Wee Cumbrae standing prominently in the Firth of Clyde seemed like a magnet to shipping. Over the years numerous vessels were wrecked on and around the island. They were all dramatic incidents, many with serious consequences. Some were fatal. Two examples are the Montclare and the Rockpool. The Montclare, a Clyde built majestic passenger liner was launched on the 18th December 1921 at John Brown’s Shipyard. For ten years the ship had an unblemished career until Saturday 21st March 1931. On that fateful day the Montclare had nearly completed her voyage from Canada to Glasgow. Since entering the Firth of Clyde due to dense fog, speed had been reduced to Dead Slow. At 2pm all was well until suddenly straight ahead Wee Cumbrae loomed out of the fog. The passengers and crew heard grating sounds as the ship’s bottom scrapped along the rocks followed by three large bumps then a horrendous crunching noise which brought the ship to a stop. The passenger ship was firmly aground on the west side of the island. As the tide receded the stranded passenger liner listed dangerously over on one side. Without hesitation the captain shouted the order “Abandon Ship!” The scene was now dramatic as the lifeboats were lowered and began ferrying the passengers to safety on the island. Once ashore the tugs were waiting to transport the passengers to Largs Pier. After all the passengers were landed the tugs returned to the stricken ship. When the tide was at its highest the Montclare was towed successfully off the rocks by four tugs. Fortunately the only damage sustained was to the starboard propeller.

The British built merchant ship Rockpool had achieved an illustrious career since being launched in 1927. She had even come under attack by a German U-Boat in October 1939. The U- Boat had surfaced close to the merchant ship and the crew had manned the deck gun and commenced firing.
Rather than flee the scene Captain Harland ordered his gunner to return fire. Such was the accuracy of the ship’s gunner the U-Boat quickly submerged only to surface a distance from its quarry. As the gun battle recommenced the Kapitan once more ordered his U-Boat to submerge. A few moments later when the hunter again surfaced the Rockpool’s gunner immediately started to fire his deck gun. Under sustained accurate gun fire the U-boat was left badly damaged and unable to submerge. Captain Harland left it to be finished off by a Royal Navy destroyer the following day.
Two years later the Rockpool had once more run the gauntlet across the Atlantic before entering safely into home waters. Now as the ship headed for Greenock at speed she inexplicably smashed into the island of Wee Cumbrae and was declared a complete wreck.
The ship that had survived enemy mines and aircraft fire plus winning a battle against U- Boat came to a tragic end on this little island
By now the Ministry of War being desperate for ships had the wrecked hull towed to a Clyde shipyard and completely rebuilt. Launched as HMS Empire Trent the warship was involved in active war service then later as a submarine depot ship at Rothesay, a few miles from where she was wrecked.