The wishing shelf book awards 201415, on beyond the flames. The pageant to be held at high water on the afternoon of sunday 3 june 2012 and the event will see up to a thousand boats muster on the river thames in preparation for her majesty the queen to lead the thames diamond jubilee pageant. These boats played a vital role in fighting fires along the banks of the thames, and were staffed by both firefighters and volunteers. She had draft of only 3ft 9ins being specially designed for the london river and to be able to manoeuvre under all the thames bridges and to navigate all the innumerable creeks, backwaters and. In 2015 beyond the flames was a finalist in the wishing shelf independent. Massey shaw still has the original pump action toilet installed on the vessel and when underway this is the only toilet on board.
Bbc london history rescue for londons dunkirk fireboat. Over the last few weeks, volunteers continue to works on rebuilding the various elements of the engine. The 2012 commemorative cruise will be held in london, in west india dock to coincide with the thames diamond jubilee pageant. Eyre massey shaw superintendent, later chief officer. The historic vessel was saved from dereliction by a group of enthusiasts who restored her. To advance public education in the history of marine vessels in particular by the preservation and public display of the massey shaw fireboat. Londons firefighters book austin macauley publishers. Built in 1935, it made several trips to dunkirk during the evacuation of british troops from france in 1940.
With claire barratt, axel cleghorn, suggs, jerry thurston. The historic fireboat massey shaw is named after sir eyre massey shaw 18301908, first chief officer of the london fire brigade. Every page goes through several hundred of perfecting techniques. A class apart the compelling history of the worldfamous. June the crew of the london fireboat,massey shaw received a great welcome when they returned to their london headquarters on the thames after assisting. In 1940 she went to dunkirk and rescued 500 troops off the beaches, plus returned with a further 110. The little ships of dunkirk were about 850 private boats that sailed from ramsgate in england to dunkirk in northern france between 26 may and 4 june 1940 as part of operation dynamo, helping to rescue more than 336,000 british, french, and other allied soldiers who were trapped on the beaches at dunkirk during the second world war. The massey shaw fireboat a brief history a london inheritance. He had taken charge of the old london fire engine establishment after braidwoods death. In addition, a historic fireboat, named the massey shaw, still exists, and was recently renovated.
She is named after captain sir eyre massey shaw, an important victorian fire chief in charge of the newly formed metropolitan fire brigade from 1866. We can cater for individual visits and groups on board or we can bring the history to you with our unique drama performances. The charity looks after the 80yearold massey shaw fireboat which was named after sir eyre massey shaw, the first chief fire officer of the metropolitan fire. Her design was specified by the london county council who wanted the fireboat to be able to travel under any of the bridges on the thames and its tributaries in central london at any state of the tide.
Suggs and the team accept the challenge to restore a 1935 london fire boat that, despite having an impressive wartime record, was left to rot alongside the woolwich ferry in the 1970s. I hope that yesterday and todays posts have provided some insight into this historic craft. Historic massey shaw fireboat restored a fireboat which played a crucial role in rescuing people in world war two has been restored and is making its way from gloucestershire to a. She is among the most powerful fireboats ever built, capable of pumping up to 18,000 gallons of water a minute. The massey shaw was built in 1935 at the yard of j samuel white on the isle of wight. When moored, additional toilet facilities are available, including disabled toilets thanks to our links with the docklands scout project. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comic con sundance film festival toronto intl film. A fireboat which played a crucial role in rescuing people in world war two has been restored and is making its way from gloucestershire to a permanent home in london. The historic vessel was saved from dereliction by a group of enthusiasts who are currently engaged in its restoration. The cabin, with its gimballed brass oil lamps, brass clock and barometer and teak bookshelf made by jack, was a. The historic vessel was saved from dereliction by a group of enthusiasts who restored her and a successful heritage lottery grant in 2008. Material surrounding the launch of the london fire boat massey shaw. London blitz and the 1981 brixton riots, to name just a few as well as covering key figures within the brigade like james braidwood and massey shaw.
My thanks to the massey shaw education trust for the day, and to the whole volunteer crew who provided a wealth of information on the history of the massey shaw and the operation of the boat. During the second world war there were nine fire boat stations, three prewar fireboats in service, as well as extra emergency fireboats and barges. He works on the thames and runs the liquid highway site that collates images of and information about boats working on the thames. She also rescued some 30 men from a french ship mined off margate. Firefighters of the second world war london fire brigade. Massey shaw is a former london fire brigade fireboat. Massey shaw served throughout the remainder of the war as a fireboat on the thames. For your bookshelf massey shaw pound grants are a thing of the past at least for the time being. The london fireboat massey shaw was 78ft long with a beam of ft 6inches. Blitz hero fireboat that saved st pauls cootes club east coast pilot. The massey shaw fireboat on the river thames, 29th. After restoration work that was originally commenced on a south london thameside site in 2009, and then a subsequent transfer to nielsons boatyard at gloucester for a major refit, the historic london fireboat massey shaw finally returned to her native thames in late november 20.
But the massey shaw s pumping ability turned the boat into a hero. Frogmen inspect the former london fire brigade fireboat, massey shaw, which sank at her thames mooring. Owners of london fireboat massey shaw, built in 1935 serving the london fire brigade during wwii and the blitz. It needs deck hands, engineers, tour guides, archivists and, indeed, anyone who can give a few hours or more a month. The massey shaw was one of several fireboats constructed to broadly the same design for the london fire brigade, with the massey shaw being completed by j. Former fireman phil wray discovered the vessel and immediately set about restoring it with the help of his friends, but the biggest task rebuilding. The massey shaw education trust is looking for volunteers. The brigade was reorganized in 1866 as the metropolitan fire brigade in the aftermath of the tooley street fire. Arriving at the houses of parliament 45 minutes later, they will end with a fanfare and three cheers for the queen. Historic 1935 london fireboat and dunkirk little ship.
The vessel has been completely restored in gloucester dock by a professional team of boat builders. Massey shaw fireboat is looking for volunteers thames. Massey shaw was built in 1935 as a fireboat for the thames. Older designs derived from tugboats and modern fireboats more closely resem. Massey shaw education trust london heritage vessel. Hello and welcome this is another salvage squad i had up on youtube but it was in parts. The massey shaw was one of several fireboats constructed to broadly the same design for thelondon fire brigade, with the massey shaw being completedby j. The massey shaw fireboat protected london during the blitz and also rescued troops from dunkirk.
The historic vessel was saved from dereliction by a group of enthusiasts who. Classic boat june 2014 by the chelsea magazine company issuu. Thanks to a successful heritage lottery grant in 2008 the vessel has been completely restored in gloucester dock by a professional team of boat builders. The massey shaw is a 1935built london fireboat, which saw service on the thames from 1936 1971. Education is at the core of the massey shaw education trust and we are proud to have such a unique resource to display and educate people in the history of the vessel and londons maritime history. Historic london fireboat massey shaw returns to dunkirk.
Harvey is a fireboat formerly of the new york city fire department in new york city, famed for returning to service following the september 11, 2001 attacks. The fireboat massey shaw of the london fire brigade named for sir eyre massey. The history book club british monarchyroyal houses. During that time she fought major waterfront fires on the river and throughout the docks. In 1940 she went to dunkirk and rescued 500 troops off the beaches, plus returned with a further. The first fireboats, dating to the late 18th century, were tugboats, retrofitted with firefighting equipment.
Today has been a bit of a break through in finding out more about the history of beta iii post fire brigade. Massey shaw made three trips to the beaches and rescued over 500 troops, most by ferrying them to a larger ship standing offshore. Today david rogers and bill hickin attended the 50th anniversary of the dudgeons wharf tragedy. We can cater for individual visits and groups on board or we can bring the history to you. Massey shaw project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. History has not been kind to the son of a putney brewer who became the. Wooden chocks are knocked away from under the boat. The rubber warehouse at colonial wharf burned for six days and was a difficult challenge for the new boat. Restoration of historic fireboat morts riverwatch an.
1480 1107 1029 946 548 497 988 517 1047 859 893 884 67 215 59 821 465 839 1232 1382 908 466 447 762 593 366 520 183 1236 975 357 1488 75 296 261 834 1400 503 636 393