The vessel originally named Mermaiden was launched in 1939 from the De Vries Lentsch yard, alongside a very similar sister vessel intended for the Italian Antinori wine family. Unfortunately, company records were destroyed during World War II, and no surviving documentation from this source exists. The low headroom in the engine room suggests the original design may have been intended for horizontally opposed engines, similar to those produced by the Junkers company, although these engines were never installed. According to the 1939 Lloyd’s Register, Mermaiden was fitted with twin “Detroit” six-cylinder engines, each producing 120 horsepower, manufactured by a General Motors subsidiary.

1939 to 1940: Lieutenant Commander P.M. Filleul

The first recorded owner was Naval officer Lieutenant Commander P.M. Filleul. His use of the vessel was brief before it was requisitioned for war service to support the evacuation from Dunkirk.

1940 to 1946: War Department Service

Mermaiden’s first documentary evidence comes from the logbooks of the Thames Tug Company during the Dunkirk evacuation. On 3 June 1940, Mermaiden was part of a convoy of 14 motorboats towed by tugs to Dunkirk. Rear-Admiral A.H. Taylor OBE took passage in Mermaiden, which led the convoy to Quai Felix Faure to embark French troops. The vessel made four trips between the harbour and transport ships amid intense enemy fire, sustaining machine-gun damage to the deck and wheelhouse. The helmsman navigated through crowded conditions with shouted directions over the noise of French voices.

On 3 June 1940, Mermaiden was commanded by Sub-Lieutenant L. Beale RN, with a crew including Petty Officer J. Norton, Leading Stoker W.A.S. Horne, one RAF gunner on leave, and an elderly gentleman known for his care of Lord Horatio Nelson’s flagship Victory at Portsmouth.

The London Gazette (Issue 34925, 16 August 1940) records honours awarded to Mermaiden’s crew for their Dunkirk service:

• Distinguished Service Medal: Leading Stoker William Alfred Stanley Horne, R.F.R.
• Mentioned in Despatches: Petty Officer Frederick John Norton.

Mermaiden was also active in 1944 on the River Scheldt in Antwerp, supporting covert operations for General Montgomery. Its small size and low draught made it suitable for secret night-time reconnaissance behind enemy lines. The vessel was not returned to Lieutenant Commander Filleul until 1946.

1946 to 1947: Lieutenant Commander P.M. Filleul

After the war, Mermaiden was returned to Lieutenant Commander Filleul, though no longer in its original condition. It is believed he parted with the vessel soon after, possibly following restoration and engine replacement.

1947 to 1950: Harold W.F. Ireland

Under the ownership of Harold W.F. Ireland, Mermaiden was fitted with new Perkins S6 diesel engines and underwent substantial refitting at a South Coast boatyard. The Perkins S6, a six-cylinder inline marine engine with approximately 7 litres capacity, was originally designed in 1937 and widely used during the war for air-sea rescue vessels.

During this period, the vessel was based in Torquay harbour and used for family holidays and outings along the South Coast, including trips to Weymouth, Lyme Regis, and Brixham. Modifications included copper-jacketed exhausts running the length of the boat to provide a hot water supply, portholes in the engine room (now welded shut externally), and changes to the wheelhouse windows and fly-bridge. The original teak-planked decks were retained, and a single unbalanced rudder was installed in the 1950s, which made handling difficult in reverse.

1950 to 1959: Ownership Unknown

The last logbook entry from this period is dated 7 December 1950. The vessel was left in the care of Mr. Allen Kingman for the winter months. The exact date of sale after this time is unknown. Family contacts recall a possible sale to an Australian dentist on the South Coast, though this remains unconfirmed.

1959 to 1974: Mr. Henri

Mermaiden was owned for approximately 15 years by Mr. Henri of Liège, Belgium, who sold the vessel in 1974.

1974 to 2005: Frits and Gerda Rouschop

The vessel was returned to Maastricht, the Netherlands, by new owners Frits and Gerda Rouschop. They restored Mermaiden to a condition suitable for concours d'élégance competitions. The engines were replaced with Cummins units producing 160 horsepower. Modifications to the wheelhouse and fly-bridge were likely made to reduce overall height for passage under low bridges on Dutch inland waterways. During this time, the vessel was renamed Amazone and remained in regular use, attending many reunions of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. When not in use, Amazone was stored in a climate-controlled shed.

2005 to Present: Vittorio Bracchi

Under the ownership of Vittorio Bracchi, the engines were again replaced with new Cummins units. After a period docked at London’s St Katharine Docks, Amazone returned to a boatyard in the Netherlands, where she remains, located approximately one hour by train from Amsterdam station.