He is noted for his introduction of uniforms and the famous brass helmets c. Older designs derived from tugboats and modern fireboats more closely resembling seafaring ships can both be found in service today. The following timeless tidbits of fire service wisdom came to me courtesy of steve cohen, president of the lighthouse uniform company. The massey shaw fireboat on the river thames, 29th. Find great deals on ebay for fireboat and fireboat book. Harvey picture puffin books kalman, maira, kalman, maira on. In 1940 she went to dunkirk and rescued 500 troops off the beaches, plus returned with a further 110. Blazing paraffin wax poured into the thames and spread to.
The merryweather pumps on the massey shaw are each capable of pumping 1,500 gallons of water per minute through the main monitor and the other deck outlets. The massey shaw is a restored fireboat from the 1930s which was purposebuilt to protect properties along the river thames from the dangers of fire. An historic thames fireboat that took part in the evacuation of dunkirk. He has written a number of books and has kindly donated some signed copies. It was the largest blaze that the london fire brigade had fought for a number of years. Luc is the home of the bereavement uniform program. Massey shaw is a former london fire brigade fireboat. For information about our privacy practices, please visit. 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 first fireboats, dating to the late 18th century, were tugboats, retrofitted with firefighting equipment. Her shallow draft and beam were designed to allow her to operate off the main river and to pump water when the river was at low ebb. Massey shaw was built in 1935 as a fireboat for the thames.
After his autobiography beyond the flames and his eclectic anthology londons firefighters, david c. He introduced modern firefighting methods to the brigade, and increased the number of stations. Shaw was an influential thinker on firefighting, publishing at least one book on the subject. Email direct mail post you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please. We offer a selection of fire brigade and fireboat related merchandise and related items. The london fireboat massey shaw approaching dunkirk at 11 pm. During her thirty six years with the london fire brigade, the fireboat fought the london blitz and attended many major incidents. Lfb fireboat massey shaw tackling a warehouse fire. David pike is a renowned author who served in the london fire brigade and is a keen supporter of massey shaw. Please select all the ways you would like to hear from massey shaw education trust. Owners of london fireboat massey shaw, built in 1935 serving the london fire brigade during wwii and the blitz.
Material surrounding the launch of the london fire boat massey shaw. Here, in its chronological position is a brief account of excursion to hell to use mr j. The book fire service memories by sir aylmer firebrace includes an. Wooden chocks are knocked away from under the boat. Fireboat massey shaw returns to london after restoration daily mail. The following video shows the massey shaw in action. The london fireboat massey shaw was 78ft long with a beam of ft 6inches. The historic vessel was saved from dereliction by a group of enthusiasts who restored her and a successful heritage lottery grant in 2008. The fireboat massey shaw was returned to london waters after restoration in gloucester docks in december 20. Ms of unidentified dignitaries their to launch the boat. This equates to an incredible 11 tons of water an hour.
The london fireboat massey shaw in the foreground, sailing towards dunkirk which is obscured by flames and ahuge cloud of dark smoke, filling the. In 1940 she went to dunkirk and rescued 500 troops off the beaches, plus returned with a further. Massey shaw london fireboat the massey shaw was built by j samuel whites of cowes, isle of wight in 1935 to a design of the london county council, who wished her to be able to go under all the bridges on the thames, its tributaries and at any state of the tide. The fireboat is a really interesting place to work. The society is supported and sponsored by a number of organisations, businesses, charities and the general public who donate and volunteer time to preserve fireboat massey shaw. Captain sir eyre massey shaw kcb 17 january 1828 25 august 1908 was the superintendent of the metropolitan fire brigade now renamed the london fire brigade, and its predecessor, the london fire engine establishment, from 1861 to 1891. 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 gullies at all states of the tide. As the last remaining fireboat from the 2nd world war, the massey shaw is a very graphic reminder of the engineering used at the time and the bravery of the crews who manned these boats that were so critical to the protection of london. Priestleys graphic phrase of the fire boat massey shaw, in which she played a gallant part in rescuing, from under the noses of dive. The massey shaw at the present time moored at deptford.
When moored, additional toilet facilities are available, including disabled toilets thanks to our links with the docklands scout project. A fireboat is a specialized watercraft with pumps and nozzles designed for fighting shoreline and shipboard fires. The massey shaw fireboat protected london during the blitz and also. Massey shaw still has the original pump action toilet installed on the vessel and when underway this is the only toilet on board. Pike massey shaw education trust after his autobiography beyond the flames and his eclectic anthology londons firefighters, david c.
Purchase official massey shaw merchandise, tshirts, books, membership, postcards and books. Massey shaw project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. He had taken charge of the old london fire engine establishment after braidwoods death. The book fire service memories by sir aylmer firebrace includes an account of the dunkirk operation. There are limited copies available via our website, with 100% of the proceeds going towards to our restoration, education and volunteer development on board. One of our most famous fire boats the retired massey shaw is credited with saving. Massey shaw s primary function was as a fireboat and her shape is determined by this use. The colonial wharf fire in wapping high street e1 occurred on 27 september 1935. Pikes latest book about the london fire brigade, firefloats and fireboats, takes as its focus the history of firefighting on the river thames. Blitz and dunkirk veteran thames fireboat to be restored. The massey shaw fireboat a brief history a london inheritance. The massey shaw fireboat at its first major riverside warehouse fire on the river thames.