1907 - The Paddel Steamer 'Barry' - 2007 by J.S. Earl

[Brian Probetts (Site Admin)]

Cheers to the pleasure steamer - popular and fast,
With a jaunty rake of funnel and bunting from the mast,
Paddles swooshing easily foaming as they churn,
Leaving wake - ruler straight, trailing there astern.

Her glossy shining paintwork of red and pearly white,
Flying proud the ensign on halyard whipping tight,
The cheering of the passengers leaning on the rail,
And jingle of the telegraph when about to sail.

The fascinating engines steaming hell for leather,
Captain's orders from the bridge open to the weather,
Called upon in wartime years for such sterling work,
Plus helping out the Navy and Army at Dunkirk.

One such vessel of renown was the P.S. Barry,
Famous in the Great War for troops she had to carry,
Outstanding in Gallipoli and last from Suvla Bay,
Serving at Salonika toiled in danger's way.

She was built upon the Clyde one hundred years ago,
Excursion fit for passengers on deck and down below,
Registered in Barry - in her early years,
Calling in the Channel ports mooring at the piers.

Ilfracombe or Weston, down to old Minehead,
Burnham and the Mumbles - then home in time for bed,
She gave so many people, hours of bracing pleasure,
Merrymaking families enjoying days to treasure.

Later on in `twenty-six she worked our southern climes,
Sailing out of Brighton and Hastings many times,
Then sweeping mines in `forty-one on a fatal run,
She perished in the North Sea, sunk there by the Hun.

It's right recalling history of South Wales long ago,
Of local crew and seamen sailing to and fro,
For they worked the paddle steamers giving them their power,
In our favorite waters - from Bristol to the Gower.

The Paddle Steamer Barry was built for the Barry Railway Company's fleet and sailed on May 24, 1907,
before leaving the Clyde to begin her pleasure steamer career from Barry and the Bristol Channel.

J.S.EARL 2007

[Keith at Tregenna]

1907 “Her Name Was Barry” 2007

A paddle steamer built for, and named after, the town of Barry, Glamorgan. South Wales.

A Project Researched by Her Name Was SS.

Research notes for:

The Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry Branch
And Cllr. Dennis Harkus. ( BTC )


PS Waverley (ex - Barry, 1907)
Service dates: 1907 – 1941

HMS Snaefell - 1940 May 27 British Evacuation Operation
Dynamo Dunkerque

HMS Snaefell
HMS Paddle Minesweeper
RN 8th Minesweeper Flotilla - 1940 May 27
Evacuation Operation Dynamo Dunkerque

Aim: To rescue as many British and French soldiers as possible.
39 destroyers, 36 minesweepers, 77 trawlers, 26 yachts and many smaller vessels were involved.
Result: 220000 British and 120000 French soldiers were rescued but 235 ships were lost.

Most of the rescued French soldiers returned to France after the French surrender.

The Snaefell / Waverley was the only one not to carry the title from her creation. The vessel was a fine looking paddle steamer built by the John Brown shipyard in Clydebank for the Barry Railway Company who adopted a funnel livery associated on the Clyde with the NBR fleet - red with black top and white band - although the Barry Railway's white band was narrower. She was called Barry, named after her base port on the coast of South Wales between Cardiff and Swansea. From 1907 when she arrived from Clydebank, Barry ran across the Channel from Barry to Minehead and Weston. After four years she was sold to the Campbell company, abandoning her tricolour funnel for Campbell's all white stack livery. She continued as the Barry for some years and served far and wide in the Great War taking part in the Galipoli landings serving in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas being based at Salonika. There her name was changed to Barryfield to avoid confusion with the American destroyer USS Barry. After the war she came to Troon for a complete rebuild by Ailsa Shipbuilding. In 1926 she changed her name, becoming the Bristol Channel fleet's second Waverley although she spent almost all of her time as Waverley on the company's south coast services at Brighton Requisitioned again in 1939 she had to be renamed again, as the older Waverley already had the title HMS Waverley. So the sixth Waverley became HMS Snaefell. Both Waverley’s rushed to the rescue of the Allied troops at Dunkirk in May 1940 and the two Waverley's may have been close to each other in that desperate mission. Unlike the Clyde's Waverley, she survived the Dunkirk onslaught but her reprieve was short - just over a year later, on 5th July 1941, she succumbed to the attack of Luftwaffe bombers off Sunderland.

www.ss-tregenna.co.uk


“Her Name Was Waverley”
A Project Researched by Her Name Was SS.
Research notes for:
The Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry Branch
And Cllr. Dennis Harkus. ( BTC )


RN Ships At Dunkirk - 1940 May 27


HMS Waverley - 1940 May 27 British Evacuation
Operation Dynamo Dunkerque
HMS Waverley
HMS Paddle Minesweeper
RN 12th Minesweeper Flotilla - 1940 May 27 British Evacuation Operation Dynamo Dunkerque

Aim: To rescue as many British and French soldiers as possible.
39 destroyers, 36 minesweepers, 77 trawlers, 26 yachts and many smaller vessels were involved.
Result: 220000 British and 120000 French soldiers were rescued but 235 ships were lost.

Most of the rescued French soldiers returned to France after the French surrender.

The name Waverley comes from the novels of Sir Walter Scott in which Captain Edward Waverley was one of the principal characters

Waverley turned out to be one of the finest paddle steamers ever built, a flier and flagship of the Clyde. She continued in service on the Clyde for 40 years and began her second period of war service in 1939. The elder Waverley had been lain up and was re-commissioned for service in our country’s hour of need. She never returned to her native river, being sunk whilst returning from the beaches of Dunkirk. Many men died on HMS. Waverley that day.

We do not attempt in any way to glorify war, but both remember and tribute the vessels and brave men that are often seemingly forgotten. So much is owed to so few and all that they asked was “Do not forget us”. We attempt to do our part in their request. For the fallen. LEST WE FORGET.

www.ss-tregenna.co.uk

[Geoff Anderson]

hi keith at tregenna. welcome to this site, i have just visited the tregenna site you put up . very interesting indeed,as an ex cardiff boy, i sailed out of barry several times and sailed with quite a few barry boys.i've even loaded coal in the mid 60s.the links to barry interested me greatly and i will explore them some more when time allows. thank you once again . best wishes geoff

[Keith at Tregenna]

Rembering a small part played in the theatre of war by the PS Barry one of many of the little ships that was there. Possibly you can add similar here of your local Ladies of the waves. K.

1907 “Her Name Was Barry” 1941

A paddle steamer originally built for, and named after,
the town of Barry, Glamorgan. South Wales.

Service dates: 1907 – 1941

The PADDLE STEAMER 'BARRY'

Cheers to the pleasure steamer – popular and fast,
With a jaunty rake of funnel and bunting from the mast,
Paddles swooshing easily foaming as they churn,
Leaving wake – ruler straight, trailing there astern.

Her glossy shining paintwork of red and pearly white,
Flying proud the ensign on halyard whipping tight,
The cheering of the passengers leaning on the rail,
And jingle of the telegraph when about to sail.

The fascinating engines steaming hell for leather,
Captain's orders from the bridge open to the weather,
Called upon in wartime years for such sterling work,
Plus helping out the Navy and Army at Dunkirk.

One such vessel of renown was the P.S. Barry,
Famous in the Great War for troops she had to carry,
Outstanding in Gallipoli and last from Suvla Bay,
Serving at Salonika toiled in danger's way.

She was built upon the Clyde one hundred years ago,
Excursion fit for passengers on deck and down below,
Registered in Barry – in her early years,
Calling in the Channel ports mooring at the piers.

Ilfracombe or Weston, down to old Minehead,
Burnham and the Mumbles – then home in time for bed,
She gave so many people, hours of bracing pleasure,
Merrymaking families enjoying days to treasure.

Later on in 'twenty-six she worked our southern climes,
Sailing out of Brighton and Hastings many times,
Then sweeping mines in 'forty-one on a fatal run,
She perished in the North Sea, sunk there by the Hun.

It's right recalling history of South Wales long ago,
Of local crew and seamen sailing to and fro,
For they worked the paddle steamers giving them their power,
In our favorite waters – from Bristol to the Gower.

J.S.Earl. Bristol M.N.A.

Centenary Poem / Remembrance 2007, Dunkirk 2010, 70 years on / Demise: July 5th 1941.

Dunkirk : 70th Anniversary of the evacuation of 338,000 British and Allied troops from the Beaches and Port in 1940.

1907 “Her Name Was Barry” 1941

The Paddle Steamer Barry was built by John Brown & Co at Clydebank for the Barry Railway Company's fleet and sailed on May 24, 1907, before leaving the Clyde to begin her pleasure steamer career from Barry and the Bristol Channel. She was built as PS Barry for the Barry Railway Company in their new venture to capture a share of the Bristol Channel excursion trade. Built as the PS Barry for the Barry Railway Co, this fine looking steamer sailed between Barry, Minehead and Weston in the summer and Barry to Burnham on Sea in the winter. In her next few seasons she also sailed to Ilfracombe and Mumbles.

PS Barry was acquired by Bristol Channel Passenger Boats Ltd in 1910 and was absorbed into the Campbell's empire after two season’s service. When sold to P&A Campbell to become part of the White Funnel Fleet Barry, was re-named Waverley. Originally on the Weston to Minehead and Barry service, she was similar in appearance to Glen Usk. She joined Campbell’s in 1911 and was renamed Barryfield from 1917 to 1920, when she reverted to her original name.

On the withdrawal of the Barry Company from steamer operations in 1910 she passed to the Bristol Channel Passenger Boats Ltd and came into Campbell ownership in 1911. She was requisitioned in World War I, being stationed in Greece, based in Salonika and taking part in the Gallipoli landings.

During the Great War the Barry took 400 German prisoners to Dublin, and later underwent a baptism of fire in the Dardanelles campaign, for six weeks landing troops and munitions in the face of shelling in Suvla Bay. Then she rode out a great blizzard, and finally at the close of this ill-fated campaign evacuated hundreds of frost-bitten soldiers, and was the last ship to leave - with the rearguard safely on deck.

Her war service in the First World War saw a distinguished service (1914-1918), she has been described as outstanding, after a period transporting German prisoners, the Barry achieved everlasting fame by sailing to the Mediterranean and carrying troops at the Gallipoli landings. She was used as a transport and store carrier in the Gallioplli campaign. She was almost lost there when a mine twice struck her paddle wheels but fortunately did not damage her. The PS Barry was the last ship to leave Suvla Bay after the evacuation and later served at Salonika.

After further service in the Mediterranean she was decommissioned and was reconditioned by the Ailsa yard in Troon in 1920. In 1926 she was again renamed, this time as Waverley (II) by Campbell’s to commemorate the earliest of Campbell’s Bristol Channel steamers and was transferred to the South Coast. She was sent to the Brighton station replacing Ravenswood, This Waverley sailed from Eastbourne, Brighton and Hastings, as well as some cross channel work. She went back to the Bristol Channel in 1934 and 1935, but returned to the South Coast afterwards.

Her pleasure steamer days continued until 1939, she was again to play a brave part in the theatre of war.

Returning to pleasure steamer sailings after the First World War, Barry continued to give pleasure to countless thousands of passengers until 1939, then she returned to serve her country again in the Second World War as a minesweeper, this second Waverley (formerly the Barry), was re-named HMS Snaefell when requisitioned in World War II and sent to the Tyne, based at North Shields, She made several trips to Dunkirk, and despite air bombardment and shell fire got many hundreds of soldiers away. An earlier Waverley was taken out of moth balls and sailed under her own name, it was this earlier Waverley that was sadly lost at Dunkirk.

It is recorded that at Dunkirk Waverley was involved in the rescue of her grounded stablemate Glen Gower. On one occasion she was making for the open sea when her sister ship, the Glen Gower, then HMS Glenmore, got grounded on the beach. The Waverley went back and towed her off.

Sadly, the Snaefell (Barry – Waverley) was lost on war service in 1941 she was bombed and sunk off the north east coast of England in a bombing raid off Sunderland on July 5th, sadly lost when on minesweeping duties.

PS Barry / Waverley / Barryfield / Barry / Waverley (II) / HMS Snaefell

(The PS Barry was a relative of the current remaining last Ocean going Paddle Ship Waverley in name and by company, not by model and design. She carried her name on several occassions to commemorate the earliest of Campbell’s Bristol Channel steamers. There have been several actual Waverliy's, sisters to todays. Barry proudly carried her name inbetween) K.

Dunkirk : 70th Anniversary of the evacuation of 338,000 British and Allied troops from the Beaches and Port in 1940.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Keith my Barry buddy, hi shipmates, My first trip to sea was on The westward Ho of the white funnel fleet, p&A Campbell sign on in the office in bute st many years ago, The Glen Usk was a little ship at Dunkirk !!! so i was told by someone who sailed on her, I also worked on the "Cardiff Queen in dockside but never shipped out on her,,I Think it was swansea , loading stores' and unloading many years ago, you could swim in the docks then in the summer?

[Keith at Tregenna]

Wreck of Dunkirk 'little ship' found in the North Sea off Sunderland

A paddle steamer that helped ferry troops back from Dunkirk has been found – 69 years after it was sunk by German warplanes and months before a planned remembrance of her loss 70 years on.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010...sea-sunderland

Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz13qaR0uxn

K.