1930 Gibbs & Son Dunkirk Little Ship

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1930 Gibbs & Son Dunkirk Little Ship

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Summary:

Used

Location:

Santa Ana, CA

Description:

Of course all Dunkirk Little Ships are unique with their link being their presence and participation in Operation Dynamo when the British navy was boosted by hundreds of small ships which had been requisitioned by the Navy to evacuate the British and French forces from the Normandy beaches. The story has been told many times including most recently in the film Dunkirk. During my 30 year career as a classic boat broker I have sold Lady Isabelle 3 times and twice to the same person. She is now based in California and wanting this special little ship to return to the UK. I await new photos of the most recent revarnish job carried out locally (i. e. in Newport Beach California). Fortunately the length of the boat means that she can be repatriated in a container directly from her present location. Several of the Gibbs launches moored on the Thames during the years of World War II were commandeered as members of the Home Guard. Indeed in the Reading Upper Thames area many were owned and driven by women who had their own uniform. Members of the Home Guard patrolled the river 24/7 in fear of an invasion via the Thames corridor. You can still see remnants of the concrete bunkers on the riverside in several locations. Lady Isabelle was one of the larger of the inland waterways fleet while being one of the smallest of the sea going boats but nevertheless she is a proud and bona fide member of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS). Undoubtedly she would have struggled to cross the Channel but according to 'The Little Ships of Dunkirk' by Christian Brann she arrived on La Panne beach amid heavy shelling. She could cut through calm water at 12 knots thanks to her powerful 6 cylinder Gray marine engine. Apparently her Staines based owners never forgave the boatyard which allowed their precious Gibbs to be requisitioned! Her subsequent ownership and history seems to be relatively well documented and at one stage the boat even had a cabin. However. Still available at ListedBuy!

For sale by:

Private Party

Posted:

January 3 on ListedBuy