Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - The Bristol Channel District Guide - selected articles - [1934 Edition] . . . .

The " Barry " (now the " Waverley ")

Although one of the last steamers of the fleet to leave for foreign waters, the  " Barry " was actually the first of the company's vessels to undertake any Government work after the outbreak of war in August, 1914.

Concluding her work for that season on September 14th, she was, a week later, requisitioned for the transporting of 400 German prisoners to Dublin, and sailed from Bristol on September 21st to Walton Bay, where the Germans were transferred from the steamship " Trevilley, " together with an escort of 200 men of the Royal Scots.

On arrival at Dublin on the following  morning the prisoners were handed over to the military authorities, and the vessel was detained until the Wednesday night, when a large party of civilian prisoners were embarked and taken to Douglas, which was reached at 6.0 a.m. on the 24th.

Sailing again at 8.30 a.m. the same day, the " Barry " returned to Bristol with the escort which had been detailed to take charge of the Germans on the outward run, and docked at Cumberland Basin at 9.30 a.m. on September 25th.

Later, when the ill-fated Dardanelles adventure was decided upon, the Bristol pleasure steamer played an important part in that campaign. She sailed from Bristol Floating Harbour on July 24th, 1915, and later in the day put in at Ilfracombe for the last time for many a long and anxious day.

On the following day she left the popular North Devon resort, and headed Westward Ho ! under sealed orders, but, when these were opened, her head was turned eastward and she arrived at Mudros Harbour on August 8th.

In the morning she received orders from H.M.S. " Europa, " the flagship, and shipped munitions and troops for Suvla Bay. There she received her baptism of fire, as troops and ammunition were landed under shell fire from the hills of Suvla Ridge. Aeroplanes also came over and dropped bombs, though missiles fell on both sides, the " Barry " was never once hit.