1907 “Her Name Was Barry” 1941

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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.

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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

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

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The Paddle Steamer Barry

Our Paddler the Barry was a beauty in her day,
She cut the cloth and sails were off, she was out to pay her way.
Sailing from her birth place as a lady of the sea,
A Princess of our channel roads she was born to be.

Designed to give much pleasure, she sailed from Barry Port,
A fine young Lady of the waves, she never danger sought.
The roads of the Bristol Channel saw her Pleasure days,
When her Country called her, she voyaged in defensive ways.

To the early conflict she bravely sailed from Wales,
Returned in all her glory via the Dardenelles.
Mentioned in dispatches, she had a tale to tell,
This saddened grey old lady, had seen a bit of Hell.

Of the town’s own paddler and of her claims to fame,
She once cruised just the channel then safely home again.
She was our favourite butterfly boat, well known in her day.
Meant only to came out in summer, in a butterfly way.

There were many changes in those earlier days,
Her make up was updated, painted many ways.
Her adoptions also saw a change in her very name,
From: Barry to Barryfield, to Waverley and back again.

Her bravery long forgotten, heroic actions passed,
She was lost in 41, the conflict was to be her last.
She paddled to save our Nation, for Country and the King,
A beauty built for Barry Town proudly did not give in.

Her demise saw her as Snaefell, a heroine in her way,
A little ship at Dunkirk she helped to save the day.
Just a short year later the Luftwaffe made her pay.
She has become a war grave, destined to end this way?

It seems quite normal now to get on with modern life,
Forgetting, past achievement the old day’s troubles and strife.
Forgetting Miners Fortnight and the Barry’s excursion ride,
A day out on a steamer, if wet you sailed inside.

Words KG.

A near 10 foot working model of the Barry is currently on display at the County Library, King Square, Barry Dock.