Builders: R Stephenson & Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne 1906
Propulsion type: Twin screw, triple expansion.
Owners: The Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the County Borough of Wallasey, New Medway Steam Packet Co Ltd
Service dates: 1906 - 1938
Tonnage: Gross 482
Comments:
Launched as Daffodil for service as a Mersey Ferry from Liverpool to Birkenhead, this ship received her prefix "Royal" after heroic work in assisting HMS Vindictive at Zeebrugge in April 1918. Back in service, the shrapnel marks from the escapade could clearly be seen on her funnel and upper works. In addition to ferry work, she also did some excursion work and succeeded Royal Iris in 1932 for the summer cruises. In 1934 she was sold to the New Medway Steam Packet Co for use on the River Medway from Rochester/Strood to Sheerness and Southend. It was through her acquisition that the NMSP Co introduced the Royal Daffodil name into their fleet. A nice picture of her in service on the Medway can be seen by clicking here. She was sold in 1938 for about £1000 for scrapping in Belgium and rather fittingly she therefore finished her days in the country where she had her greatest hour.