EssexCockle Boat

[Gargleblaster]

I watched a movie made in 2016 which featured a Cockle Boat that was involved in the Dunkirk evacuation. Much was made of the engine breaking down and/or rope around a propellor. I would have thought a Cockle Boat from Southend in the story but more likely Leigh on Sea would have had sails and that would have been a more likely alternative than someone trying to fix an engine or cut rope from a propellor while being shot at by a Me109. I would be interested in anyone's opinion as to how many Cockle Boats from a relatively poor fishing family in Essex in 1940 would not have had sails.

When I google Essex Cockle Boat one image is of a Bawley that took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, which reinforces my belief.

 

[Rum Run]

I think we should just be grateful that the film didn't insert an erroneous American to save the day ?

 

[Poignard]

I wonder if this was the boat, or similar.

The Endevour. A Dunkirk Little Ship moored at Leigh on Sea in Essex Stock Photo - Alamy

 

[MoodySabre]

That is the boat. It did, and still does have, sails.
Endeavour Trust

There were other cockle boats that went - The Renown being one that did not make it back and the sailors of which are remember in several local war memorials https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!...=2ahUKEwjdi5298ZD1AhVJZMAKHYm2AkgQoip6BAgbEAM

 

[Capt Popeye]

Might mention that , if the Boat in question was the one in a Film broadcast the other week , I saw excerpts on another place and the Boat seemed to me to be a conversion from an open launch , with a rather crude addition of a Cabin ; suppose it was to represent many Leisure Boats found between the Wars at the time on the Thames ; as in post war times Leisure Boating was often done on a shoe string , with sort of Home Conversions

A relative had a Plywood sort of Pontoon Converted by adding a long cabin , it could never follow the rivers bends with its flat bottom , the wind direction dictated its progress ; but it did Family ok , untill it sank in mysterious circumstances , a hole had appeared in its ply skin , maybe a Angler had sat /rocked on a chair /stool so punching a hole through the aged ply

 

[MoodySabre]

The Endeavour did appear briefly a couple of times in the film Dunkirk but it was not the boat that was the main focus. That was a motor boat of which I have no information.

 

[tjbrace]

Riis 1, a West Mersea based Dunkirk Little Ship, has some cameo scenes along with her owners but is not the vessel that features throughout the film. This is her.

 

[Gargleblaster]

This was the boat used in the film, both full size and model in a tank.

I believe the Endeavour as shown in teh link by Poignard is more like what I imagine a family of cockle fisherpersons from Southend or Leigh on Sea would have been using in 1940. And of course the sails would have got them home safely from Dunkirk if there was sufficient wind.

 

[Poignard]

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