Pudge was built of wood at Frindsbury in 1922 by London & Rochester Trading Company and registered in Rochester at 68 tons (Official Number 127274).  Pudge was requisitioned on 29th May 1940 whilst in Tilbury docks waiting to load for Ipswich.
Three barges, Thyra, Lady Rosebery and Pudge, were taken in tow by the steel-hulled tug St. Fagan. To keep them together, save fuel and increase speed, they were towed across to Dunkirk and they reached the beaches under cover of darkness. There the three barges were cast off from the tug. The Lady Rosebery was ordered to proceed in-shore to pick up troops. She had navigated ahead of the St. Fagan, just astern of the tug, when there was a tremendous explosion as the St. Fagan struck a mine. Pudge was lifted out of the water but came down the right way up. When the smoke and dust had settled, the St. Fagan, Lady Rosebery and Doris had been destroyed. St. Fagan had a crew of twenty-five and only six survived the explosion which were rescued by rhe bargeboat from Pudge.
The tug Tanga encountered the sailing barge Pudge and towed her back to England.