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

A transport crashed into her stern, causing such damage that it was impossible for her to proceed to sea. Her cargo of ammunition and stores was transferred to another paddle-steamer, and the " Barry " was taken to H.M.S. " Reliance, " the repair ship. Her damage having been made good she again returned to her former duties of running ammunition and stores.

During these trips she was constantly under fire, and, though shells splashed in the water alongside, she seemed to bear a charmed life, for never once was she struck. What this means may be gathered from the fact that each trip from the torpedo nets at Mudros to Suvla was something like 60 miles and had to be done on a set course, because of the minefields in the Ægean Sea.

The " Barry " carried on until the latter end of November without mishap, when she encountered a heavy blizzard.

Terrible Weather.

For three days and nights it blew continuously from north-west off the shore, the wind driving the frozen sleet against everything with biting force. Exposure on deck was misery, and the " Barry, " with both anchors down, swung from side to side with the wind. Then came more trouble.

Another steamer dragged her anchors and blew across the bows of the Campbell boat. The " Barry " saw her threatened danger, and dragged back her anchor still she encountered a large store-ship lying astern. Some of her rails were carried away, and, as she kept  swinging, her cables fouled the windlass.

While this was being put right the " Barry " went full steam ahead to save fouling the cables of the ship astern. She kept manœuving for over four hours in the biting wind, and the captain on the bridge, the man at the wheel, and those on duty took them into exposed positions on deck became practically ice-coated.

So done up were a couple of the crew that they could hardly speak, and their oil-skins and boots had to be dragged from them. They had to be smacked and rubbed vigorously to restore circulation and then when every thing seemed alright the anchors fouled the other ship and the cables had to be slipped.