SS ''Royal Iris'' was a Mersey Ferryboat built in 1906 for Wallasey Corporation. She was built as ''Iris'' for service on the River Mersey. In 1918 she was requisitioned by the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by Kingdom of England, English and Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were foug ...

for action during the Zeebrugge Raid. She was renamed ''Royal Iris'' in recognition of her part in this action and returned to civilian duties. She was sold in 1931 and renamed ''Blarney'' in 1946. She was scrapped in December 1961.

History

Pre war

''Iris'' was built by Robert Stephenson & Sons of Newcastle. She was launched in 1906 and completed in June 1906. She was put into service as one of the

Mersey ferries The Mersey Ferry is a ferry service operating on the River Mersey in north west England, between Liverpool to the east and Birkenhead and Wallasey on the Wirral Peninsula to the west. Ferries have been used on this route since at least the 12 ...

operating between

Liverpool Liverpool is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the List of English districts by population, 10th largest English district by population and its E ...

and Wallasey.

Zeebrugge Raid

In 1918 ''Iris'' was requisitioned by the

to take part in the Zeebrugge Raid, being renamed ''HMS Iris II''. On St George's Day 23 April 1918, ''Iris'' along with another Mersey ferry, ''Daffodil'', was towed across the

English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" ( Cotentinais) or (Jèrriais), ( Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kan ...

to Zeebrugge by . Embarked were four platoons - known as "A" Company (or "The Chatham Company") of the Fourth Battalion of Royal Marines, and a storming party of sailors - known as "D" Company - commanded by Major Eagles and Lieutenant Commander George Nicholson Bradford respectively. They were supported by two Vickers machine-gun sections and two Stokes mortar crews. When the ship neared the Zeebrugge Mole she cast the two ferries aside. ''Iris'' endeavoured to pull up to the mole under heavy fire in order to off-load the raiding parties which were on board. The first attempt failed as the grapple-hooks were not large enough. Two naval officers, Lieutenant Commander Bradford and Lieutenant Hawkings bravely climbed ashore and under heavy fire attempted to secure the ship. Both were killed and Bradford received a posthumous

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

. ''Iris'' continued to sustain heavy fire and at one point a shell burst through the deck into an area where 56 marines were preparing to land. 49 were killed and the rest seriously injured. After the war, a brass plaque, listing those who died aboard the ''Iris'' was mounted on the vessel. When she was decommissioned, the plaque was given to the Imperial War Museum collection.

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 Iris'' on command of

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Q ...

and returned to the Mersey. In 1923 she was converted for use as a cruise ship, and in October 1931 she was sold to Palmer's of Dublin. In 1946 she was sold again, to the Cork Harbour Commissioners, and renamed ''Blarney''. She was eventually sold for scrap at Passage West in December 1961.

References

Citations

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Iris Ships of the Royal Navy World War I passenger ships of the United Kingdom World War I naval ships of the United Kingdom 1906 ships Mersey Ferries