The History of the tug

Gallant

Previous names:- Gallant Built:- 1884 by Rother Iron Works, Rye Kent Scrapped:- 1960 Plymouth Period in Fowey:- 1887 – 1954

Name of Vessel in Fowey

Gallant

The “Gallant” was built in 1884 at Rother Iron Works , Rye Kent (which built steam ships in iron and wood near the mouth of Rock Channel Rother Iron Works Company, engineers, millwrights, boiler makers & manufacturers of all kinds of machinery & mill stones & iron & brass founders (Samuel Clark, manager)

The company only built 2 ships and were more known for building rolling stock and steam engines for the railway

Victoria built for Stephens of The Rye and Camber Tramway was a three foot gauge railway in Sussex railway.The second car was built by E.P.S.Jones of the Rother Ironworks in 1896 - a new venture for this firm. Beautifully constructed, it accommodated 25 third class passengers and had a platform at one end only. The new engine ttVictoriat1 - another product of Bagnall's - only arrived in 1897.

Below is a list of the ships built in Rye harbour

Rye Shipyards and Their Ships Building Firm Year of Launch Name Type Tonnage (usually gross)

Hoad Bros and J C Hoad 1847 Commodore Barque 182

1850 Mystery Schooner 114

1852 Vivid Brigantine 168

1853 Chrysalis Barque 326

1857 Glynn Brigantine 189

1861 Emily Brigantine 145

1872 Walrus Schooner 68

1881 Lily Smack 33

Hessel & Holmes 1846 Sussex Lass Schooner 138

1847 Bodiam Castle Schooner 145

1850 Madeira Pet Schooner 83

1853 Syria Barque 282

1853 Marian Zagury Clipper/Schooner 98

1854 Stephen & Sarah Brig 191

1857 Wellington Steamship 139

1859 Fairy Rock Brig 179

1869 Christabel Schooner 175

Building Firm Year of Launch Name Type Tonnage (usually gross)

Rother Iron Works 1883 Gallant Steam tug 18

1883 Pioneer (RX21) Steam Trawler

W E Clark circa 1890 Water Lily River Barge

circa 1890 Primrose River Barge

G & T Smith 1890 Mountsfield Ketch Barge 158

1891 Diana Ketch Barge 144

1896 Three Brothers (RX153) Smack 25

1906 Dayspring (RX1) Ketch 15

1912 Martinet Ketch Barge 120

1913 Sarah Colebroke Aux Ketch 158

The Gallant was 77ft 4” in length, had a 16ft beam and drew 9 ft she was later lengthened to 86ft.She was powered by an 88IHP steam reciprocating engine to a single screw. Her official number was 85822 and a GRT of 69 tons.This increased to 76tons on lengthening

In 1887 she was in the ownership of George Bate, Henry Paul of the Fowey Tug Co

An early picture of Gallant before she was lengthened

On moorings off Pont Pill

Before her wheelhouse was changed

In January 1885 “Gallant” was paying 20/- pa dues. On 14th April 1898 the harbour charges for where set at 30/- shillings p.a.

Extract from the register of vessel 1890

Gallant on Moorings in the entrance of Pont

19th February 1891 Tug “Gallant” was used for dredging inspection and to dump ground. 14th June 1894 tug “Gallant” used for light inspection On 8th April 1897 the who was engaged to tow hopper barges 11 and 12 from south Wales to Fowey for dredging had to put into Padstow and then Hayle owing to very heavy ground swells. Some damage to barges occurred.

On 23rd September, 1917, the s.s.Rosehill, built in 1911 as the Minster, was making good time on her voyage from Cardiff to Devonport, carrying 3980 tons of Welsh coal when she was torpedoed by U40. The Gallant and Countess of Jersey were dispatched to tow her in. She broke in two however and went down in Whitsand Bay in deep water.

The Gallant was involved in the towing in and attempted salvage of the CAPITAINE REMY

By Wednesday (1st December 1920), the derelict CAPITAINE REMY was off Pentewan, and was towed by the tugs “Gallant” and “Cruden Bay” to a sandy beach 300 yards from Polkerris in St.Austell Bay, to remove her rigging and gear in preparation for righting the hull. She was on passage from Barry to Nantes with coal. She was in Par bay by 9pm. Salvage work continued until to 20th December. She remained in St. Austell Bay, bottom up, for several years, but was later towed into Fowey and scrapped after Henry Paul persuaded the Harbour Commissioners to allow her to enter the harbour.

Henry Paul on the wreck of the schooner Capitaine Remy

Capitaine Remy beached in Polkerris On the 5th December 1921 Gallant put out fire on brigentine THAMES

Gallant towing in sailing ship

Towing in the Cutty Sark in 1924 to be committee ship in the regatta

On 23rd November 1932 the schooner “Isabelle” was abandoned outside the harbour towed in by “Gallant” On 28th February 1946 The Fowey Tug and Salvage Co Ltd went into liquidation and a proposal for the Harbour commissioners to purchase Gallant and Pendennick was considered.

In 1951 she transferred ownership to Fowey Harbour Commissioners And was used for attending the Tregeagle dredging in Ireland In 1954 she was sold to W.J.Reynolds, tug owners of Torpoint, Devonport

Assisting the French schooner Volontaire 30th May 1913

Regatta week

Off Penleath Point

At Reynolds yard Torpoint awaiting to be broken up

Name of Vessel

in Fowey

Gallant

Year Built

1884

Official Number

85822

G.R.T.

69 76

Builders

Rother Iron Works , Rye Kent

Dimensions Lengthened in

Length

Beam

Draft

77’4” 86’0”

16’

9’

Engines

80 H.P. Twin Steam recip

Bollard pull

Owners Built for

Fowey Tug Co

Owners in Fowey

1887 1951

George Bate, Henry Paul Fowey Tug Co Fowey Harbour Commissioners Used for dredging in Ireland and around the coast

History on Leaving Fowey Broken up

1954

W.J.Reynolds Torpoint Davies & Cann Ltd. Ship Breakers,Plymouth

VOYAGES OF THE TUG GALLANT

Built in Rye, Kent 1884

Fowey 1887 to 1954

Torpoint 1954 to 1957 then broken up