Fireboat “Massey Shaw”
Many will have heard of Sir Eyre Massey Shaw (1830 to 1908), the Superintendent of the London
Fire Engine Establishment and then Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. Together with
James Braidwood, his predecessor, he is generally regarded as the father of the British Fire Service,
laying the foundations of the modern fire and rescue service we know today.
In 1934 the London County Council/London Fire Brigade ordered a new fireboat which was to carry
Sir Eyre’s name. The specification called for a vessel with a shallow draught which could operate on
the Thames, its tributaries, canals and enclosed docks, with a 3” monitor to direct large quantities of
water onto riverside fires together with numerous deliveries to facilitate pumping water ashore and for
salvage pumping. It was constructed at the yard of J.Samuel White & Co. in Cowes, Isle of Wight at a
cost of over £17,000, being launched on 25th February 1935 by the wife of the then Chief Officer,
Major C.C.B. Morris. At 78 feet in length and 50 tons in weight the boat is powered by twin 8cylinder Gleniffer 165hp diesel engines giving 12 knots, with twin 4-stage centrifugal pumps and
firefighting equipment supplied by Merryweather & Sons Ltd, maximum output on the monitor being
3,000gpm. However, in naming the vessel, “Sir Eyre” was excluded from the title in favour of just
“Massey Shaw” and his first name seems to have been somewhat lost to history.
On completion she was sailed around the Channel in to the Thames and was based at Blackfriars
Bridge River Station from July 1935, from where she attended a number of major riverside warehouse
fires, including Colonial Wharf, Wapping where her monitor was put to good use in restricting the
spread of fire to adjoining warehouses. “Massey Shaw” was later relocated to the new Lambeth River
Station pontoon on the opening of the Albert Embankment Headquarters in 1937.
Following the outbreak of the Second World War a number of auxiliary firemen were trained for river
duties and were able to form an element of the 8-man crew. During the withdrawal of the British
Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk and evacuation in May/June 1940 the “Massey Shaw” was requested
by the Admiralty and despatched to Dunkirk via Ramsgate on 31st May with an augmented volunteer
crew of regulars and auxiliaries plus an attached naval officer in command, Sub Lieutenant Lucey RN
on the first trip being especially mentioned. The original assumption was that she would assist with
firefighting operations in Dunkirk port but, on arrival, this proved impractical under the desperate
circumstances. Instead, she was instrumental in rescuing some 600 troops - ferrying over 500 troops
off the beach at Bray Dunes to larger vessels offshore, where her shallow draught proved
advantageous, and bringing over 100 others back directly to Ramsgate over three trips. The crew on
the second voyage to Dunkirk comprised mixed fire service and RN personnel transporting a naval
beach party. A relief fire service crew from London in turn took the boat back to Dunkirk for the third
and final trip. After returning and making her way from Ramsgate back to London on 3rd June she
also rescued up to 40 French soldiers from the “Emile Deschamps”, which had struck a mine in the
Thames Estuary and was sinking, disembarking the survivors back at Ramsgate. A total of 18 London
Fire Brigade/London Auxiliary Fire Service personnel took part over the three trips, the most senior
being Station Officers H.Youngman and G.A.Briancourt.
On termination of this operation the “Massey Shaw” made her way back to Lambeth on 5th June, the
crew waving rifles left on board by soldiers as they drew into the Lambeth pontoon. In recognition of
their outstanding achievements Sub Officer A.J.May was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal,
one of the few civilians to be awarded a military decoration, and Auxiliary Firemen H.A.W.Ray and
E.G.Wright were Mentioned-in-Dispatches, while Station Officer Youngman received a Chief
Officer’s Commendation. Vice-Admiral Ramsey, Flag Officer, Dover, who commanded Operation
Dynamo, the Dunkirk Evacuation, paid a special tribute to the “Massey Shaw” in his dispatches on
the operation, the only civilian vessel so mentioned. All vessels which took part in Operation
Dynamo received a special plaque in the form of a brass plate inscribed with the words “Dunkirk
1940”.
Thereafter “Massey Shaw” undertook fireboat duties on the Thames during the 1940/41 Blitz on
London, being the first fireboat to be equipped with wireless. She played a major part in pumping
water ashore to supply the large amounts of water needed by land crews fighting the extensive fires
caused by enemy incendiary raids and hampered by water mains destroyed by high-explosive bombs.
She was especially credited with supplying water ashore which enabled land crews to prevent fire
spreading to St Paul’s Cathedral during the big City Blitz of 29/30 December 1940, when the Thames
was initially at low-tide. For the remainder of the war “Massey Shaw” operated under the River
Thames Formation of the National Fire Service. In 1947 her open canvas dodger and screen, which
gave scant weather protection to the helmsman, was replaced by a fully-enclosed wheelhouse. An
unusual river trip took place around this time when Herbert Morrison MP, Leader of the House, and
Aneurin Bevan MP, Minister of Health, came on board and were taken down to the Thames Estuary,
during which time a conference took place on board which led to the creation of the National Health
Service.
On the reconstitution of the London Fire Brigade in 1948 the “Massey Shaw” continued to operate
from Lambeth, and later Woolwich. In 1965 she took part in the voyage to Dunkirk of the “Little
Ships of Dunkirk” to mark the 25th Anniversary of the evacuation; the “Little Ships” also acquired
their unique pennant, the arms of Dunkirk against a cross of St George, and membership of the
Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS). Operational up until 1970, the boat was withdrawn,
having been in continuous service for 35 years. From this time she was moored in several places,
mainly Woolwich and later at St Katherine’s Dock near the Tower of London pending a decision on
her future, gradually looking rather forlorn and neglected. Given that this particular fireboat had an
especially worthy history a number of people with connections to the fireboat or Thames history, led
by ex-firefighters Phil Wray, Tom Bell and Richard (Dick) Helyer BEM – one of the original Dunkirk
crew - felt the boat should be preserved. After lengthy negotiations with the LFB they acquired the
boat on a 50-year lease in 1980 and established the charity “The Massey Shaw and Marine Vessels
Preservation Society”, of which ex-firefighter Dave Rogers, with the support of the trustees of the
Society, has been the Company Secretary and driving force ever since. An occasional newsletter,
“The Massey Messenger” is also published by the Society.
The Society comprised trustees, members and volunteers, who undertook restoration work on the boat
to get it back to a reasonable standard and maintain it thereafter plus associated fund raising. During
the 1980s and ‘90s the boat was employed on various river events, including the opening of the
Thames Barrier in 1984, public visits and educational activities with school children. Highlights were
her voyages over to Dunkirk on the 45th Anniversary in 1985 with the flotilla of surviving “Dunkirk
Little Ships” and again for the 50th in 1990. At Dunkirk the local sapeurs-pompiers made the
“Massey Shaw” crew most welcome, providing hospitality and accommodation on one of their
stations for the duration of the stay. However, “Massey Shaw” was not designed as a seagoing vessel
and, although the 1940 Dunkirk trips were fortunate in having good weather and a calm sea, these
later commemorative trips across the Channel could be a bit rough!
Also during the 1990s the boat sank on two occasions, one due to an accident and the other by
vandalism. This, together with general wear and tear meant it was becoming increasingly difficult to
maintain the boat up to a reasonable standard. Some relief was given by the TV programme “Salvage
Squad” in 2003 when some upgrading work was carried out on the vessel. By this time it was felt by
the trustees that a major refit was necessary if the boat was to remain active and an application was
accordingly made to the Heritage Lottery Fund which, after detailed negotiations, awarded a sizeable
grant to enable some extensive work to be carried out. In February 2009 the boat was taken out of the
water at South Dock Marina, Rotherhithe, where both paid and voluntary work was undertaken but, as
the work progressed, it became clear that a major rebuild was necessary. A further application was
made to the HLF which eventually brought the grant to £1.2 million.
The work was put out to tender, which was won by Nielsen Boatyard in Gloucester, and the engine
refurbishment contract by Gardner of Canterbury. The vessel was transported to Gloucester overnight
by low-loader in April 2011. It had been hoped to have the work completed in time to participate in
the Olympic celebrations in 2012, “Massey Shaw” having staged river displays for the 1948
Olympics. Unfortunately, like most of these schemes, due to various complications the rebuild
programme had to be extended. In the meantime training was started for crew and shore support
volunteers, to be ready for when “Massey Shaw” returned to London.
During hers stay in Gloucester the public were able to visit the “Massey Shaw” on certain days in the
Summer and the Chief Officer of Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service was able to assist in various
ways. When restoration was completed in November 2013 the boat left Gloucester via the Sharpness
Canal, the Chief Officer sailing on board as far as the River Severn by way of a send-off. From
Sharpness “Massey Shaw” proceeded to Portishead and later successfully completed her engine and
pumping tests in the Bristol Channel. She was finally transported from Avonmouth again by lowloader to West India Dock in London, when the wheelhouse and deck locker were refitted and where
she was refloated on 13 December 2013. It had earlier been intended for the boat to return around the
Channel, using the opportunity for publicity, but in the event it was felt the weather would have made
this a hazardous undertaking. “Massey Shaw” will have a Winter berth in West India Dock and it is
hoped to have use of the East Greenwich former Coaling Jetty for Summer berthing; furthermore,
arrangements are in place for occasional berthing in St Katherine’s Dock and King George V Dock in
the Royal Group. In January 2014 “Massey Shaw” was berthed at the Excel Centre in the Royal
Docks as part of the International Boat Show, giving demonstrations and visits on board. It is hoped to
stage a “Grand Return” in Spring 2014 when she will sail upriver to Central London escorted by the
current LFB fireboat and other vessels, with attendant publicity being welcomed back to London, and
berthing at the LFB River Station at Lambeth.
The Society, having now changed its title to “Massey Shaw Education Trust” to emphasis its primary
role of education, intends to be an active educational asset on the Thames and activities will include
educational visits by school parties, educational drama, displays and demonstrations, public visits,
participation in river events and private hiring. It is also intended to obtain accredited museum status
for the boat. Neil Wallington, former Chief Fire Officer and author of a number of books on Fire
Service topics, will be publishing a definitive history of Fireboat “Massey Shaw”, due out during
2014.
Thanks to the efforts of many people over the years this famous fireboat has now been preserved for
many years into the future as one of London’s Historic Ships.