The Montagu Whaler: A Portsmouth-built Navy boat and the folk song it inspired

The Montagu Whaler was one of the Royal Navy’s most enduring small boats, designed in the early 20th century and used for everything from daily duties to rescue missions.

At Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, shipwrights have been restoring surviving examples, including Westerman. This short film was shot there, tracing the history of the vessel alongside the story of a folk song it inspired. Written in the late 20th century by Birmingham sailor and folk singer Nigel “Bernie” Bruen, the song travelled through folk clubs before being largely forgotten.

The documentary explores both the naval heritage and the way cultural memory preserves seafaring life through music.