SS Royal Daffodil
Encyclopedia
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
.
and Wallasey
.
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 hull
s. 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.
on 17 May 1918, to a heroes welcome. After repairs at Chatham
, both vessels returned to service on the Mersey.
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
.
. TF2 was lost off Saint-Valéry en Caux on June 13 1940. In 1940 TF1 and TF3 were renamed HMS Princess Iris and HMS Daffodil, after the ex-Mersey ferries used in the famous World War I Zeebrugge raid. In 1941 HMS Princess Iris and HMS Daffodil were converted into Landing Ship Sternchute (LSS) and used as locomotive transports. HMS Daffodil (ex-TF3) was lost off Dieppe
on March 18 1945, after striking a mine leaving only HMS Princess Iris (ex-TF1) to survive the war.
The wreck of HMS Daffodil has been photographed by the Grieme organisation.
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
and renamed Royal Daffodil in recognition of her part in the Zeebrugge Raid
Zeebrugge Raid
The Zeebrugge Raid, which took place on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the British Royal Navy to neutralize the key Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge...
.
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 LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Wallasey
Wallasey
Wallasey is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England, on the mouth of the River Mersey, at the northeastern corner of the Wirral Peninsula...
.
Zeebrugge Raid
In 1918, she was requisitioned for war service and became HMS Daffodil. Her sister ship IrisHMS Iris II
HMS Iris II was a River Mersey ferry which was commandeered by the Royal Navy to take part in the Zeebrugge Raid of St George's Day 24 April 1918. Iris II along with another Mersey ferry, Daffodil, was towed across the English Channel to Zeebrugge by HMS Vindictive.When the ship neared the...
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 hull
Double hull
A double hull is a ship hull design and construction method invented by Leonardo da Vinci where the bottom and sides of the ship have two complete layers of watertight hull surface: one outer layer forming the normal hull of the ship, and a second inner hull which is some distance inboard,...
s. They were towed across the Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
by HMS Vindictive
HMS Vindictive (1897)
HMS Vindictive was a British protected cruiser of the Arrogant class built at Chatham Dockyard. She was launched on 9 December 1897 and completed in 1899....
and took part in the Zeebrugge Raid
Zeebrugge Raid
The Zeebrugge Raid, which took place on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the British Royal Navy to neutralize the key Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge...
on 23 April 1918. The raid was an effort to stop Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
using Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
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
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
were awarded.
Return to Liverpool
Iris and Daffodil returned to the MerseyRiver Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
on 17 May 1918, to a heroes welcome. After repairs at Chatham
Chatham, Medway
Chatham is one of the Medway towns located within the Medway unitary authority, in North Kent, in South East England.Although the dockyard has long been closed and is now being redeveloped into a business and residential community as well as a museum featuring the famous submarine, HMS Ocelot,...
, both vessels returned to service on the Mersey.
Post war
After the raid, she was renamed Royal Daffodil on command of King George VGeorge V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
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
Strood
Strood is a town in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. It is part of the ceremonial county of Kent. It lies on the north west bank of the River Medway at its lowest bridging point, and is part of the Rochester post town....
- Sheerness
Sheerness
Sheerness is a town located beside the mouth of the River Medway on the northwest corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 12,000 it is the largest town on the island....
- 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
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
HMS Daffodil (1940) - TF3 train ferry
During World War II, three train ferry ships (TF1, TF2 & TF3) which had been built during World War I were requisitioned by the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. TF2 was lost off Saint-Valéry en Caux on June 13 1940. In 1940 TF1 and TF3 were renamed HMS Princess Iris and HMS Daffodil, after the ex-Mersey ferries used in the famous World War I Zeebrugge raid. In 1941 HMS Princess Iris and HMS Daffodil were converted into Landing Ship Sternchute (LSS) and used as locomotive transports. HMS Daffodil (ex-TF3) was lost off Dieppe
Dieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
on March 18 1945, after striking a mine leaving only HMS Princess Iris (ex-TF1) to survive the war.
The wreck of HMS Daffodil has been photographed by the Grieme organisation.
External links
- Zeebrugge Raid - story continued on subsequent pages.
- HMS Daffodil - French sub aqua club film of a dive on HMS Daffodil (ex TF3).
- Train Ferry TF1, TF2 & TF3 LNER Harwich Fleet List