Marsayru: Vessel History

The Marsayru is one of the notable Little Ships of Dunkirk, each with its own unique story, though not all are preserved in written records. The vessel's history is documented in Battle Summary 41, compiled by the historical section of the Admiralty, and is also referenced in Walter Lord's The Miracle of Dunkirk and A.D. Devine's Dunkirk.

On 31 May 1940, the Marsayru sailed to Dunkirk under the command of her civilian skipper, G.D. Olivier, who was later awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM). Her engineer, C. Loggins, was Mentioned in Despatches for his service. The Marsayru traveled in company with three lighters: X217, X213, and X149, arriving off Malo beach at approximately 1600 hours.

During an air attack, the lighters X213 and X419 were sunk, and X217 was beached. With assistance from a cutter towed by the Marsayru, about 200 British and French troops were embarked—some aboard the motor yacht Llanthony and others on the Marsayru, which was then towed towards England. Shortly after departure, the Marsayru broke adrift in the darkness and could not be located. The skipper had been taken aboard the towing vessel.

The following day, Sub-Lieutenant T.E. Godman RNVR, commanding a Naval steam pinnace off La Panne, sighted the Marsayru drifting with the tide. The vessel was unoccupied but remained operational. Godman left a petty officer in charge of the pinnace and, towing a dinghy, brought the yacht to the western end of the beach where it was anchored. The dinghy ferried 19 troops to the Marsayru, and at 2330 hours, the vessel was secured to a conical flashing buoy to await daylight.

At 0430 on 2 June, a trawler towed the Marsayru to Ramsgate, where she disembarked the 19 troops at 0800 hours. Later that day, the original crew resumed command of the vessel. According to A.D. Devine, the Marsayru returned to work the beaches on 2 June. During one operation, while the nearest ship was approximately 2.5 miles away, the Marsayru was attacked by four Messerschmitt aircraft. The enemy machine-gunned the vessel ineffectually for half an hour from an altitude exceeding 2,000 feet until three Hurricanes intervened and drove them off.

The Marsayru is credited with rescuing approximately 400 French soldiers over multiple crossings. Constructed more robustly than typical vessels of her size, she was built of Swedish steel on steel frames by Timmer & Zoon in Holland.

Gareth Roe, the current owner, purchased the vessel 18 years ago and has meticulously restored her to excellent condition. Originally named Billowin, the yacht's original name, Marsayru, was restored a few years after purchase. For the past five years, the Marsayru has been based at La Roche Bernard in Southern Brittany, France, where her owners, Gareth and Yvonne, reside.

During this period, the Marsayru has participated in numerous son et lumière spectacles alongside historic French boats and barges. Her history is narrated to audiences as she glides along waterways at night, illuminated by floodlights and accompanied by music, often receiving enthusiastic applause.

Additional Information

The name "Marsayru" originates from the names of the skipper's three daughters and his second wife: Marjorie, Sadie, Yvonne, and Ruby. The vessel was originally called Billowin before her name was restored. She was reportedly fitted with powerful engines to serve as a search and rescue boat for downed airmen in the English Channel, although the high operating costs were a concern for her skipper.