Towing Collection (page 9)

NFS firefighters and salvage corps working at a fire
Firefighters from Clerkenwell and the NFS Salvage Corps at work at a warehouse fire. The fire engines from right to left are; a towing unit

NFS (London Region) damaged LFB fire appliance, WW2
The former red fire engines of the London Fire Brigade were painted grey in WW2 and during the time of the NFS. Here a damaged dual purpose pump has been delivered to the Regional headquarters

NFS (London Region) fire float on the Thames, WW2
A motor launch fire float under tow by a fireboat on the River Thames

NFS (London Region) A Bermondsey towing vehicle, WW2
A towing vehicle and trailer pump from 38 A 2V, a Bermondsey sub-station located at Paragon School, Searles Road, London SE1. The picture was taken at the Regional Headquarters, Lambeth

NFS (London Region No 5) Towing Unit, WW2
An NFS towing and trailer unit in uniform grey livery, displayed in the Regional Fire Service Headquarters station drill yard

WAR OF 1812: SEA BATTLE. USS Constitution (with rowboats towing out on a becalmed Atlantic Ocean) escaping a British squadron after a sixty-hour chase, 19 July 1812

TRANSPORT: CANALS. A barge being pulled by horses on a canal and a steamboat on the nearby river. American typefounders cut, 19th century

TRANSPORT: CANALS, 19th C. A barge being pulled by horses on a canal and a steamboat on the nearby river: American typefounders cut, 19th century

U. S. S. Constitution towing the H. B. M. ship Cyane captured Fe
U.S.S. Constitution towing the H.B.M. ship Cyane captured February 28th 1815. Date c1919

Sea Scouts in cutter under tow
Sea Scouts in a cutter under tow. circa 1920s

SS Bloodhound towed to shore - Newfoundland
SS Bloodhound with a broken shaft, being towed to port by SS Diana - Newfoundland and Labrador Date: 1910

Shipbuilding 1970
Towboats assist m/s Varenna to leave Landskrona shipyard built 1970 Date: 1970

Howitzer towed by lorry near Merris, France, WW1
A British 6 inch howitzer being towed across a railway line by a lorry near Merris, northern France, at the time of the Battle of Hazebrouck (during the Battle of the Lys), First World War

Austro-Hungarian soldiers towing a vehicle, WW1
Austro-Hungarian soldiers towing a broken-down vehicle along a muddy road during the First World War. Date: 1914-1918

Air Scouts on a tractor
Two Air Scouts drive a cable towing tractor at Lasham airfield. 1960s

River cargo. Tug towing a barge of sawdust down a river. Photographed on the north arm of the Fraser River, Canada, as the barge passes Twigg Island

One of the first depictions of the wheel, on a bas-relief of a chariot. The bas-relief was one of the earliest known representations of the wheel

Ansons Spanish galleon capture, 1743
Ansons Spanish galleon capture. 18th-century artwork showing the capture on 20 June 1743 of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Covadonga (left) by the British HMS Centurion (right)

Gunboat on Nile rapids, 19th century
Gunboat on Nile rapids, 19th-century artwork. This is a British gunboat being handled by ropes as it negotiates rapids or cataracts on the Nile

Workman with slate quarry tram, North Wales
A workman with a slate quarry tram, somewhere in North Wales. This small tram can carry half a ton of raw slate, and one man can operate it

Metal sign advertising motor insurance
A metal sign, rusting in places, advertising the Empire motor insurance policy from Eagle Star and British Dominions, with instant repairs and free towing

HMS Alert towing HMS Discovery through Icebergs, British
Engraving showing HMS Alert towing HMS Discovery through icebergs, with Disco Island in the background, as seen from HMS Valorous (left foreground) during the British Arctic Expedition of 1875-1876

RNLI inshore rescue boat demonstration rescue, Little Haven Summer Regatta, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
Andrew Davies / SpecialistStock

Researchers towing a blue hydrophone cable to monitor sounds made by cetaceans
Mike Hutchinson / SplashdownDirect

Cardinal Meadowhawk - male towing female during mating activities. Female is resting for a second between egg laying
TOM-1495 Cardinal Meadowhawk - male towing female during mating activities. Female is resting for a second between egg laying. Summer

Henschel Hs-126 Ww2
After serving during Spains civil war, this is one of Germanys most versatile non- combat aircraft during WW2, for tasks ranging from recon- -naissance to glider towing

Horses Tow Barge
Two horses draw a barge along a German canal : a sail has been raised to get a little help from the wind

Horse-Drawn Barge
A horse pulls a barge full of coal along the canal towpath

Merry Go Round on Ice
A merry-go-round on the ice - towing children on toboggans. Date: 1890

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"Towing: A Testament to Strength and Resilience" Towing, a practice as old as time itself, has been an integral part of human history. From the iconic painting "The Fighting Temeraire" depicting a majestic ship being towed away by a steam-powered vessel in 1839, to the infamous Medusa Raft -1 that was left adrift at sea until rescued by another ship, it has proven its worth in dire situations. During World War II, the Short Sunderland flying boat showcased its towing capabilities when it successfully pulled damaged aircraft out of harm's way. Similarly, the Jackup oil drilling rig in the treacherous waters of the North Sea relied on towing vessels for stability and safety. In moments of peril, even unexpected heroes emerge. The heartwarming story of being saved by a female bather illustrates how human kindness can extend beyond land and into water rescue operations. The Douglas Dakota picking up a glider during Normandy's Second World War invasion exemplifies teamwork and resourcefulness. This act not only symbolized hope but also demonstrated how different vehicles could work together towards a common goal. During London's Blitz in World War II, auxiliary towing vehicles played an essential role in evacuating people from danger zones swiftly. These unsung heroes ensured that citizens found solace amidst chaos. From land to air travel advancements came hand-in-hand with towing innovations. The Humber Vintage Car proudly towed Humber-built Monoplane – marking Britain's first all-British aviation achievement – showcasing how diverse modes of transportation can come together harmoniously. As society progressed post-war era saw leisurely pursuits like caravanning gain popularity; captured perfectly by an unknown creator who immortalized a 1937 Hillman 14 effortlessly pulling along a caravan through picturesque landscapes. Even military forces recognized the importance equipment such as Bristol Beaufighter TT Mk. 10 RD758 stationed in Bahrain during World War II.