BY KG:

[Admin]

Was there ever a breed of man?

Was there ever a breed of men that answered a countries call?
that faced the foe again and again, with bravery above all?
No second thought, did what they ought, they face the mighty Hun,
often: sought or being caught, no chance of carrying a gun.

Was there ever a breed of men that would do it all again?
to keep the lifeline open though suffering loss and pain.
Was there ever a breed of men forgotten for their part?
Was there ever a breed of men, remembered with all heart?

Leaving family behind them, children and a wife,
they sailed the dangerous waters, that we now have a life.
Was there ever a breed of men, scared, but showed no fear?
Was there ever a breed of men, lost, no longer here?

Was there ever a breed of men the Nation should remember?
those: that fed and clothed and armed and paid tribute to in September.
The back bone of a country, they never failed to sail,
They help to save our children, till common sense prevailed.

Some of them were just boys, they sailed the seven seas,
left, behind were gifts and toys at home beneath Christmas trees.
Was there ever a breed of boys that took on so much strife?
Children of the Mercantile Marine, gave all that we have a life.

Even women and young ones suffered in the fray,
fortunate - that survivors ensure we are here today.
Was there ever a breed of blokes that had ever done so much,
A certain kind of seaman that ensured a future and such.

Was there ever a breed of men that sailed under the red jack?
A mighty ensign that was there’s all ways through out the flak.
Was there ever a breed of men that sailed under much attack?
Many valiant heroes no thought of turning back.

Important to not forget that some were not so young,
Was there ever a breed of chaps, life was still not done.
Deemed to old to go to war and fight, but not to go to sea,
Thanking all the Grand Dads, that helped keep the country free.

In tribute to the many and all they simply asked,
please - simply remember them and the job they tasked.
The British Merchant Navy, heroes everyone,
often: sought or being caught, not armed to fight the Hun.

I end my tale as I should do, I could much carry on,
Was there ever a breed of men, many now long gone?
Would you remember the very Merchant Man?
That is the subject of this tale and why it first began.

KG

[Admin]

One and only Barry, Lady of the waves:

Our Paddler the Barry was a beauty in her day,
She cut the cloth and sails were off, she was out to pay her way.
Sailing from her birth place as a lady of the sea,
A Princess of our channel roads she was born to be.

Designed to give much pleasure, she sailed from Barry Port,
A fine young Lady of the waves, she never danger sought.
The roads of the Bristol Channel saw her Pleasure days,
When her Country called her, she voyaged in defensive ways.

To the early conflict she bravely sailed from Wales,
Returned in all her glory via the Dardenelles.
Mentioned in dispatches, she had a tale to tell,
This saddened grey old lady, had seen a bit of Hell.

Of the town’s own paddler and of her claims to fame,
She once cruised just the channel then safely home again.
She was our favourite butterfly boat, well known in her day.
Meant only to came out in summer, in a butterfly way.

There were many changes in those earlier days,
Her make up was updated, painted many ways.
Her adoptions also saw a change in her very name,
From: Barry to Barryfield, to Waverley and back again.

Her bravery long forgotten, heroic actions passed,
She was lost in 41, the conflict was to be her last.
She paddled to save our Nation, for Country and the King,
A beauty built for Barry Town proudly did not give in.

Her demise saw her as Snaefell, a heroine in her way,
A little ship at Dunkirk she helped to save the day.
Just a short year later the Luftwaffe made her pay.
She has become a war grave, destined to end this way?

It seems quite normal now to get on with modern life,
Forgetting, past achievement the old day’s troubles and strife.
Forgetting Miners Fortnight and the Barry’s excursion ride,
A day out on a steamer, if wet you sailed inside.

KG.