A Wartime Icon on the Broads

A Wartime Icon on the Broads: MTB 102’s Legacy Lives On in Lowestoft

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Lowestoft, a piece of living history is being lovingly preserved by a dedicated local boatyard owner named Richard. His workshop, usually filled with the hum of everyday boat maintenance, has taken on a more noble task: caring for one of the most significant vessels of World War II – an MTB 102.

Motor Torpedo Boats, or MTBs, were fast attack craft developed to counter enemy ships and submarines with speed and agility. These nimble boats were essential for patrolling coastal waters, and MTB 102 was one of the finest of her time. Designed in 1936 by Commander Peter Du Cane CBE, then Managing Director of Vosper Ltd., MTB 102 was launched just a year later in 1937. When she was brought into service, the Admiralty designated her as ‘MTB 102’ – the “100” prefix marking her as a prototype, the very first of a new generation of MTBs.

Crewed by just two officers and eight men, MTB 102 saw action in the English Channel throughout 1939 and 1940. Her most famous mission came during ‘Operation Dynamo’, the dramatic evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk. She made eight perilous crossings of the Channel, ferrying troops and officers to safety. After the destroyer HMS ‘Keith’ was bombed and disabled by a German Stuka, Rear Admiral Wake-Walker transferred to MTB 102. From her modest bridge, he directed the final stages of the evacuation. With no Rear Admiral’s flag onboard, an impromptu one was crafted from an Admiralty dishcloth and red paint — a fitting symbol of British ingenuity under fire.

MTB 102 became the third-to-last vessel to leave the beaches of Dunkirk, her part in the operation forever etched in naval history. Following the war, she was brought back into civilian life and opened for the public to experience and learn from her legacy along the Norfolk Broads.

She is currently undergoing a careful refit. With only a handful of craftsmen still possessing the traditional skills needed to restore such a vessel, progress is slow — but it is a true labour of love. Richard and his small team are pouring their time, expertise, and hearts into this project, ensuring that MTB 102 can continue to inspire future generations.

This is more than a boat restoration. It’s the preservation of a national treasure — and thanks to Richard’s stewardship, MTB 102 will sail on as a floating reminder of courage, craftsmanship, and community.