Name Forth Princess

Built in 1921, at Haywards Boatyard, Southend, FORTH PRINCESS was one of two boats constructed to the same patterns the other being the ‘Julia Freak’ for the Southend Motor Navigation Company.  Originally named BRITANNIA, she was owned and operated from Southend beach by brothers Charles & Arthur Myall. 

As BRITANNIA I (presumably to avoid confusion!), the vessel participated in a 1921 regatta in Southend, where the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA also took part, skippered by King George V.  A British Pathe film of this event can be watched here - the then BRITANNIA I comes into shot after seven seconds.

The Myalls added a second boat to their fleet in 1924 named the SOUTHSEA BRITANNIA.  They became known as the LITTLE BRITANNIA and the BIG BRITANNIA and operated day trips from Southend.

Both boats were requisitioned by the Royal Navy on the 27 May 1940, and BRITANNIA I was listed by NSH, 1949, as “Britannia”.  She was taken to Dunkirk with S/Lt. S.D. Ward, RNVR, in nominal Command, but by her regular Skipper & crew.  She ferried troops to the larger ships offshore. 

BRITANNIA I was retained by the Royal Navy after Dunkirk for service as an inshore minesweeper in London River, (See ADM 208/3-The Red List; 15-09-1940).   She was also listed at Brightlingsea in 1943 as a liberty boat (www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4201-40RNShips2Home.htm) along with several other Southsea excursion boats. 

After the war, BRITANNIA I was returned to her owners and continued to operate holiday trips at Southend from 1946 to 1958, when she was sold to the Thames Motorboat Company (now City Cruises) and operated on the River Thames as THAMES BRITANNIA.  In 1982 she was sold to Plymouth Boat Trips and renamed PLYMOUTH PRINCESS.  Substantial alterations were made, and the vessel was rebuilt with an upper deck to look much as she does today.  

In 2018, Forth Boat Tours purchased the vessel and renamed her FORTH PRINCESS.  She is now based in Port Edgar, Edinburgh and regularly undertakes year round sightseeing tours of the river Forth.  She celebrates her 100th birthday in 2021.