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Campaign to restore Dunkirk tug to former glory

Hsin-Yi Lo
BBC News, South East•@hsinyilo
Margaret Flo McEwan A steam tug vessel, name Challenge, is sailing along a riverMargaret Flo McEwan
The Challenge was built in 1931 by Alexander Hall in Aberdeen

Volunteers are racing to secure funds to restore a World War Two tug used at Dunkirk back to its former glory.

The Challenge played a heroic role in Operation Dynamo, which saw more than 338,000 British and French soldiers evacuated from the French coast to the UK from 26 May to 4 June 1940.

Founder of the Steam Boat Trust, Chris Bannister, who also privately owns the Challenge, says £35,000 is needed to repair the vessel - one of the last surviving steam tugs to have taken part in Dunkirk.

The money will also support its voyage to Dunkirk for an 85th Anniversary event in May.

The tug, which is currently moored at River Medway, was tasked with towing damaged ships back to safety while under constant threat from enemy fire.

Known as the "Little Ships of Dunkirk", vessels such as the Challenge demonstrated incredible bravery against overwhelming odds.

Chris Bannister A smiling man, wearing a grey t-shirt with a logo of a vessel, is standing on a boat.Chris Bannister
Chris Bannister is the owner of the Challenge and founder of the Steam Boat Trust

Cash raised by volunteers will go towards restoring the Challenge's condenser and vacuum pump, which are critical components that maintain its steam system.

Without these repairs, the entire boiler and engine system could suffer significant damage.

Mr Bannister told the BBC fuel for the vessel costs more than £850-per-hour and it uses up to 720 litres of oil in the main boiler each hour.

He adds: "This isn't just about a ship, it's about preserving a living connection to one of the most defining moments in history."

Margaret Flo McEwan A steam tugboat named Challenge is sailing on a river.Margaret Flo McEwan
Steam Boat Trust volunteers hope the Challenge can attend the 85th anniversary of Dunkirk evacuations

A living history

  • The Challenge was built in 1931 by Scottish shipbuilder, Alexander Hall.
  • In 1944, the tugboat was damaged by a VI flying bomb and it still bears the scars.
  • Even after the war, the Challenge has been involved in other operations, including rescuing survivors of the Steam Tug Cervia which sank near Gravesend in 1954.
  • As the years went by, the historic vessel fell into neglect and there were plans to scrap it.
  • In 2012, The Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust (DLSRT) received a £909,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to restore and upgrade the tugboat in preparation for the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
  • The 85th anniversary of Dunkirk evacuations will take place from 22 May to 26. About 60 Little Ships will take part.
  • On 25 May, there will be a parade of marching bands and military vehicles.

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