This picture was sketched by one of her crew during her time in WW2. It was copied and given to other crew members.
This section is devoted to the P&A Campbell paddle steamer PS Britannia. During the Second World War she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and renamed HMS Skiddaw. The pictures that are shown in the links below come mainly from the pictorial record compiled by Hector MacFadyen, Chief Engineer of the Britannia and grandfather of Angus H McFadyen PhD, by whose kind permission they are reproduced in Paddle Steamer Picture Gallery. I am grateful to Angus for taking the time to scan and chronicle these pictures and for allowing me to share them with you. The pictures chart Skiddaw's war exploits whilst Angus's grandfather was on board. Angus's great grandfather, also called Hector, was also a Campbell's man, having been the Master of several of their pleasure steamers including; PS Lady Moyra , PS Glen Rosa in the Great War and PS Bonnie Doon. Angus is researching that part of the MacFadyen history and family tradition has it that Hector came down from Scotland with a steamer from the Clyde and then stayed on in Bristol thereafter. Other pictures are shown here by kind permission of Leading Seaman T A Gaunt RN.
1939 Skiddaw Crew in 1939 at the commencement of hostilities
1940 PS Waverley (ex PS Barry)laden with troops
1940 PS Waverley (ex PS Barry) on a trip back from Dunkirk
1940 A troop laden paddler, but which one?
1940 PS Glen Gower on her way to Dunkirk
1940 PS Glen Gower returning from Dunkirk with troops
1940 PS Glen Avon on the way to Dunkirk
1940 PS Waverley (ex PS Barry) proceding from Harwich to Dunkirk for the evacuation
1940 Press cutting from the Daily Mirror showing a stricken Brighton Belle at Dunkirk
1940 Chief Officer and 1st Lieutenant in discussion after arrival at Granton.
1940 Three shipmates relaxing on the port sponson in Sept. 1940 at Granton.
1940 Life jackets ready for three crewmates at Granton
1940 Lieut. J George RNVR on board at Granton
1940 Skiddaw's compound diagonal engines
1940 PS Westward Ho minesweeping alongside HMS Skiddaw
1940 HMS Skiddaw minesweeping in the North Sea
1941 Mines being exploded by PS Westward Ho in the Firth of Forth
1941 HMS Skiddaw, in the Firth of Forth, with barrage balloon attached.
1941 Action stations at HMS Skiddaw's 12 pounder guns with enemy aircraft in the vicinity
1941 The Ward Room of HMS Skiddaw
1941 PS Westward Ho minsweeping off Leith
1941 Berthed at Aberdeen
1941 Skiddaw being refitted at Hull
1942 Two pictures of the Ward Room from August 1942
1943 A picture from 5 July showing the sailors departing for a period of well earned leave.
1943 A working party washing down the decks This picture comes from the Arthur Gaunt collection, by whose kind permission it is displayed here.
1943 Gun practice on an ack-ack gun, firing at a windsock which is being towed by an aeroplane. Arthur Gaunt collection.
1944 Antwerp docks after a V2 rocket attack.
1945 HMS Skiddaw moored off Antwerp towards the end of the Second World War.
HMS Skiddaw at Sheerness A picture and memories from crew member Leading Seaman T Arthur Gaunt, who currently lives in Yorkshire, but served aboard from 1942-45