​​Nestled along the River Dart, the Creekside Boathouse in Dartmouth might appear today as a tranquil retreat, but during the Second World War, it was a hub of covert naval activity and vital military operations. With its discreet position on the water’s edge, shielded by wooded hills and the curving banks of the river, the boathouse was ideally placed for launching swift and secret missions.

​By 1941, the Admiralty had requisitioned the site for use by Coastal Forces. The boathouse served as a base for Motor Gun Boats (MGBs)—sleek, heavily armed vessels designed for speed and aggression. These boats, crewed by young, daring sailors, became a critical line of defence and attack along the Channel. Operating primarily at night, MGBs from Dartmouth would slip quietly into the open sea, patrolling for German E-boats, intercepting enemy shipping, or escorting convoys.

​The boathouse provided essential shelter and maintenance facilities for these crafts. Beneath its low, slate roof, mechanics worked long hours repairing engines, replenishing ammunition, and preparing the boats for the next perilous run. Intelligence officers met with crews here, briefing them on targets and rendezvous points along the French coast. The nearby Royal Naval College also played a role, training officers and navigating the tactical complexities of coastal warfare.

​One particularly daring operation in 1943 involved MGBs launching from the Creekside Boathouse to extract French resistance fighters near the mouth of the River Loire. Under the cover of darkness and in silence, the boats glided out from the Dart and into the Channel. The mission was a success, a testament to the speed, precision, and nerve of the crews—and the strategic importance of their humble riverside base.

​Today, little remains to suggest the boathouse’s wartime role, but echoes of urgency and bravery still seem to linger in the lapping water and quiet breeze—reminders of a time when Dartmouth stood watch over a dangerous sea.