Page 183 - Archived Back Issues

COMPANY NEWS
The Massey Shaw Fireboat
Deschamps” which had struck a mine, and from which she directly rescued about 40 badly injured and oil contaminated men.
In order to participate in the 75th commemorations, a group from the British Firefighters Motorcycle Club, which included Past Master Peter Cowland and Freeman Tony Smith, rode to Dover for the Channel crossing to Calais, and by late afternoon were on the harbour side at the Dunkirk Basin du Commerce to cheer “Massey” and the other little ships as they arrived safe from their crossing.
No trip by firefighters abroad could ever pass without a visit to the local fire station and, with a number of London Fire Brigade Cadets, we were privileged to join the Massey Team at Dunkirk Fire Station where all were made most welcome by the “Sapeurs Pompiers” on duty there that day. Liveryman David Rogers, Director of the Massey Shaw Education Trust, with the assistance of the LFB Cadets, was pleased to present Captaine Christophe Libert with a specially crafted trophy entitled “The Spirit of Dunkirk” to mark the 75th Anniversary. (The base of the trophy is formed from a portion of the original Massey Shaw deck).
Massey Shaw continued to serve London throughout the Blitz and, on the night of 29 December 1940, supplied water for land crews ashore in their firefighting operations, thus helping to prevent the major fires spreading to St Paul’s Cathedral on a night when the Thames was at very low-tide. Massey Shaw remained in service until 1971. In 1982 a group of enthusiasts formed the Massey Shaw & Marine Vessels Preservation Society to preserve her history and keep her for future generations to enjoy. From this Society was formed the new Massey Shaw Education Trust which now uses her to allow young people to experience a “day-in-the-life” of a 1930’s fire-fighter on the River Thames. This project has recently been extended to allow them to hear stories, from monologue actors, about the London Blitz and the Dunkirk evacuation.
The Worshipful Company of Firefighters Charitable Trust continues to support this particular project. Thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund Massey Shaw has recently underwent a major restoration which, completed in 2013, was in good time for her to celebrate her 80th Birthday in 2015. She is currently moored at the West India dock.
'The Master and Chairman of Trustees were invited to attend a reception at the Westminster Boating Base on Thursday 30th April. The event marked the return of the historic LFB Fireboat Massey Shaw to the River Thames following her restoration. Then, on May 21st, Massey Shaw left Ramsgate Harbour with some other 45 plus ‘Little Ships’ in the Armada to cross the Channel and visit Dunkirk for the 75th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
The “Miracle of Dunkirk” meant that between 26 May and 3 June 1940 over 330,000 made the hazardous crossing back to the UK, far more than was originally anticipated! Massey Shaw was called up to take part and, with a mixed crew of volunteer River Service and Auxiliary Fire Service personnel, made for Ramsgate to join the other ‘Little Ships’ heading for the beaches of Dunkirk. Initially she was to be used to fight the fires in and around the harbour and oil installations but was quickly pressed into action taking soldiers off the beaches to larger ships laying off-shore. With her shallow (36 inch) draft she was able to get in very close to the beaches of Bray Dunes and La Panne for this purpose.
Massey Shaw made that hazardous trip three times across the channel and was attacked on numerous occasions. Her firefighting monitor was of great interest to the enemy as she appeared to be an armed vessel. Despite being dive-bombed she made it home safely after clocking up the rescue of over 500 troops from the fore-shore and directly ferrying some 110 across the channel. Badly injured troops were carried in the warmth of her engine room whilst others fell asleep exhausted on her upper decks. On her last passage to Ramsgate she came across a sinking French merchant ship the “Emile
3