PS Waverley (1899) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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  United Kingdom |
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| Name | PS Waverley (1899–1940) |
| Owner |
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| Operator |
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| Ordered | 20 October 1898 |
| Builder | A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow |
| Launched | 29 May 1899 |
| In service | 10 July 1899 |
| Fate | Bombed and sunk, 29 May 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Paddle steamer |
| Tonnage | 537 |
| Length | 235 ft (72 m) |
| Beam | 26 ft (7.9 m) |
| Propulsion | Diagonal double expansion steam engine built by A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow |
| Speed | 19.73 knots |
| Capacity | 1,500 passengers |
The PS Waverley was a special type of ship called a paddle steamer. It was built on the River Clyde in Scotland. From 1899 to 1939, it carried passengers on the Clyde. This ship was very important during both World War I and World War II. The navy used it to clear dangerous mines from the sea. Sadly, it was sunk in 1940 during the famous Dunkirk evacuation. A new ship, also named PS Waverley, was built in 1946 to take its place.
Contents
Building the Waverley
The Waverley was built by a company called A. & J. Inglis. They built it at their shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland. The ship was meant to be the best in the North British Steam Packet Co. fleet. It would offer regular trips on the Clyde. It would also take people on fun excursions to places like the Isle of Bute, Isle of Arran, and Loch Fyne.
The ship was launched on May 29, 1899. This is when it first touched the water. It completed its official tests on July 8, 1899. During these tests, it reached a speed of 19.73 knots. That's about 22.7 miles per hour! The Waverley started carrying passengers on July 10, 1899. In 1902, the ship's ownership changed. It moved to the North British Railway company.
Waverley in World War I
Many ships from the Clyde were used during World War I. The Waverley was one of them. In 1915, the Admiralty took control of the ship. They changed it to make it stronger and added more deck space. For four years, the Waverley worked along the British and Belgian coasts. It helped clear mines from the sea. The ship finished its war service in April 1919.
Returning to Passenger Service
After the war, the Waverley needed a lot of work. It spent over a year being fixed up. The biggest change was moving its bridge. The bridge is where the captain steers the ship. It used to be between the paddle wheels. Now, it was moved to the front of the ship's funnel. The Waverley was given back to its owners on July 9, 1920.
In 1923, the Waverley changed owners again. This happened because of a new law called the Railways Act 1921. The ship became part of the London and North Eastern Railway company. In 1931, a newer ship, the PS Jeanie Deans, became the company's main ship. But the Waverley was still important. In 1932, it was updated with new shelters on its deck. Its inside passenger areas were also made more modern. By the late 1930s, fewer people were taking trips on the Clyde. So, the Waverley was taken out of service in 1939.
Waverley in World War II
When World War II started, the Waverley was briefly used again. It helped move children from Glasgow to safer areas. Then, the Royal Navy took control of it. It became the lead ship of the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla. This group of five paddle steamers was based in Harwich, England. Their job was to clear shipping lanes of mines.
The Dunkirk Evacuation
On May 28, 1940, the flotilla got new orders. They were told to go south and join Operation Dynamo. This was a huge effort to rescue Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk. The next day, May 29, 1940, the Waverley was returning to England. It had about 600 soldiers on board. Twelve German Heinkel planes attacked the ship.
The Waverley tried to avoid the bombs for about 30 minutes. But then, one bomb hit the left side of the ship. It made a large hole, about 6 feet wide, in the bottom. The ship began to sink near the Kwint Bank Buoy. Many crew members and about 400 soldiers were lost. Other ships helped rescue survivors. The Cyclone saved 158 people. The PS Golden Eagle rescued 285. A Dutch tugboat named Java and two smaller boats also picked up more survivors.
