This one should be a good puzzle. The location where this photo was taken isn't visible via the Google Street View (at least I just checked and I couldn't see it), so you'll have to rely upon something other this time.
Here are your clues:
During the time that this boat made its most notable voyage, the water around it certainly wasn't stagnant.
It's old. Elements of it date back to before the second world war, and its history is richly intertwined with the narrative of its native land. It's one of over 100 vessels known for having plied the same waters, but there's something unique about this one.
Its current location is close to the beaten path but only a few locals know it's there.
The challenge is in three parts:
- What's the boat's name?
- What's it famous for?
- What is its current location?
So there you go. Have fun.
Mitch made me do it.
Here's my entry:
ReplyDelete- Tamzine
- The smallest of the Dunkirk Little Ships
- Imperial War Museum
Two-thirds of a bingo!
ReplyDeleteYes, this is Tamzine, the 15-foot clinker-built spruce workboat that's the smallest of the famous Dunkirk 'Little Ships' that anyone seems to know about.
But it's been moved from its usual location at the London War Museum while that facility has been shut down for some renovations.
I stumbled across it in a shop area at an entirely different location where you wouldn't expect to find a boat. I've found some reference to this move online, so I'll leave this challenge officially open for a bit more to see if anyone can sleuth it out.
In it's normal display orientation, Tamzine looks like this and can be seen underway in this Pathe newsclip of a Dunkirk 'reenactment' staged in 1965 on the 25th anniversary of the evacuation.
Tamzine was commandeered by the military as part of 'Operation Dynamo' and apparently towed to Dunkirk and used to ferry troops from the shallow beaches to larger ships waiting offshore. Afterwards, she was returned to her owners and eventually donated to the museum in 1981.
Looks like she's been moved to Duxford for a little TLC.
DeleteDuxford it was! Good work!
DeleteLike everyone else, I was there to see the aircraft displays, but they also had some shop areas open where you can see how they do their restoration work.
It didn't look like they were doing anything in particular to Tamzine. I'm guessing that since they had to move her out of the London museum to make space for renovations, they were taking advantage of the situation to touch up her varnish, etc. The brightwork already looked in much better shape than on my boat.
For what it's worth, I didn't know anything about Tamzine prior to your posting. That was neat!
DeleteAmazing that they considered her big enough to cross the Channel and back loaded down with troops.
ReplyDeleteUnder the circumstances, I don't think they had enough time to "consider" anything for very long.
DeleteBut I did read somewhere that Tamzine was used only to ferry troops back and forth between the beach and larger ships waiting a few hundred yards away.
The main problem at Dunkirk was that the destroyers and other navy ships couldn't get in close enough in the shallow water to pick people up. Thus the plan to use smaller, private boats to do that job.
You have to get up early to beat Mitch at one of these challenges.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, you're an early riser too!
DeleteGood job Mitch. I gave up after 20 minutes or so.
ReplyDeleteNice puzzle O Dock. I'm green with envy at your getting to see the aircraft at Duxford. Awesome collection.
I'd never heard of Tamzine before this so all very interesting.
ReplyDeleteDuxford is well worth a visit. I remember going there not long before we moved from the UK to the US. And it's only an easy and pleasant walk from the small hotel where O Docker stayed in the place that's almost like heaven.
ReplyDeleteYou've been thrown for a loop! You wake up to find yourself upside down, looking like you've been shellacked. You gotta dry out!
ReplyDeleteNot pleasant, is it? I guess we've all had mornings like that.
ReplyDeleteAnd sooner or later, everyone finds out where we've been and what we've done.
Where are you?
ReplyDelete