Yard number 101 In service 1906 Length 48 m | Completed June 1906 Launched 20 April 1906 | |
Name SS Daffodil (1906-1918)
HMS Daffodil (1918)
SS Royal Daffodil (1918-1938) Owner Wallasey Corporation
New Medway Steam Packet Co. Ltd.(October 1933)
General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (1936) Christened Daffodil
HMS Daffodil (1918)
Royal Daffodil (1918) Builders Robert Stephenson and Company, Newcastle upon Tyne | ||
SS Royal Daffodil was built in 1906 and scrapped in 1938. She was built as Daffodil for service on the River Mersey and renamed Royal Daffodil in recognition of her part in the Zeebrugge Raid.
Contents
Pre war
Daffodil was built by Robert Stephenson & Sons as yard number 101. She was launched on 20 April 1906 and completed in June 1906. She was put into service as one of the Mersey ferries operating between Liverpool and Wallasey.
Zeebrugge Raid
In 1918, she was requisitioned for war service and became HMS Daffodil. Her sister ship Iris was also requisitioned and became HMS Iris. In preparation for the raid, all furniture and fittings were stripped and armour fitted to the superstructure of the Iris and Daffodil. The ferries were chosen because of their shallow draught and double hulls. They were towed across the Channel by HMS Vindictive and took part in the Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April 1918. The raid was an effort to stop Germany using Zeebrugge as a submarine base. Although hailed as a triumph at the time, it only achieved this aim for a short time. Daffodil was hit in the engine room by two shells, but was able to maintain her position holding Vindictive against the wall of the Mole. Eight VCs were awarded.
Return to Liverpool
Iris and Daffodil returned to the Mersey on 17 May 1918, to a heroes' welcome. After repairs at Chatham, both vessels returned to service on the Mersey.
Post war
After the raid, she was renamed Royal Daffodil on command of King George V and returned to the Mersey, bearing shrapnel marks from the raid. In 1932 she succeeded PS Royal Iris on excursion work and in 1934 Royal Daffodil was sold to the New Medway Steam Packet Co. (NMSPC). She was used on the Rochester - Strood - Sheerness - Southend route. The NMSPC was taken over by the General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. in 1936 and in 1938 Royal Daffodil was sold for scrapping in Belgium.