Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - The White Funnel Fleet - P & A Campbell Limited

While under shell fire and attacked from the air, the vessel continued on various tasks, visiting, among other places, Suvia Bay and Anzac. She encountered numbers of other adventures, perhaps the most fantastic of which was when running the Kaffala Ferry between Imbros and Mudros in 1916. One afternoon a large mine was observed under her bows, and while it did not strike the hull, the mine was hit twice by the revolving paddles. It did not explode and the crew of the 'Barry' sank it subsequently with their three-ponder and rifle fire. The vessel continued to serve in the Mediterranean until the end of hostilities.

In 1919 the Bristol Channel services were resumed and once again intense competition in the form of the Yellow Funnel Fleet of Cardiff was encountered. Three vessels were operated by this line, the 'Lady Moyra' later to become the 'Brighton Queen', the 'Lady Evelyn' later to become the 'Brighton Belle'. and a small screw steamer, the 'Robina'. The last-named vessel was of some interest in the Bristol Channel services if only for the distinction of having operated throughout the winter from Cardiff to Weston, with frequent visits to Bristol, during 1919-20.

In 1922, P. & A. Campbell purchased the former two vessels belonging to the Yellow Funnel Fleet and completed building, in the same year, the 'Glen Gower'. The advent of these additional ships enabled the Brighton service to be recommenced and a few years later, in 1932 and 1933, an additional service was operated from Plymouth and Torquay by the 'Westward Ho'.

A new form of competition now became apparent in the large number of motor coaches which began to travel from place to place in the Bristol Channel area. However, by adapting themselves to the new circumstances, the steamers continued, with undiminished popularity, until the outbreak of the 1939-45 War. The vessels were once again required for Government service and the last sailing in the Bristol Channel took place from Weston to Cardiff in July, 1940. All services were then suspended.

During the second war the 'Brighton Queen' and the 'Brighton Belle' were the first victims of enemy action. The 'Brighton Queen' was sunk while ferrying troops from Dunkirk, and the 'Brighton Belle' went down while returning to Dunkirk after landing in England. At this time the 'Devonia' was also lost, being purposely beached to facilitate the embarkation of British soldiers. It was her last service, but perhaps her most useful, as she was the means of saving numbers of lives.