Banffshire Journal, Tuesday, March 11th. 1930: -

A PORTSOY CEREMONY - A Gallant Skipper and Crew - To the gallant conduct of Mr. Alex. Sutherland, 6 Bridge Street, Portsoy, skipper of the drifter “Val” and his crew, fitting tribute was paid at a meeting of Portsoy Town Council last night when he was presented with a binocular glass from the Board of Trade, in recognition of the bravery and able seamanship he showed on the night of 11th. November 1929, when, at the risk of the vessel and the lives of himself and his crew, he took off the crew of the motor fishing vessel “Tweedside” of Berwick, just before it foundered in the gale which then raged in the North Sea.

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          There was a large attendance of fishermen, and Mr. James Adam, Superintendent, Mercantile Marine, Macduff was present.

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          “I have been requested,” said Provost Scrimgeour, “by the Mercantile Marine Department of the Board of Trade to present you with this binocular glass which they have awarded you in recognition of the able seamanship displayed by you, as skipper of the “Val,” in effecting the rescue of the crew of the fishing vessel “Tweedside” on the 11th. November last, on the high seas.  The circumstances of the rescue are narrated in a statement which I obtained from Skipper Borthwick of the Tweedside: -”

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          “On that night in November, the “Tweedside” shipped a heavy sea, which broke all the wheelhouse windows, and which was followed immediately by another wave that burst her.   The “Val” had been steaming for port and the “Tweedside” had sent up flares.  Skipper Sutherland brought the “Val” alongside and on being informed that the “Tweedside” had sprung a leak, he shouted “Stand by and be careful of what you are doing and I will try my best to get you off safe.”  The first man to jump was George Dougal, deckhand.   He gripped the “Val” all right but slipped into the sea.  Skipper Sutherland, who saw what had happened put the “Val” full steam astern and Dougal was hauled aboard.  Dougal was a good swimmer but he was struck three times on the head by the “Val” which nearly finished him.   The next time the “Val” came alongside, three other members of the ”Tweedside” jumped aboard.  A third time the “Val” manoeuvred alongside and Skipper Borthwick of the “Tweedside” thinking that all his crew were aboard the “Val”, jumped to safety.  On looking back, however, he saw four of his crew still on the doomed vessel. Then the skipper of the “Val” shouted the encouraging words - “Take your time and we will get them all right.  I am not afraid for my own boat, but I am afraid I may sink yours before we get all the men.”   Yet a fourth time he put his ship alongside the “Tweedside” and all the rest of the crew jumped on to the “Val.”   The rescue was effected in darkness and in a high sea.

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          I do not know how the skipper of the “Val” managed to control his boat so well.   It was a marvellous bit of work and he ran a great risk of losing his own vessel.  Further words can hardly describe the extreme kindness shown by the skipper and the crew of the “Val” in providing us with clothes, food and all possible comforts and I and my men realise that our rescuers deserve far more than ordinary thanks.”

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          “There are many brave acts recorded in the annals of the sea,” continued the Provost, “ and to the distinguished list of sea heroes your name, and the names of your crew, must be added.  (Cheers.)   In the self-sacrificing action of the “Val” on the night in question, you jeopardised your own life and the lives of your crew in effecting the gallant rescue of the crew of the “Tweedside.”  This reward, which I now hand over to you, is a mere acknowledgement of a great act of heroism.  Your real reward - a reward which cannot be stated in tangible terms, is the satisfaction that you and your disinterested crew were prepared that night, to lose everything, even life itself, in order to save your fellow-craftsmen who were in extreme peril.   You have still a greater and more sacred possession, the undying consciousness that you were used by Providence that night as His instruments in saving your fellow men.   I do not know whether or not you were acquaint with the crew of the “Tweedside” before the rescue.  If you were not, your devotedness is all the more remarkable.  (Cheers.)    “Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends,” but if you were prepared to sacrifice your life and the lives of your crew to rescue those whom you did not know as friends, the satisfaction and the consciousness to which I have referred must be all the more extraordinary and vital.”  (Cheers.)

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          “Had your action been done in the course of the Great War, it is very probable that you would have received the V.C.    You cannot receive this, but you have done that which deserves it.  (Cheers.)  I am to say no more, but to express the satisfaction of the Mercantile Marine Department of the Board of Trade that our country has amongst its fishermen, men of your type, who at all cost uphold the worthiest traditions of the sea.  I have also to thank on behalf of the community and the Town Council of the burgh of Portsoy for the honour you have brought to the town in which you reside.”

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          Mr. Sutherland’s reply was simply put - “I thank you for all you have said.  We only did what any other fishermen would have done in the circumstances.”  He also thanked the representative of the Board of Trade for honouring them by coming there.

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          The inscription on the binocular glass was -  “Presented to Alexander Sutherland, skipper of the steam drifter “Val” of Banff in recognition of the able seamanship displayed by him in rescuing the crew of the motor fishing vessel, “Tweedside,” of Berwick, which was in distress in the North Sea on 11th. November 1929.”

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          Mr. Adam said, “On behalf of the Board of Trade he had great pleasure in associating himself with what the Provost had said.  He thought they should be very well pleased that they had such a noble character as Mr. Sutherland in their midst.”  (Cheers.)  He wished Mr. Sutherland long life and happiness.

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          The other members of the crew of the “Val” are - George Sutherland, brother, mate; William Sutherland, brother, engineer: James Sutherland, brother, deckhand; Alexander Smith, Sandend; Joseph McKay, Sen., Sandend; Joseph McKay, Jnr, Sandend; James Sutherland, cousin, cook; James Priest, deckhand, Sandend and James Hay, fireman, Buckie.