Mai - Juin
1940
The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships
A D L S
WARRIOR
Type: Motor yacht
Length: 64ft 8ins
Beam: 14ft 10ins
Draft: 5ft 10ins
Displacement: 40.39 tons
Engine: 2 x Russell Newbery 40hp Diesels
Construction: Teak on oak
Builder: Camper & Nicholson
Year: 1912
The Warrior was built in 1912 as a naval pinnace and she is a handsome, roomy vessel - a real ship in miniature, so unlike a modern pleasure yacht. Her hull is constructed durably in double-diagonal teak on oak. Her own early records, including her Dunkirk log, were destroyed when an incendiary bomb struck her while she lay, still under naval command, on the river Thames at Greenwich, after Dunkirk.
At that time Warrior served as a coastal defence vessel and was used by Commander C.A. Lund to instruct naval officers in navigation and seamanship at H.M.S King Alfred in 1942.
After the war, Warrior has had five owners. Stanley Crabtree had her entirely refitted at Dickie's Yard, Bangor, Wales, in the late 1960s. In earlier days she had a fine figurehead of an Indian warrior which was maintained faithfully in its original colours even when Warrior was painted in battleship grey. Sadly, she lost this figurehead during her restoration.
John and Mary Hornshaw purchased Warrior in 1972 from Stanley Crabtree at Glasson Dock, Lancaster, and in May 1973 John and his son Michael and a professional skipper sailed Warrior through the Bay of Biscay to Gibraltar.
John and Mary lived on Warrior in the Mediterranean, exploring from Palma de Mallorca to the Greek Islands, and Malta, and the Spanish mainland coast. In 1985 they brought Warrior back across the Bay of Biscay on their own and lived on-board in Torquay until Warrior was sold in May 1989.
Updated July 09
Further Information:
Warrior is wintering in the Med for 2012/13
After an eventful trip across the channel then cruising the French water ways, she is now moored near the lovely city of Aigues Mortes.
This year she has covered many thousands of Km, Been guest of honour at many French museums and is going to be appearing on the TV show Distand Shores next year.
But Warrior is not resting for long, soon she will be becoming not only a B&B but also a Charter motor yacht travelling the French water ways and coast line.
Sun, 15/04/2012
Warrior, in Swansea Docks 1949 and the Pavion D'Or.
Warrior was bought by my parents after I was born in December1948, in about 1950, my father Lt Col Charles Brewis, lived on board her whilst he commanded either the Welsh or South Wales Borderers in Swansea docks.
I was also told that she won the Pavion D'Or race one year.
It is a pity she has lost her Indian Chieftain figurehead.
I would love to know where she is now, and hopefully go on board, if anyone can let me know.
Tim Brewis.
Sat, 04/12/2010
Warrior is under new ownership David and Fiona are looking for any information regards the great little ship.
We have taken ownership in Nov 2010 and work has already started and will hopefully be ready to set sail again come spring.
Tue, 17/05/2011
Warrior is almost complete from its winter rebuild, Hull was good, but a few frames have been replaced, The engines have undergone a complete rebuild and are now sounding very good, the only areas to finish now are the odd bit of painting and basic fitting out, First test run due very soon and then after a full shake down its heading to the Med
Mon, 14/02/2011
Good to hear news of Warrior. If Roger & Fiona would like to make contact, I can put them in touch with John & Mary Hornshaw (Warrior 1972 - 1989) who would be happy to chat about Warrior. Best wishes. Stephen Neal (son-in-law to John & Mary).
Sat, 02/04/2011
Hi Stephen, yes that would be great thank you, please drop us an email so we can get in contact
Regards Dave and Fiona. david_askem@hotmail.com
Thu, 16/12/2010
Hello David and Fiona, please contact webadmin@adls.org.uk so we can provide you with details of ADLS membership. Many thanks, Ian (Website Administrator).
Wed, 28/10/2009
As a young boy in Malta I was aboard the Warrior with my parents several times as guests of Mr. & Mrs. Hornshaw. I only know their name, however, from this website. The practice in Malta was to refer to owners by the name of their craft, so I knew the Hornshaw's as Mr. and Mrs. Warrior. A lovely time, wonderful people and a beautiful ship. I remember well the plaque commemorating the Warrior's role in the Dunkirk rescue.
Daniel Smith.