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Bluebird - HSL at Folkestone WW2

Printed From: BMPT Forum
Category: General Discussion
Forum Name: Coastal Forces
Forum Description: Discussion about Coastal Forces
URL: http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=1065
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 4:19pm


Topic: Bluebird - HSL at Folkestone WW2
Posted By: CommanderChuff
Subject: Bluebird - HSL at Folkestone WW2
Date Posted: 13 February 2018 at 10:50am
Dear Forum Members,

During my research into the coastal forces in England during the Second World War I have discovered your wonderful website.

My interest is in the use of Folkestone harbour during the Great and Second World Wars. The harbour is located between Dover and Newhaven on the south coast of England. I am building a model of the harbour for a railway layout and am planning some warships for the WW2 scenario. So far I have found the following by looking through books and the web, and now know that the information is very scarce.

As far as ASR is concerned I have found that a Local Air Sea-Rescue Service was provided by the fast patrol boat BLUEBIRD commanded by Ty/Sub Lt J D Caldwell RNVR at Folkestone.

Markham Jones of the ASRMCS club informs me that the RN used requisitioned Private Motor Launch from there, and I am seeking any more inform on the type so that it can be modelled for my railway layout, With many thanks for any help, David.

Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Aircraft Engineer, Project Manager, Yachtsman, Author, Photographer, Eroica Cyclist, SE&CR Folkestone Harbour railway.


Replies:
Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 14 February 2018 at 4:09pm
Hi there,

I'm not sure what year you're thinking of, but I'm guessing you mean quite early in the war.

There was a launch called Bluebird of Chelsea that was requisitioned for service at Dunkirk. After that she was apparently in use as a Radar Decoy Ship with the RN. There was another Bluebird (actually called Blue Bird) at Dunkirk, that also served at Dunkirk, but she is too large to be the sort of boat you're describing.

Although a decoy ship, it's not inconceivable that Bluebird of Chelsea briefly served in Folkestone. It's possible that she was involved in rescue work immediately after Dunkirk and through the Battle of Britain, but it wouldn't have lasted long. Technically the RN were not responsible for Air Sea Rescue, which was a directorate established by the RAF in 1941. 

Google Bluebird of Chelsea and you'll find a lot of pictures.

Steve 


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www.spitfiresofthesea.com

Posted By: CommanderChuff
Date Posted: 19 May 2018 at 6:34pm
Steve,

Thanks for the info,  this is exactly what I was looking for.


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Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Aircraft Engineer, Project Manager, Yachtsman, Author, Photographer, Eroica Cyclist, SE&CR Folkestone Harbour railway.


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