Tarifa is documented in the notebook of Douglas Tough, who meticulously recorded details of ships he collected for voyages down the river to Sheerness and onward to Ramsgate and Dunkirk. The vessel’s crew, as noted by Tough, comprised J.J. Jameson, L. Melsom, S. Brown, and E.L. Peters, all civilians from London. This record represents the sole known account of Tarifa’s participation in these operations, although many vessels have left similarly limited documentation.

Constructed during the peak period of Thornycroft shipbuilding at Hampton-on-Thames in early 1932, Tarifa was built for W.D. Wills, Member of Parliament for Batley, Yorkshire. Her launch was reported with respect in the publication Motor Boat. The vessel featured crew quarters located forward, accessible via an iron ladder leading to the foredeck, and included a dedicated toilet. The owner’s suite, situated aft, contained a bathroom with a full-sized bathtub, while the mahogany-paneled cabins were equipped with wardrobes and dressing tables.

Designed for Mediterranean cruising, Tarifa was fitted with an “icebox of the largest size possible,” installed athwartships within one of the cupboards. Powered originally by twin 30hp Thornycroft engines, the vessel’s range was ample; these engines have since been replaced by two Perkins diesel engines.

Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, W.D. Wills, a distant relative of the tobacco family and later a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, permitted the Royal Navy to utilize Tarifa for wireless telegraphy training. During this period, the vessel accommodated up to 60 naval ratings at a time.

Following the war, Tarifa was owned for twenty years by Maurice Wooding, a marine surveyor, who cruised extensively through the waterways of Europe, reaching as far as the south of France. In 1986, the vessel was discovered in a derelict state in Reading by her current owners, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, who have since undertaken a painstaking restoration to return Tarifa as closely as possible to her original condition. She is now intended to serve as a charter boat.

While the preservation of historic vessels like Tarifa often depends on their ability to generate income, the ongoing costs of maintenance pose a constant threat to their survival. Despite this, continued practical use may be preferable, as vessels without a functional role risk deterioration, much like retired soldiers without purpose.