The centenary of Cellardyke’s greatest single tragedy of the First World War has been marked.
A poignant centenary ceremony was held at sea to honour the memory of skipper Andrew Henderson and his crew, who were blown up by a mine 11 miles south east of St Abbs head.
One of the East Neuk’s most successful fishermen, he was searching for herring in his hired boat, The Janes.
Lost along with him were his sons Alexander, 29, and Andrew, 27, Thomas Boyter, 55, and James Wilson (Wallace), 51, all of Cellardyke.
The fleet was being guarded by a Royal Naval vessel and the commander had just been hailed by the skipper to inform him of the mine in the drift nets when it went off.
To commemorate this tragedy The White Wing, the Scottish Fisheries Museum’s Fifie Yawl, laid a wreath at sea.
The boat, similar to the Janes and also celebrating its centenary this year came to a halt just off Cellardyke, looking back on to the village and church where most of the crew belonged.
Aboard was musician and historian Richard Wemyss, who currently lives in the house that Andrew Henderson lived in 100 years ago.
The wreath commemorated the tragedy on behalf of the Henderson family and the Scottish Fisheries Museum .
It is hoped this will be an annual event at sea which will commemorate all fishermen lost while continuing to work in wartime to feed the nation.
While there are many land-based memorials to remember fishermen who lost their lives in action either in the Royal Navy or other services, Richard believed this sea memorial is a most appropriate type of commemoration.
Next year he is planning to invite a small flotilla of historic vessels to attend another ceremony, this time at the site of the explosion off St Abbs Head.
