Lynne Quinn, chair of the Gourock Town Centre Regeneration Forum, said: “I would like to highlight the generosity and kindness of the Gourock townsfolk at the time of the tragedy.

“Seafarers who helped with that rescue of the victims and those who established a fund to help with aid during the rescue mission.

“Also, the town’s high level of attendance at the funeral and ensuring the victims were ‘decently interred’ at the Chapel Street Burial Ground.

“It is great that we are continuing this kindness and respect 200 years on.”