In 1937 the British cargo ship English Trader went ashore whilst entering Dartmouth Harbour; Risdon Beazley removed and cut up the bow section.
In the same year Kantoeng, then the largest tin dredge in the world, capsized whilst under tow of Smit International tugs; Risdon Beazley removed the hull.
At the outbreak of World War II the Admiralty requisitioned salvage vessels and most were put under Risdon Beazley's management.
They spent several successful years in rescue towage using the salvage tug Twyford (ex-Warden) and the Ashford (ex-Empire Sandy).
A notable joint operation was to salvage Isambard Kingdom Brunel's ship SS Great Britain from the Falkland Islands and redeliver it to Bristol.
Initially Risdon Beazley Marine Ltd. expanded with the purchase of the floating cranes Brunel and Telford, plus the 5,000 BHP Seaford and pontoons.