Steam Drifters Recalled, Portgordon to Portsoy (Buchan, Mair, Reid, Smith & Williamson, 2000) is a detailed record of our local steam drifters.  Among its entries is recorded the Eglantine, BF860 :- “Built 1907 of steel by Mackie and Thompson of Govan for G. Wood (Royal), Portknockie and W H Leask, Peterhead.”

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In 1914, Eglantine became stranded at Loch Bracadale (Skye) and was “abandoned, but salvaged and repaired.”  (Scottish Built Ships Website, Caledonian Maritime Research Trust). 

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There then followed a period of war service as an anti-submarine net vessel.  She was renamed Gullwing for the duration of the war.

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The Eglantine must have come to Portsoy ownership around the start of World War 1, and requisitioned by the Government soon after, for in a local Roll of Honour dated 1915, Alexander Mair, Barbank, is listed as the Captain. (He would have been taken into the Royal Naval Reserve for wartime service, in the rank of Temporary Skipper.)  His home was at Park View, Barbank Street.  Alex Mair, Barbank, is named as Mate; this was likely his nephew, the son of John Mair, Rocklyn.  George Pirie, 37 Schoolhendry Street, is listed as Chief Engineer; John Mearns Sen., 17 Low Street, a Deck Hand and James Mearns, 17 Low Street was cook.

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The owners of the Eglantine in a post-war list were the same Alexander Mair as well as his brother Joseph.  Sandy or Sanny Mair, as he was known, continued to skipper the Eglantine while Joe continued in the Daisy, BF1016.  Brother John (Jock) who lived at Rocklyn, Barbank Street, was another co-owner, from 1919 – 37.  Jock was also a co-owner of the Overfall, BF590, of which he was Master, between 1921 and 1945.  The eldest Mair brother, William, was recorded as a co-owner of the Eglantine in Olsen's Almanack of 1936, and might have been an original partner as well.  William captained the Perilia, BF248, a Banff built wooden drifter, during WW1.  Before the war, William was recorded as having been the owner and skipper of the Zulu Powerful, BF289, but the outbreak of war marked the end for most of the Zulus.  The last Zulu to be built in Cullen, for example, was launched in 1904.

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The Banffshire Journal, of 20th Sept, 1927 published Alexander Mair's obituary:

LATE MR. A. MAIR - It is with regret that we note the death of Mr. Alex. Mair, Barbank Street, owner of the steam drifter “Eglantine.”  A native of Portknockie, Mr. Mair came to Portsoy as a boy with his father, the late Mr. William Mair, who was one of the most enterprising fisherman of the day.   Under him he began life in the sailing boat and gained much valuable experience.  Mr. Mair inherited much of his father’s acumen and was one of the first owners of a drifter in Portsoy, and has always been a successful fisherman.  Though quiet and unassuming he was keenly interested in all that was going on and especially anything regarding the fishing and in the harbour question at present under consideration.  During the War he acted as a Skipper on a drifter attached to the Naval forces.  He is survived by a widow and by one daughter and four sons.  The latter assisted him in managing the “Eglantine.”

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In 1937, Eglantine was disposed of for scrap.

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