Media : Lyrics

Princess Victoria

Early 1953, a cold and windswept Irish sea
It was the worst gale in living memory
And skies that wept a warning
Princess Victoria bound for Larne left Stranraer
From the South West coast in the early hours
And into heavy seas

She was running late, cos the wind was bad
They'd loaded 44 tons of cargo by hand
But in spite of the weather they'd sailed as planned
Fearing nothing about the storm

Captain Ferguson thought he'd seen it before
But the sea was about to breach her doors
As they rounded the head of Loch Ryan once more
They met the full force of nature

At 9am the wave burst through,
They sent an SOS at 10.32
With the car deck flooded, now they knew
The ship was failing badly
So out came life boats from Galloway and Down
But they could not find her, the directions were wrong
As towards the Irish coast Victoria limped on
Never more than 10 miles from land

And the steamer Salveda was sent from the Clyde
And the navy went out from Rothesay to her side
But she had no radar and though they tried
They could not find the Princess,
They could not find her

The crew fought to save her as the worst of the tide
Hit the starboard engine room and she fell on her side
Then at 1.15 after all they tried
She began to slip away

They cried “Abandon ship !” – but the waves were too high
So they said their last goodbyes
And of a hundred and seventy seven souls on board
Only 44 men made it ashore

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm has bound the restless wave
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea

(Dedicated to the memory of the passengers and crew who lost their lives on The Princess Victoria on 31st January 1953).

Words & Music by Gareth Davies-Jones PRS
Copyright© Gareth Davies-Jones 2008