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Help with Thames Tug History please

2K views 7 replies 8 participants last post by  billyboy 
#1 ·
Hello All,

Have just joined the group and I wonder whether anyone can point me in the direction of where I can find the service and crew history for three Thames Tugs that my ancestors worked on.

The Churchill
The Keston
The Recruit

Hope someone out there can help.

Thanks in advance.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Greetings Steve and welcome to SN. Bon voyage.

MT Keston 41 tons, Built 1940, 300 SHP.
Owned by J P Knight
Funnel Black with 2 silver bands above letter "K".

MT Churchill 70 tons Built 1910 480 SHP
Owned by R G Odell Ltd.
Funnel Black with blue "O" on broad white band.
House flag White pennant with blue border and blue "O" in centre

MT Recruit 91 tons , Built 1952 670 SHP
Owned by Wm Cory & Son Ltd.
Funnel Black with white diamond on broad white band.
House flag Red with white diamond.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Hello Steve
The Keston was a Medway based tug although she did work round to the Thames in her early years. I was skipper of her in between other tugs for the last fifteen years of her life. In fact I towed her on her last trip to the breakers. Might be able to help on the crew history if I had some names and dates.

----------------------------------------

KESTON (1940 -1979)

1940 --> Built by Richards Ironworks Ltd., Lowestoft for J. P. Knight. (Rochester)

Grt. = 41
Length. = 60' 6"
Beam. = 15' 4"
Depth. = 6' 4"
Eng. = 4 cyl. British Polar Atlas.
HP. = 300
Speed. = 8 Knots.

1969 --> Renamed KELVEDON.
1979 --> Sold for scrap, Dartford.

--------------------------------------------

Churchill

Registered: (GBR)ON 129073
70 GRT, 0 NRT, (71.3'x19.1'x9.3')
1 scr, C2cyl, 75nhp-375ihp
re-engined 1953 diesel, 480bhp-358kW
re-engined 19xx diesel, 1200bhp (German locomotive engine, never ran due to gearbox problems)

MARY BLAKE
1910: Built by "Hepple & Co Ltd" at S-Shields (GBR)
1910: delivered to "Thames Steam Tug & Lighterage Co Ltd" at London (GBR)
(GBR flag, regd London, ON 129073)
192x: To "R.G. Odell Ltd" at London (GBR), renamed DENTON
1939 -19/12: on UK Admiralty service: balloon barrage service until 7/1942, then naval service, mngd "Ross & Marshall Ltd"
1946 -19/08: returned to owner
1953: re-engined diesel, 480bhp-358kW, renamed CHURCHILL
1972: sold to ??
19xx: To John Sullivan at Greenland Dock (used to convert Greenland Dock into new South Dock Marina) ***
19xx: sold by John for scrap but not known if she went back into service?
2005: reported still in existence ???

*** John told she was a very strange tug because people kept having accidents on her, John Sullivan broke his ribs on her,one chap died on her and three or four others had various accidents on her.

----------------------------------------

Recruit

(sisterships: SWIFTSTONE, RECRUIT)
Registered: (GBR)ON 184630
91 GRT, L24,38m, B5,97m, D2,93m (80.0'x19.6'x9.6')
1 scr, diesel Crossley, 670bhp-500kW
re-engined 19xx
re-engined 1996 diesel Mirlees-Blackstone type ESL, 1196bhp, bp 11t

RECRUIT
1952: Built by "Richard Dunston Ltd" at Thorne (GBR)
1952: delivered to "Cory Tank Lighterage Ltd" (Wm. Cory group) at London (GBR)
(GBR flag, regd London, ON 184630)
1983: transferred to "Cory Waste Management Ltd" at London (GBR)
1990: transferred to "Cory Environmental Ltd" at London (GBR)
1996: re-engined diesel Mirlees-Blackstone type ESL, 1196bhp
2006: still in service

------------------------------------

P.S. There are a couple of pictures of the Keston/Kelvedon being towed to the breakers on my web site in the J P Knight Scrapbook Album.

Riverman

http://riverman.gotdns.com/gallery
 
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