James Howard of Corfe Mullen is appealing for information and pictures on World War Two Storm Boats that were stored and tested in Christchurch Harbour.

He has restored a 1940 Evinrude outboard motor engine for a rare Storm Boat. The Royal Canadian Engineers used Storm Boats to rescue over 2,000 British Airborne troops who had been dropped on the wrong side of the enemy lines at Arnhem. Our own troops could not rescue the trapped soldiers but the Canadian Engineers went back and forth all night across the River Rhine bringing in the vast majority of them back to safety at considerable risk to themselves and personal cost of lives.

After James got the motor running again it was bought by Canadian William McVean who is now keen that his fellow country men be recognised for their heroism on that night in 1943.

James tried, but failed, to find a set of plans to build a new Storm Boat in which to house the engine so it could be used for educational purposes.

He was told Storm Boats were tested at the Military Experiment Base ( MEXE ) prior to being transported to France to aid with the liberation from German troops. MEXE were well known for making Bailey Bridges. The base had a number of slipways that could be used for the launch of small boats such as Storm Boats.

MEXE has since gone. It would have been located behind today's Christchurch Retail Park.

James hopes someone in the Christchurch area might recall these events and perhaps have information that might lead to a set of plans. Contact James at james@jhren.co.uk or call him on 07510 573702.