On Tuesday 24th September 2024 volunteers from the Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust will combine with MSDS Marine to explore the River Derwent to find the submerged remains of a fireboat that operated on the river and canal network during the second world war.
With thanks to Derby Local Studies Library who provided the photograph
In those days much of the industry of Derby was close to water and the operation of hoses from the water was a faster and safer way to respond to the impact of incendiary bombs not easily accessible by land. The first boat was commissioned in August 1940 (Telegraph 20/7/1940). It was donated by Mr E Clark, a lecturer at Derby Technical College, who had converted it himself from an old lifeboat from a liner and used it for pleasure cruising before donating it to the local fire service in 1940. It measured only 28ft 6 inches in length, and was soon fitted with a powerful 500 gallon per minute pump to power the hose and allow land based portable reservoirs to be filled quickly for use across the city. It was so successful that a second boat was commissioned in February 1941.
After the war the boat was moored outside the Furnace Inn and fell into disuse and finally sank. DSCT are planning to find the remains of this historic boat and are working with heritage organisation MSDS to find the remains. This will be a joint exercise and working from the Outram Riverboat MSDS will be using underwater drone technology to search the river. DSCT Vice Chairman Mike Wingfield said “we have been delighted with the interest shown in the Riverboat operation so far, but I never imagined we would be adding underwater archaeology to our activities. It may not be the Titanic, but it still represents an important piece of Derby’s heritage. It may be that if we locate the boat it becomes another feature on our popular Riverboat trips.”
Alison James of MSDS explained “when Mike introduced us to this project we were delighted to offer our help. We work across the country, but we are a Derby based operation and it is great to be involved with such a local project. The Riverboat is already expanding the public’s knowledge of the history and wildlife of the city and – if we are successful – this will simply take it to another level.”
