PS. BARRY

[On behalf of Joe]

1907 - The PADDLE STEAMER `BARRY` - 2007

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 Greenway]

The PS Barry poem by Captain Joe Earl was presented to Barry Town Council at a ceremony in the Mayor's Parlour on the 19th of March 2008. The poem is intended as a gift to the town and people of Barry and its Merchant Seamen.

Captain Joe Earl handed over two framed copies of his poem - honouring the Paddle Steamer Barry - to commemorate the end of its' centenary year.

The Paddle Steamer Barry achieved fame by sailing to the Mediterranean in the First World War and carrying troops at the Gallipoli landings.

The poem was recieved in a presentation at the reception on behalf of Barry Town Council by Mayor, Councillor Maggie Payne.

The framed poem presented by the author, Captain Joe Earl, was said to capture the history of a vessel built for and named after the town of Barry.

Although, a representative of "Her name was Tregenna" web site was in attendence and had commisioned the poem, it was intended as a gift to the town and we were both pleased that Joe could attend personally and that the Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry Branch represented us.

Mr. Jim Greenway, Chairman of the Barry, MNA Branch also presented Barry Town Council on the night with two further poems penned by Captain Earl: Barry Seamen and Barry Dock - Loading Coal these were also recieved by Mayor, Councillor Maggie Payne.

These poems will be presented to the Vale of Gamorgan during the Merchant Navy ceremonies in April 2008. We feature Joe's poem Convoys in our Poems section.

We thank Captain Joe Earl for all his support with past works: Tregenna and Daybreak etc, his every assistance and kindness in all our future mutual encounters and in respect post here his latest work that is obviously dear to him and am certain, will be to many:

CHARLIE

I could have called him Sabre, Rex or maybe King,
He was a German Sheppard - a regal name for him,
But no, I called him `Charlie`, he answered to his call,
Big and black and beautiful, the proudest dog of all.

He guarded home and family, till I came home from sea,
Devoted and so loyal, he nuzzled up to me,
Later on, in old age, his hips would give him pain,
Then taking of his tablets he'd up and run again.

Eventually they wouldn't work, he flaked out on the lawn,
All night I kept him company, the pair of us forlorn,
It hurt too much to move him, we knew the end was nigh,
His love and comprehension looked me in the eye.

My pal, my friend, my trusted hound, I had to let you go,
That well remembered day - in May so long ago,
Nothing here on Earth, could make my sorrows drown,
That day I paid a local vet, to put old Charlie down.

Joe Earl

Best wishes to all, who have no doubt, suffered a similar experience.

Cheers Joe x

Thank you Joe, forever in your debt. Keith and all at "Tregenna"

[KG]

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

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/01/wreck-dunkirk-north-sea-sunderland

[KG]

Divers discover long lost wreck HMS Snaefell (PS Barry)

DEEP beneath the waves she has lain lost for 70 years, her carcass gathering rust long after she braved the bombs of Dunkirk.

But today the remarkable story of HMS Snaefell can finally be told after a group of divers located her, off the North East coast.

Built as PS Barry in 1907 for the Barry Railway Company, the ship spent the first few years of her life as a pleasure steamer.

But by 1914 she was being used for war service transporting German prisoners before being used in the Mediterranean and carrying troops for the ill-fated Gallipoli landings.

After further service in the Mediterranean she was decommissioned and was reconditioned in 1920

In 1926 she was renamed the Waverley but by the Second World War she was called up to serve her country again and became HMS Snaefell based in North Shields. Before being sunk in the raid on July 5, HMS Snaefell served at Dunkirk and was one of the last to leave with her precious cargo of 981 soldiers.

In her tragic final sailing off the coast of Sunderland three were killed and nine wounded.

Read More at: www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2010/10/01/divers-discover-long-lost-wreck-hms-snaefell-72703-27379859/#ixzz13qaR0uxn

[glyn]

Thanks Joe for this post I fond it very interesting and at first I thought it had solved a puzzle concerning an old uncle of mine (Gordon Thomas Evans) in 1939 on his marriage certificate his occupation is listed as “Gunner HM Barry” but I believe that by 1939 PS Barry had become the Waverley. O well back to Goggle
The “HM” may be a transcribers error however if anyone has any information on HM Barry I’d be truly grateful
Kind regards Glyn

[KG]

SHE HAD QUITE A HISTORY: Built for the town of and named after Barry, PS Barry then in her pleasure times became Waverley, I think WWI was HM Barryfield return to Barry after the Great War to later becoming Waverley (II), her distant cousin survives today. although never herself Waverley class or build, bore her name twice. For Dunkirk the previous actual Waverley came out of moth balls and was sadly lost, The Barry had to become HMS Snaefell for WW2, Did nuch good and survived Dunkirk, but sadly lost herself later.

Intrigued at your post and will assist if possible, please liaise via [e-mail] No guarantees but would attempt to work with you to find more etc.

Regards Keith at Tregenna.

[glyn]

Thank you Keith that would be appreciated
Kindest regards Glyn

[Administrator]

Taking the HM as His Majesties, would presume Gordon would have been armed forces?

I have not come across an RN or MN ship called Barry, a part from our earlier named Paddle Steamer.

Barry was apart from docks and coal and the day trippers paradise in peace time very much a Merchant Navy Town. Again taking HM to be on the Kings Service would imagine he may have been a DEM'S Gunner and attached to Merchant ships or could have been involved with the defence of the town etc. I would imagine much though was civilian trained gunners in general but with so much military in and around and the docks and shipping, the defence may have called for more military protection?

A few days before D-Day took place the channel was alive with ships. Dock View Road and Cadoxton Park were two of the best vantage points. Barry was one of the main shipping ports for the invasion. WWII artefacts remain from when Barry was one of the main cargo ports and storage depots. Porthkerry Park was used as a vehicle park and ordnance store, with temporary hard stands installed. In the build-up to D-Day the American use of Barry and Porthkerry increased, eventually transporting 15,000 tons of equipment (including 1,269 vehicles) and 4,000 troops from the Docks to Normandy.

The possibility that he worked further after say 1945 in a business capacity is not remote.

At the age of 27 then he may well have been in some form of business, but unless it was important to the war effort, guess he would have enlisted or similar and continued later?

Will attempt to find out all possible.

K.