The boat that rescued 600 men at Dunkirk that is now saving lives in Scotland

It was one of the 850 ‘little ships’ dispatched to take part in the rescue of more than 300,000 British and allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk before becoming a pleasure boat that ferried holidaymakers around Scotland’s lochs and coasts.

The Skylark IX in the boat shed at the Scottish Maritime Museum. PIC: Contributed.

Now the restoration of the Skylark IX is helping to save the lives of addicts who are helping to rebuild the vessel, which is believed to be the only Dunkirk little ship left in Scotland.

The Skylark IX, which managed to evacuate 600 men from Dunkirk over the nine-day rescue in 1940, is in the boatshed at the Scottish Maritime Museum at Irvine where it is set to be rebuilt.

Alternatives Community Recovery Service based in Dumbarton is driving the project and raising funds for the work.

Claire McDade, project manager at Skylark IX Recovery Trust, said: “The boat saved the lives of the men on the beaches and Alternative Views works to rescue lives.

“They are not just trying to save the boat, they are working to save people.”

The Skylark IX, which came under fire as it worked to transport soldiers from the beaches to larger naval vessels, was built as a motor cruiser in Poole in Dorset in 1927, where it served as a shallow water minesweeper after war broke out.

After Dunkirk, it was moved up to Morecambe and Blackpool where it ferried holidaymakers on short sea cruises.

Later the little boat with a big history sailed out of Portobello and Burntisland before being transported on the Forth and Clyde Canal to Loch Lomond, where it operated as a tourist boat for Sweeney’s for more than 30 years.

Owner John Sweeney gave free Remembrance Day Service trips for Dunkirk veterans who laid poppies on the Loch.

In 1987, Charles Fairman, the former Petty Officer, RNVR, who commanded Skylark IX in 1941, recognised her whilst on tour in Scotland.

In June 2010, she sank on the River Leven, deteriorating under water for two years.

The Skylark IX Recovery Trust has since raised funds for her restoration, along with Alternatives Community Recovery Service, whose clients are now learning about traditional boat building.

The work of the trust has been recognised by the National Lottery Fund, with Skylark IX’s volunteer co-ordinator, Jade West, named one of Scotland’s ‘heritage heroes’ .

Ms West said: “The veteran community in the area celebrated Remembrance Day and numerous other ceremonies on the Skylark.

"When she sank, they were disappointed she had been left, so they sent out an SOS to get her lifted out of the water and restored.

"Alternatives were aware of this and saw a great opportunity to work with us to recover the boat.

"They felt the story of Skylark and how she saved so many really resonated with what they were trying to do as a project and organisation.”

As part of her recognition, Ms West was one of nine ‘heritage heroes’ to have her face beamed on one of the standing stones at Stonehenge.

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