Marine conservation charity Blue Seas Protection has stepped in at the eleventh hour to save historic vessel MV Monya, built 1933, which was threatened with demolition after being abandoned at Ryde Harbour.
Captain Garry Oates said:
“It would be a crime to allow this war hero, which crossed the Channel 2 or 3 times to take over 100 of our troops off the beaches of Dunkirk to be unceremoniously scrapped!”
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The Little Boats of Dunkirk have a very important part in World War II History. These vessels and their civilian owners risked life and beam whilst under enemy fire to repatriate hundreds of thousands of our troops back to England at the end of the War. Some never made it.
This particularly seaworthy vessel was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1941 to take marines to and from their ships and so the Dunkirk operation when it came at the end of the war was never in doubt.
In this 100th Centenary year of the end of World War I, the rescue and restoration of MV Monya is an especially fitting metaphor for how we should honour and respect our war veteran heroes and a reminder for future generations of the sacrifices that were made for their liberty and democracy.
Monya’s Perkins P6 engine is seized, the wooden hull has leaked muddy water into the interior from the harbour and several original items such as the wood burning stove, navigation equipment, mizzen sail, dinghy and liferaft are all missing.
Blue Seas Protection welcomes all interested parties to donate items, sponsor or contribute skills and knowledge towards this new ‘Operation Dunkirk’ project for renovating, restoring and preserving the National Historic Ship and War Hero MV Monya.
Email [email protected] or phone 01983 400767 to register your interest and leave contact details.
