Sir William Hillary
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:10 pm
A Motor boat of 40 ton, she was built in 1929. Requisitioned on 24th October 1940 and apparently used as an R.A. F. Air Sea Rescue vessel until 4th November 1940. From 5th November 1940 she was placed in Naval Service as an Air Rescue Craft based at Culver, Isle of Wight and was compulsorily acquired on 13th November 1940.
Re-allocated to Air Sea Rescue duties at Lyme Regis on 17th November 1943 and remained in service until handed over for disposal on 1st October 1946.
During her Naval Service she was manned by R.N. crew and is recorded as being at Southampton during January to July 1942, Yarmouth - July to October 1943 (refitting) Lyme Regis - November to December 1943. Portland -December 1943 to January 1944 (repairs) Lyme Regis - January to March 1944. Weymouth -March to May 1944 Padstow - May to June 1944. Falmouth - June to July 1944 (repairs) Lyme Regis July to October !944. Falmouth - October to December 1944 (repairs & refit) Clyde and Cambeltown until April 1946.
Shortly after World War II she was purchased by a Mr Muirhead and fitted out as a luxury cruiser powered by two Gardiner diesel engines and having no less than 10 berths, she was renamed ISLE OF COLONSAY and was used for some 30 years around the coasts of the British Isles.
In 1976 she was sold to a Mr Sim and again in 1984 she changed hands. On her way to the Mediterranean she went to the rescue of another vessel in the Bay of Biscay and towed her to Lisbon but shortly after leaving to resume her own journey she was struck by a large tanker and sunk without loss of life off Cape St Vincent.
SG 469, Log Book Jan 2005
Peter Bolton, RNLI Heritage, Research Dept., and Ministry of Defence - Record Office (Naval)