robin bird Posted 8 January , 2023 Share Posted 8 January , 2023 From a postcard of that time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 8 January , 2023 Share Posted 8 January , 2023 What an interesting photo of what was ‘HMS IRIS II’, still showing her battle scars, and proudly flying the white ensign. Iris and Daffodil returned to the Mersey on 17 May 1918 and justly received a hero’s welcome. Thank you for posting. MB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 8 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 8 January , 2023 (edited) How the local paper Wallasey News recorded return of its ferry boats. The caption was added later, n.b. the typo Edited 8 January , 2023 by robin bird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 8 January , 2023 Share Posted 8 January , 2023 The arrival back in New Brighton was certainly a big event, and soon a public petition started for recognition of the contribution made by these two brave Wallasey ferries - the result of this was that in August 1918 George V granted both ships the use of the title ‘Royal’ in perpetuity. MB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
healdav Posted 9 January , 2023 Share Posted 9 January , 2023 15 hours ago, KizmeRD said: The arrival back in New Brighton was certainly a big event, and soon a public petition started for recognition of the contribution made by these two brave Wallasey ferries - the result of this was that in August 1918 George V granted both ships the use of the title ‘Royal’ in perpetuity. MB And for many years the shoes of anyone with very big feet were known as the Royal Iris and Royal Daffodil. Does this term still exist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 9 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2023 Ferry flew Royal flag when King visited Wallasey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 9 January , 2023 Share Posted 9 January , 2023 You haven’t included a date for the press article, but as I understand it, the Royal Visit was a short time before the start of the war. MB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 9 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2023 (edited) The cutting refers to the King's visit to lay the foundation stone for Wallasey Town Hall in March 1914 with the Wallasey News reflecting the patriotic mood at the time. Sadly this beautiful building is now empty and no longer used by the Council. The ferry across the Mersey still exits, however most people now use the road and railway tunnels. How times have changed. Please see attached photographs in next post. Thank you KizmeRD for your interest. Edited 9 January , 2023 by robin bird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 9 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2023 The King lays foundation stone for Wallasey Town Hall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyH Posted 9 January , 2023 Share Posted 9 January , 2023 Plaque in Wallasey Central Library in Earlston Road : BillyH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 9 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2023 Between 30,000 and 40,000 people watched the King in Central Park lay the foundation stone by pressing a lever nearly a mile away from the town hall. This started electric motors that allowed the stone to be lowered in place. Wallasey Town Hall today, no comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 9 January , 2023 Share Posted 9 January , 2023 There’s some interesting film footage on Youtube (but better viewed with the sound turned off as its somewhat overpowering and distracting). MB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 9 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2023 Interesting clip, thank you for posting it. It opens with an image of New Brighton Tower which was taller than Blackpool Tower. Inronically, demolition of New Brighton Tower began in 1919. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 9 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2023 (edited) see picture, Wonder if these were the sailors at Zeebrugge? Edited 9 January , 2023 by robin bird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 9 January , 2023 Share Posted 9 January , 2023 (edited) Some of them look very small and very young, so I’m guessing they were Sea Cadets (or perhaps a group off TS Indefatigable). MB Edited 9 January , 2023 by KizmeRD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 9 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2023 yes, poss Wallasey Sea Cadets. IWM lists the name of men who crewed the Daffodil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 9 January , 2023 Share Posted 9 January , 2023 (edited) Here’s a clip from British Pathé showing the cadets enjoying the big day. MB Edited 9 January , 2023 by KizmeRD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 9 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 9 January , 2023 Another interesting clip, including the glimpse of New Brighton Tower, as I live on the coast at New Brighton. The cadets could have come from TS Indefatigable. Local school children were given flags to wave the ferry boats home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 10 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 10 January , 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 10 January , 2023 Share Posted 10 January , 2023 (edited) Hi Robin An interesting post for me; as a very small boy I crossed the Mersey most Sundays with my grandmother, often on the sucessor Royal Iris or Royal Daffodil. A highlight was the ceremony on Armistice Sunday when a wreath was thrown into the the river as a memorial. On a slight tangent around the time that the Royal seal of approval was granted a US medic called Parvin Carter documented his arrival in the river and mentions the Tower. Scroll up to the top for the details..... Pete. Edited 10 January , 2023 by Fattyowls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 10 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 10 January , 2023 An interesting cross reference, thank you. New Brighton Tower was a casualty of WW1. It was neglected during the war years and the owners could not afford to restore/repair it. So it was dismantled for scrap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin bird Posted 10 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 10 January , 2023 Lusitania passing New Brighton Tower. Warships built at Lairds also passed this landmark. as Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 10 January , 2023 Share Posted 10 January , 2023 15 minutes ago, robin bird said: Lusitania passing New Brighton Tower A great photograph Robin, thanks for that. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now