Massey Shaw facts for kids
Massey Shaw in 2014
|
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | Massey Shaw |
| Namesake | Eyre Massey Shaw |
| Owner | The Massey Shaw and Marine Vessels Preservation Society Limited |
| Operator | London Fire Brigade |
| Builder | J. Samuel White, Cowes, Isle of Wight |
| Cost | £18,000 |
| Launched | 1935 |
| In service | 1935 |
| Out of service | 1971 |
| Homeport | London |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Fire float |
| Tonnage | 50.54 GT |
| Length | 78 ft (24 m) o/a |
| Beam | 13 ft 9 in (4.19 m) |
| Draught | 3 ft 9 in (1.14 m) |
| Decks | Teak |
| Installed power | 1 × Russell Newbery 2-cylinder Type D2 diesel engine |
| Propulsion | 2 × 165 bhp (123 kW) 8-cylinder Gleniffer DC8 diesel engines |
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Capacity |
|
The Massey Shaw is a famous old fireboat from the London Fire Brigade. This amazing boat was saved by a group of people who loved its history. They worked hard to fix it up, and they even got a special grant in 2008 to help.
A team of expert boat builders completely restored the Massey Shaw in Gloucester. They originally planned to sail her back to the River Thames in 2013. This trip would have taken her around the south coast of the UK. She would have stopped at places like Cowes, Isle of Wight, where she was first built in 1935. However, the boat ended up returning to London by road in 2013. The last parts of her restoration were finished there.
Contents
Building the Massey Shaw
The Massey Shaw was built in 1935. She was made by the J. Samuel White company in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. The boat was designed by the London County Council. It cost about £18,000 to build.
The boat was named after Eyre Massey Shaw. He was a very important person. He used to be the chief of the London Fire Brigade.
A Hero in World War II
The Massey Shaw played a huge role during the Second World War. She was part of a group of small boats. These boats were sent to Dunkirk in France. Their mission was to help rescue British soldiers. The soldiers were stuck on the beaches.
The Massey Shaw made three trips to the beaches. She rescued over 500 soldiers! Most of them were taken from the beach to a bigger ship waiting offshore. She also saved about 30 men from a French ship. That ship had hit a mine near Margate.
Fighting Fires on the Thames
After Dunkirk, the Massey Shaw continued to serve as a fireboat. She worked on the River Thames in London. During the Blitz, London was bombed heavily. Many fires started.
The Massey Shaw pumped huge amounts of water from the Thames. This water was used to fight fires. She helped put out blazes all along the riverbanks.
Life After Service
The Massey Shaw stayed in service until 1971. After that, she was taken out of use. In 1980, some people found the Massey Shaw. She was abandoned in St Katharine Docks.
These people, including Philip Wray and Dick Helyer, formed a group. They called it "The Massey Shaw Fireboat Society". They worked hard to save this historic boat. Eventually, they were given a 50-year lease to look after her.
You can even see the Massey Shaw in a movie! She appeared in the 1958 film 'Dunkirk'. The movie starred famous actors like John Mills and Richard Attenborough.
Images for kids
-
Massey Shaw, 2014
