The Yangtze Incident

[Eggs-11]

Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of the yangtze incident My thoughts
go out to all the brave souls who lost their lives that day.

[warshipdisposal]

here here....... a story of courage...exactly what the royal navy is about....interestingly this week is the fleet review of the chinese navy....and they a bit hacked off with us as we have a survey boat surveying in their back yard

[bob shayler]

Hi Eggs 11,
This is a cutting from The Evening News late last week,
regards,
Bob

43555

[greenrw]

Hi, well done everyone for raising the awareness of the 60th anniversary of the Yangtse Incident.
I am sure this particular thread will generate many more contributions!
I still vividly recall listening to the BBC Home service broadcasts, together with my Granddad at the time of the outrage.
For me, now 69 years on, I would like to add my own tribute in honour of those who lost their lives, the casualties and the few who brought the Amethyst home to blighty.
This was an exploit of spectacular nerve and seamanship under duress and a categoric refusal to betray the honour of England.
"Warshipdisposal", glad to see "Simon the cat" in your gallery of pictures.
Now that the truth has come to light re HMS Concord, its about time these lads were publicly recognised and honoured.
Best Regards
Bob William Green

[Eggs-11]

Bob, Thanks for the paper clipping will have to try and get
down to the hotel and see if i can speak to them.

[Eggs-11]

The photo in the last thread was of my dad taken on board
HMS Consort

[bob shayler]

Only too pleased that it helped you Eggs-11,
Good luck,
regards,
Bob

[bob shayler]

From the Evening News, April 21st regarding a medal campaign for Veterans of the Yangtze incident,
regards,
Bob

44180

[Eggs-11]

Bob
thanks for the paper clipping have read alot about concord
on the net
Regards mark.

[Angus MacSporran]

Nice newsreel clip of the heroes returning to Plymouth.

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=27182

[Eggs-11]

Angus. Thanks for the newsreel clips theres also one of the ships crew
marching through london

Regards Mark.

[Angus MacSporran]

Angus. Thanks for the newsreel clips theres also one of the ships crew
marching through london

Regards Mark.

Link here -
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=56634
Angus.

[spruso]

Some interesting photos here.
http://www.geocities.com/rnships/amethyst.htm
Cheers
Bruce

[james_harvey]

I have a medalion given to the survivors of HMS Amethyst.

Has any one else heard of this medalion

regards

James

[Angus MacSporran]

By 'medallion' do you mean the RN General Service medal with the 'Yangtse 1949' clasp? Given to all Amethyst crew members after the incident. It is one of the most sought after medals by collectors.

[greenrw]

Hi Everyone,
My Dad had two brothers, one whose name was “Harry Green”.
Toward the middle of 1949 he came to visit us where we lived at the time, in Plumstead Common, possibly expecting to see my Dad, who was then posted out in Aden.
However, Harry came bandaged up, arm in a sling etc; I am of the belief that he was in the RN!
But, looking back, there were no Naval actions at the time, save that of the Yangtse Incident during April.
Harry, wasn`t on the Amethyst, as her crew list and casualties are well documented, but may have served on one of the other Ships that were fired upon, “London”, “Black Swan” or “Consort”?
The reason for writing to the Forum is this.
My Granddad AB William Thomas Clegg, left all his Ships cap Tally`s from the first Great War, to me in his Will, including two from HMS Amethyst?
I have never found out how these came to be in his possession? He may have been given them by one of the crew when he took me down to Devonport in November of that year, I can`t say.
However, if “Harry” was involved in the Yangtse Incident, this may be the connection!
Could he have given them to my Granddad?, but then I ask myself if he was involved why Amethyst`s tallys and not those of the ship he was on?
None of my Dads family are alive, although his other brother “Peter Green”, is said to be in Australia, Iv`e no way of following this up through family.
Does anyone corresponding with the Forum have knowledge of one,
“Harry Green” as a casualty associated with ships, other than the Amethyst, that were involved with in the Incident please?
This is very much a long shot as “Green” is a common enough name, any information would be appreciated.
Thanks in anticipation
Bob William Green

[steve roberts]

Hi guys. Thanks for posts on this incident,I believe my old sick bay chief on the Hermes won a DSM during the incident, unfortunately with old age creeping on and so much to try and remember, I have forgotten his name! regards to all Steve

[Eggs-11]

Hi everyone, Tomorrow is the 61st anniversary of the yangtze incident
my thoughts go out to the ones that lost their lives that day.

[qprdave]

Some reports on the Yangtze Incident

[John Odom]

A most informative post. Thanks! Since my daddy served on the Yangtze and many of my friends were the kids of missionaries to China and traveled the Yangtze this has been an are afg special interest for me.

[Jackaroo]

Some of you may remember the movie, however, did you know that HMAS Shoalhaven was almost there instead of HMS Amethyst? HMAS Shoalhaven was then serving with the RN Far East Fleet.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNehtC3-l0o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXS4VBcWn1w&feature=related

[Jackaroo]

HMAS Amethyst returns to Hong Kong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXYuI2ktmoA&NR=1[/SIZE]

[barnsey]

From a very good friend of mine ( and a few other Old Salts too ) I have his permission to post this and we must also give credit to the Felixstowe Museum collection who sent Ambrose the photo......

"By chance I saw some of the 1955 film the" Yangtze Incident" a couple of days ago my interest had been roused because when making the film
she had been filmed on the river Orwell before being brought into the Dock Basin prior to being sent to the scrap yard and as such I had a photograph of her when she was in the Dock Basin in a chapter about the vessels which at one time or another who had used the Dock Basin and that, in turn is part of my "Dock Basin Memories," anthology see below."

Ambrose Jones

In 1955 the film " Yangtze Incident " was made about this action H.M.S. Amethyst was by now laid up in Devonport and she was towed to the River Orwell and moored whilst being used for the action sequences of the film

After the filming she was towed to Felixstowe Dock Basin where this photograph was taken, to wait for a tug to take her to be scrapped.


from Felixstowe Museum Collection

[astraltrader]

David I dont suppose you actually have the photograph itself, so it could be scanned at a worthwhile size??

[barnsey]

Terry,


I reside in Godzown .... Westport New Zealand so the answer to your question is ...No.

Howmsoever ..... I'll get my mate to see what he can do ....!!!


Regards

David :rolleyes:;):p

[Powers]

AMETHYST was eventually broken up at the Barbican in Plymouth in 1957. In those days' the location was a rather smelly, muddy, tidal basin, occupied in the main by the Plymouth fishing fleet and various merchant vessels, with the odd ex warship arriving for scrapping.

Today it is quite different with lock gates controlling the non tidal basin which is now mainly occupied by the private boat and 'yachtie' fraternity. Overlooking the site of AMETHYST'S demise is a 17th century wharehouse which now serves as a large public house and restaurant, where it is possible to sit on the waterside balcony just a few yards from the spot where this famous ship ended her days'. Appropriately, the pub is called 'The China House'.

Regards......Paul

[Scurs]

Barnsey........what an excellent photo. It is easy to see why it has been suggested that the film company did more damage to the ship simulating explosions, than the Chinese did with real ones!

[emason]

For a very interesting development in the campaign for a service medal, look here:

http://www.thehmsconsort.co.uk/New%20hms%20consort/new%20hms%20consort/

[brian james]

i served on "blackpool" in the 1960s and was priveliged to have our messdeck killick,jim dolan a liverpool irishman..who was on amethyst and was very proud of his "gong"

[John Odom]

China service, in the USN or RN was unlike any other!

[Dave Hutson]

An extremely interesting thread.

I served at Mount Wise Commcen with "Jackie" French the Telegraphist on Amethyst during her ordeal. He never really had a lot to say about it all except to say that he, contrary to all the stories surrounding him, hated "Herrings In" but that was all they had for sarnies.

Dave H

[davidrn]

I know that this is not the place for medals but in view of the Topic, I thought that this may be of some interest.
Dave

Carr. D. Petty Officer C/JX 163529 (Group of 6)

1939/45, Atlantic & Burma Stars, 1939/45 War Medal
Naval General Service Medal bars:- “Yangtze 1949” & “Near East”
Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (Elz II 2nd Issue) to “HMS Pembroke”

It was confirmed that Petty Officer D. Carr was a seaman Petty Officer on HMS London at the time of the “Yangtze Incident” by Michael Overton from the “Four Ships Web Site”
HMS London (C-69) was a County class heavy cruiser launched in 1927, during the second world war she served in the hunt for the Bismarck, in the Atlantic, Arctic convoys, the British Eastern Fleet based at Trincomalee and took the surrender of the Japanese forces on Sumatra from Vice Admiral Hirose.
After the war and a refit London served in the Far East from 1946 as the flagship of Vice Admiral A. Madden. In April 1949 on learning that the frigate HMS Amethyst was trapped on the Yangtze river by Chinese Communist troops, it was decided that London with the frigate HMS Black Swan would to sail upriver to aid her.
The Communists open fire on the two ships causing considerable damage London replied with all her armament (8 inch main, 4 inch secondary and Anti Aircraft guns) and the two ships were forced to turn back with Capitan Cazaler on London returning to Shanghai. During the action London had fired 132 8 inch, 449 4 inch, and over 2,000 rounds from her light AA guns.
The Captain’s Official Report states;-
"All damage to the ship was quickly and efficiently dealt with by the Damage Control Parties, whose performance I consider to be outstanding, taking into consideration the difficulty of providing realistic training in these duties. The bearing and conduct of the Ship’s Company, a large proportion of whom are very young and were experiencing action for the first time, was beyond praise. As an instance, the 4 in. Gun Crews and Supply Parties suffered 38% casualties, who were instantly replaced as they fell. These guns continued in action throughout and fired a total of 449 rounds."
London’s casualties were 15 killed and 30 wounded.
The 15 Killed were:-
Lieutenant-Commander Charles Rowan GRICE-HUTCHINSON DSC
Leading Seaman James Henry ARKELL
Able Seaman Arthur William ELLWOOD
Royal Marine William FISHER
Able Seaman James Patrick FOLEY
Able Seaman Edgar George HARRISON
Royal Marine Lawrence Henry JARVIS
Ordinary Seaman Sidney Osborne JONES
Ordinary Seaman John Cecil LANE
Able Seaman William George PULLIN
Petty Officer Alec Bruce ROPER
Able Seaman Harry SHELTON
Chief Petty Officer Writer Patrick Joseph STOWERS
Ordinary Seaman Stanley William WALSINGHAM
Ordinary Seaman Geoffrey George WARWICK

[jainso31]

davidrn- you do get some quality groups and so thotorughly researched-be worth quite a tidy sum today.

jainso31

[davidrn]

Yes Jim a nice group, I bought them about 12 years ago. That was before I started going for the pre 1900 medals.
I had quite a job finding his ship until I came accross the "Four ships website" and Michael Overton was good enough to advise me that he was a Seaman P.O on HMS London.
Some people on these site are very helpful.

Regards Dave

[Eggs-11]

Tomorrow is the 62nd anniversary of the Yangtze incident, My thoughts go out to the ones that did not return and the ones that grew old.
Lest we forget. Mark.

[glojo]

I have just read a post that stated how the US Navy will be turning four Iowa class Battleships into museums.

HMS Amethyst represented everything the Royal Navy stands for and what happened to her?

Dragged to a muddy smelly corner of the Barbican at Plymouth and scrapped!! We are too tight to even preserve a 1300 ton frigate.

"Have rejoined the fleet off Woosung...God save the King."

What an excellent tourist attraction she would have made at the modern Barbican