Silver Queen was built by Horn Brothers in Southampton in 1926 as a harbour launch. With a draught of 2 feet, she was never designed to cross the English Channel. During the Dunkirk evacuation, she was towed across the Channel due to her suitability for ferrying soldiers from La Panne beach to larger destroyers and transports that carried them back to England.

Vessels of this type were considered expendable once their mission was complete, and it was not expected that she would return unscathed. Although initially reported to have sunk, Silver Queen was later re-floated. Subsequently, she passed through Sheerness, where she was briefly owned by Commander Carter, before relocating to Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

She was then purchased by C.B. Ferguson, who renamed her Fermain V. Under this name, she operated a regular daily service from St Peter Port to Fermain Bay, a popular holiday beach. This service was continued by Ferguson’s son, Percy, until his retirement in 1996, after which the vessel was laid up ashore.

After three years of deterioration, discussions with the Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust led to the transfer of Fermain V to the Trust. Percy Ferguson generously funded the necessary repairs to restore her seaworthiness. The vessel was based at Tilbury for two years, where she was used to train Sea Cadets in boat-handling skills.

Fermain V participated in the 2000 Commemorative Return to Dunkirk and is now based on the River Thames at Shepperton. She has appeared at the Thames Traditional Boat Rally and other events on the upper Thames. In 2001, she completed a 460-mile return journey to The International Festival of the Sea at Portsmouth.

In 2002, the Restoration Trust constructed a new rudder for the vessel. The rudder was made from 8mm steel sheet, clad with Greenheart wood, and weighs well over one hundredweight, designed for durability.

On 11 May 2008, Fermain V had the honour of hosting H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent for a sail-by salute at Brocus Park, Windsor. Also on board was Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. The Royal Yacht Squadron provided a 21-gun salute using their bronze cannons. The event was a charity fundraiser.

In 2008 and 2009, Fermain V joined other Little Ships at Kingston to transport Dunkirk veterans upriver to Weybridge Mariners Boat Club, which hosted Sunday lunches. The vessel also transported the Mayor of Spelthorne during these events.

In preparation for a BBC documentary on the Little Ships, Fermain V was filmed in the Pool of London with historian Dan Snow. Prior to the 2010 Commemorative Return, the vessel was sold into private ownership by the Restoration Trust.

In early 2011, the new owners commissioned Michael Dennett and Son to carry out sympathetic alterations and restored the vessel’s original name, Silver Queen.