Massey Shaw fireboat - Dunkirk Little Ship
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[ultimate_heading main_heading=”Urgent funding campaign launched to restore historic Docklands fireboat” heading_tag=”h3″ alignment=”left” main_heading_font_size=”desktop:18px;” sub_heading_font_size=”desktop:36px;” el_class=”layertitle” sub_heading_line_height=”desktop:45px;”]Fire fighter, life saver, history maker[/ultimate_heading]

We’ve launched an urgent campaign to raise funds to restore Massey Shaw, the London fireboat that played a key role in fighting fires during the Blitz in World War II and helped evacuate more than 600 troops from the Dunkirk Nord beaches during the Dunkirk evacuation.

Next May 2025 marks the 85th anniversary of Dunkirk, and the Massey Shaw Education Trust is seeking to raise in excess of £50,000 to ensure she is operational in time and able to continue to share her history with future generations.

Pledge your support

Read our press release and discover the various ways you can support our campaign through volunteering, donations, fundraising and sharing our cause with your colleagues and networks.

Dunkirk Watch by William Wood

Own a piece of history with the Dunkirk Watch. This Swiss-made bronze timepiece commemorates the heroic rescue of over 600 lives during the Dunkirk evacuation. Featuring a genuine piece of our engine and a dial inspired by our telegraph, this watch is a collector’s dream.

[ultimate_heading main_heading=”Hands-on learning” heading_tag=”h3″ alignment=”left” main_heading_font_size=”desktop:18px;” sub_heading_font_size=”desktop:36px;” el_class=”layertitle” sub_heading_line_height=”desktop:45px;”]Experience history[/ultimate_heading]

What’s the best way to get young people excited about the past? Give them a chance to experience history first-hand, where they can get a hands-on feel for what it was like to save lives in the Blitz, or rescue soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk.

Built in 1935, Massey Shaw, is renowned for her valour in World War II as a Dunkirk Little Ship, credited with saving 600 troops from the beaches. She then continued her service throughout the London Blitz, bravely fighting fires along the River Thames and saving countless lives and historic structures. 

Massey Shaw is a great educational resource and we love to share her adventures and history with school classes to help everyone understand the sacrifices and risks their parents, grandparents and great grandparents went through during the Second World War.

If you would like to arrange a school visit, please complete the form on our Plan a visit page. 

[interactive_banner_2 banner_title=”Visits” heading_tag=”h3″ banner_desc=”Find out about London’s fireboat and its extensive history with a guided tour.” banner_image=”id^18318|url^https://masseyshaw.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0247-Massey-Shaw.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^IMG_0247—Massey-Shaw|description^null” banner_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmasseyshaw.org%2Fplan-a-visit%2F|||” banner_style=”style2″ banner_color_bg=”#dabe4c” image_opacity=”” image_opacity_on_hover=”” banner_title_style=”font-weight:bold;” css_ib2=”.vc_custom_1723754348242{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][interactive_banner_2 banner_title=”History” heading_tag=”h3″ banner_desc=”Discover the history of Massey Shaw and other details of its past.” banner_image=”id^18321|url^https://masseyshaw.org/wp-content/uploads/Massey-full-power-at-sea-1935.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^Massey-full-power-at-sea-1935|description^null” banner_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmasseyshaw.org%2Fabout%2Fhistory%2F|||” banner_style=”style2″ banner_color_bg=”#dabe4c” image_opacity=”” image_opacity_on_hover=”” banner_title_style=”font-weight:bold;” css_ib2=”.vc_custom_1576102618395{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]
[interactive_banner_2 banner_title=”Education” heading_tag=”h3″ banner_desc=”Learn more about the Massey Shaw archives and education resources” banner_image=”id^18319|url^https://masseyshaw.org/wp-content/uploads/Inventory-List-Orig.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^Inventory-List–Orig|description^null” banner_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmasseyshaw.org%2Flearning-zone%2F|title:View%20our%20educational%20resources||” banner_style=”style2″ banner_color_bg=”#dabe4c” image_opacity=”” image_opacity_on_hover=”” banner_title_style=”font-weight:bold;” css_ib2=”.vc_custom_1595612388474{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][interactive_banner_2 banner_title=”Contact us” heading_tag=”h3″ banner_desc=”Get in touch to book a tour on Massey Shaw.” banner_image=”id^18324|url^https://masseyshaw.org/wp-content/uploads/33208790695_fed26c0a47_o.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^33208790695_fed26c0a47_o|description^null” banner_link=”url:%2Fcontact-us%2F|||” banner_style=”style2″ banner_color_bg=”#dabe4c” image_opacity=”” image_opacity_on_hover=”” banner_title_style=”font-weight:bold;” css_ib2=”.vc_custom_1515760534544{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]
[ultimate_heading main_heading=”How you can support the Massey Shaw Fireboat” heading_tag=”h3″ alignment=”left” main_heading_font_size=”desktop:18px;” sub_heading_font_size=”desktop:36px;” el_class=”layertitle” sub_heading_line_height=”desktop:45px;”]Get involved[/ultimate_heading]

The Trust’s dedicated volunteers are regularly on board Massey Shaw and attend events on behalf of the Society to maintain and promote Massey.

There are many ways YOU can help support the charity and our on-going education projects.

How to donate
Please click the following link.
Join us!
Members play a key role in shaping the future of the charity.
Ways to volunteer
There are volunteering opportunities for everybody on board or on shore!

Shop

Massey Shaw momentoes

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