Medway Queen J48: Vessel History

The Medway Queen is one of the most renowned ships associated with the Dunkirk evacuation, noted for its tenacity and resilience. Built in 1924 at Ailsa's Yard in Troon, Scotland, she was among the finest and most luxurious paddle steamers designed for excursions on the Thames and Medway Estuaries. Originally capable of carrying nearly one thousand passengers at 15 knots, the vessel was beloved by thousands of excursionists prior to World War II.

In 1939, the Medway Queen was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and commissioned as part of the 10th Minesweeping Flotilla. Her naval service commenced during the harsh winter of 1939, where she became an integral part of the Dover Patrol. On 28 May 1940, while anchored on the south coast observing enemy aircraft laying mines, she was ordered to proceed to the beaches of Dunkirk. As one of the first ships to arrive, she quickly embarked troops to full capacity.

During her return to Dover, the Medway Queen was attacked by German aircraft; her machine guns successfully downed one enemy fighter. Nearby, the Brighton Belle was less fortunate, striking a submerged wreck and sinking. The Medway Queen rescued as many survivors as possible, adding them to her complement.

On the second day of the evacuation, under the command of Lieutenant A.T. Cook RNR and with First Lieutenant J.D. Graves RNR, the Medway Queen returned to Dunkirk amid heavy gunfire. The harbour was engulfed in flames and debris. Troops descended to the ship via scaling ladders from the mole above, filling her once again. Navigator Lieutenant Jolly skillfully guided the vessel through minefields, relying on her shallow draught to avoid damage. To evade detection, the crew used oil to suppress the phosphorescence in the water during night operations.

The ship alternated between the harbour and the beaches, using a motorised dinghy to ferry troops aboard. The crew, including cook Thomas Russell and his assistant known as 'Sec,' provided meals and hot drinks to the soldiers. Engineer Davis maintained the engines continuously from 27 May until 4 June, when the Medway Queen completed her seventh and final run.

In total, the Medway Queen is credited with rescuing approximately 7,000 men during the Dunkirk evacuation. Survivors such as John Howarth of Rochester and French soldier Paul Dervilers have recounted their emotional rescues aboard the vessel.

Following Dunkirk, the Medway Queen underwent refitting at Chatham Dockyard and continued naval service until the end of World War II. In 1947, she was refitted at Thornycroft’s in Southampton and returned to pleasure cruising. Notably, in 1953, she followed the Royal Yacht Britannia during the Spithead Coronation Review.

By 1963, the Medway Queen was laid up in Rotherhithe Dry Dock. A survey deemed repairs uneconomical, leading to her sale to a Belgian ship-breaker. Public outcry led to the formation of the Medway Queen Trust, and the vessel was purchased by a group of businessmen led by Alan Ridett. She was relocated to the Mill Pond on the River Medina, serving as a clubhouse for a marina until 1972. After being replaced by a larger paddle steamer, the Medway Queen sank in the Medina following a collision with an underwater obstruction.

In 1984, the ship was brought back to the Medway with hopes of restoration. However, lacking a safe berth, she was moored alongside the former dockyard wall at Chatham and subsequently sank. By 1985, the vessel was derelict and neglected, suffering further damage from tides and passing vessels.

In June 1985, the Medway Queen Preservation Society was established in Rochester to secure the ship’s future. The Society prioritized finding a safe berth, patching the hull to enable flotation, obtaining charitable status, and acquiring ownership. Two years later, the Society purchased the vessel and established the New Medway Steam Packet Company Ltd to hold legal title as a registered charity.

Following extensive volunteer efforts to remove silt and perform temporary repairs, the Medway Queen was refloated and towed approximately eight miles downriver to a secure berth in Damhead Creek at Kingsnorth. Despite setbacks, including sinking during a storm in 1997, the vessel remains afloat and has been freshly painted.

The Society aims to restore the Medway Queen to full working order, though funding for this extensive task has yet to be secured. An interim plan involves displaying the ship at the World Naval Base in Chatham Dockyard as a museum and memorial to the Dunkirk evacuation, with negotiations ongoing.

Recognition of the ship’s wartime service includes awards to her crew: Lieutenant Thomas Cook RNR and First Officer Sub-Lieutenant Graves RNR received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC); Petty Officers Crossley and Macalister and Seaman Olly were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM); and two crew members were Mentioned in Despatches.

In 2006, the Heritage Lottery Fund granted £1.86 million for a complete hull rebuild. The contract was awarded to David Abels of Bristol, with work conducted in the Albion dry dock adjacent to the SS Great Britain. Following the hull reconstruction, restoration continues at Gillingham Pier, supported by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund, which has enabled the establishment of an apprentice training workshop.

By 2012, significant progress had been made: the forward hull plating and promenade deck structure were completed, restored deck planking was installed, and key components such as the condenser, deck stanchions, and distinctive windows were transported to Bristol. The steam stop valve was restored and tested, engine controls refitted, and paddle wheels assembled. Preparations for towing the hull from Bristol to Gillingham for final restoration are underway, with logistical planning accounting for weather and tidal conditions.

The Medway Queen’s journey back to the Medway estuary involves navigating the Bristol Channel, the English Channel, and rounding Land’s End. The Society intends to announce the schedule in advance and provide updates as the operation progresses.