A CAMPAIGN to recover some of Barry’s maritime history and bring it back to the town has been launched with backing from weatherman Derek Brockway.

Campaigners urgently need to raise around £800 to secure artifacts recovered from the Paddle Steamer Barry (PS Barry) to prevent them being consigned to scrap.

The team leader of the diving team, Silent Running, who recovered items from the PS Barry also known as HMS Snaefell, now wishes to sell and has offered the town first refusal.

PS Barry was built for the Barry Railway Company, in 1907, in its new venture to capture a share of the Bristol Channel excursion trade.

Those seeking to retrieve the artifacts, which include the Merchant Navy Association, are urging all to pledge some financial backing to prevent the loss of the town’s history.

Items for sale, declared to the wreck’s receiver in 2010, include two large solid brass windows, one brass helm with damaged wheel, and one lamp copper and glass.

The diver seller, who recovered the items from the wreck, said: “The helm is in fantastic condition and the pointer is still facing the direction the ship was in trying to avoid the plane’s bomb.”

Campaigner, Keith Greenway, said: “Time is of the essence.

“Once the target is reached we intend to purchase and transport some of the town’s history home.

“We hope that you may join us in returning and preserving a little of the town’s past.”

Barry-born weatherman Derek Brockway said: “It would be great to get the artifacts back to their home town. The steamer is part of the Barry's history so important we do this.”

The ship was built in Glasgow and launched on May 4, 1907.

It was requisitioned in the First World War, being stationed in Greece, based in Salonika and taking part in the Gallipoli landings.

PS Barry was renamed Waverley in 1926 and sent to the Brighton station replacing Ravenswood after the previous Waverley of 1885 had not been reconditioned after her service in the First World War.

She saw war service in the First World War.

She transported German prisoners before sailing to the Mediterranean and carrying troops at the Gallipoli landings.

She was used as a transport and store carrier in the Gallioplli campaign.

A mine twice struck her paddle wheels but failed to damage her. The PS Barry was the last ship to leave Suvla Bay after the evacuation and later served at Salonika.

Campbell’s renamed her Waverley in 1926 and transferred her to the South Coast.

She became the HMS Snaefell in 1939 for the Second World War and was sent to the Tyne, based at North Shields.

At Dunkirk she was involved in the rescue of her grounded stable mate, Glen Gower, and evacuated 981 soldiers.

Her final voyage was on July, 5 1941 in which three were killed and nine wounded during a bombing raid off Sunderland.

The Paddle Steamer was remembered in Barry in 2007 and a framed poem titled the PS Barry by Joe Earl was presented to the then Mayor of Barry.

An exhibition commemorating the paddle steamer, 70 years after it was sunk by enemy aircraft was held at the town library with a 10 foot working model displayed in the window. Her wreck was discovered just before.

The Snaefell/Barry is now a war grave.

Pledges can be made via mnawalesbarrybranch@googlemail.com