SB Ena

Ena was constructed in 1906 by W B McLearon at the Navy Yard Slip in Harwich, Essex.

She was constructed as a Thames Sailing Barge and was bought by R&W Paul Ltd in 1907 for the grand sum of £875 for use in the grain trade.

During World War One she was used to deliver supplies across the channel to France. This included ammunition for the British Forces, her shallow draught allowed her to operate in waters that were too shallow for the German Imperial Navy’s U Boats.

Ena reverted back to her civilian war after the war and continued in the grain trade until World War Two.

Ena saw action in World War Two when she was sent to Dunkirk in May 1940 to assist with the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. On the crossing to Dunkirk Ena and the other barges from Paul’s fleet came under constant air attacks from the Luftwaffe. Ena was deliberately beached due to the constant air attacks with her crew returning to Britain on a British minesweeper. Ena was refloated by Lt Colonel W G McKay and men from the 19th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, none of whom could be classed as sailors and sailed back to Kent under constant machine gun fire and aerial bombardment. Having reached Kent she was taken under tow to Margate by the tug Kenia. It is reputed she bought 100 men back from the beaches of Dunkirk.

Having worked under sail from her construction Ena was fitted with a Diesel engine in 1948 and continued operating until 1974. Following this she was retired by R&W Paul Ltd but retained for corporate hospitality.

She spent many years participating in Barge races and travelling over to Dunkirk for reunions. When Paul’s were taken over by an Irish company Ena was deemed surplus to requirements and sold on.

In 2001 she was restored and appeared on the tv programme Salvage Squad. Following her restoration she continued in a chartering role but is now laid up on the River Medway, slowly rotting away.

Ena is on the register of National Historic Ships.