SS Royal Iris
Iris returns to Liverpool after the Zeebrugge Raid
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Builder: | Robert Stephenson and Company, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Launched: | 1906 |
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| Identification: | UK Official Number 123971 |
| Fate: | Scrapped 1961 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 491 gross register tons (GRT) |
| Length: | 159 ft (48 m) |
| Draught: | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
| Propulsion: | Steam engine, 2 shafts |
| Capacity: | 1,735 passengers |
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 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.
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 operating between Liverpool and Wallasey.
In 1918 Iris was requisitioned by the Royal Navy to take part in the Zeebrugge Raid, being renamed HMS Iris II. On St George's Day 23rd April 1918, Iris along with another Mersey ferry, Daffodil, was towed across the English Channel to Zeebrugge by Vindictive. 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. A Marine officer, Lieutenant William Edward Sillitoe was killed in the same action, and is buried with another casualty, Private John Bostock, in the Hamilton Road Cemetery, Deal.
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