Yangtze Showdown Page 29
Watson, Thomas, Leading Seaman
Webb, John, Petty Officer
Williams, William, Able Seaman
Men who stayed on board until Amethyst’s escape:
Augustyns, Denis, Leading Stoker Mechanic
Bannister, Samuel, Stoker Mechanic
Bell, David, Able Seaman
Blomley, Hugh, Electrician
Brown, Arthur, Stoker Mechanic
Bryson, James, Able Seaman
Cavill, George, Cook (S)
Chare, Lionel, Electrical Artificer 4th Class
Connor, Leonard, Petty Officer Stoke Mechanic
Day, Jack, Able Seaman
Delve, Kenneth, Ordinary Seaman
Donnelly, Malachy, Electrician’s Mate 1st Class
Fearnley, Michael, Flight Lieutenant (joined ship 21 April)
Fellows, Albert, Stoker Mechanic
Frank, Leslie, Petty Officer
Freeman, William, Petty Officer
French, Jack, Telegraphist
Garfitt, William, Leading Seaman
Garns, Albert, Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic
Grazier, Bernard, Ordinary Seaman
Griffiths, George, Petty Officer Cook (S)
Harris, Henry, Ordinary Seaman
Hartness, George, Leading Seaman
Hawkins, Charles, Stoker Mechanic
Hett, Stewart, Lieutenant
Holloway, Eric, Mechanic 1st Class
Horton, Sydney, Boy 1st Class
Hutchinson, Roland, Able Seaman
Irwin, Vernon, Electrician
Jones, Donald, Able Seaman
Jones, John, Ordinary Seaman
Jones, Peter, Ordinary Seaman
Kay, Raymond, Able Seaman
Keicher, Charles, Able Seaman
Kerans, John, Lieutenant Commander (joined ship 22 April)
Logan, George, Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic
Macdonald, Duncan, Leading Stoker Mechanic
MacNamara, John, NAAFI manager
Maddocks, George, Stoker Mechanic
Martin, Keith, Boy 1st Class
McCarthy, John, Stores Petty Officer
McCullough, Raymond, Able Seaman
McGlashen, Ian, Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class
McLean, James, Able Seaman
Mitchell, Robert, Able Seaman
Munson, Ernest, Ordinary Seaman
Murphy, Jeramiah, Chief Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic
Murphy, John, Ordinary Seaman
Nolan, James, Ordinary Seaman
Ormrod, Thomas, Leading Stoker Mechanic
Parish, Colin, Boy 1st Class
Parnell, Wilfred, Boy 1st Class
Paul, George, Electrician’s Mate 1st Class
Pearce, Albert, Stoker Mechanic
Ray, John, Ordinary Seaman
Rees, Trevor, Ordnance Artificer 4th Class
Roberts, Dennis, Ordinary Seaman
Rutter, Jack, Leading Radio Electrical Mechanic
Saunders, Eric, Able Seaman
Shaw, Bernard, Boy 1st Class
Smith, William, Shipwright 4th Class
Strain, George, Lieutenant Commander (L)
Townsend, Thomas, Able Seaman
Venton, William, Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic
Walker, Jack, Able Seaman
Wells, Richard, Able Seaman
White, Alfred, Petty Officer
Williams, Albert, Ordinary Seaman
Williams, Leonard, Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class
Wilson, Denis, Able Seaman
Winfield, Kenneth, Stoker Mechanic
Wright, Gordon, Able Seaman
A total of about fourteen Chinese – stewards, cooks, tailors, laundrymen – were on board when Amethyst was attacked
Appendix 3: Casualties for Consort, London and Black Swan
Killed or died of wounds:
Consort
Akhurst, John, Petty Officer Telegraphist
Gifford, Raymond, Stoker Mechanic
Gurney, Maurice, Chief Petty Officer
Hutton, Christopher, Able Seaman
Iredale, Dennis, Ordinary Telegraphist
Jenkinson, Sidney, Ordinary Seaman
Moir, William, Leading Seaman
Morton, Albert, Petty Officer
Theay, Charles, Ordinary Seaman
Tobin, John, Electrician’s Mate
London
Arkell, James, Leading Seaman
Ellwood, Arthur, Able Seaman
Fisher, William, Marine
Foley, James, Able Seaman
Grice-Hutchinson, Charles, Lieutenant Commander
Harrison, Edgar, Able Seaman
Jarvis, Lawrence, Marine
Jones, Sidney, Ordinary Seaman
Lane, John, Ordinary Seaman
Pullin, William, Able Seaman
Roper, Alec, Petty Officer
Shelton, Harry, Able Seaman
Stowers, Patrick, Chief Petty Officer Writer
Walsingham, Stanley, Ordinary Seaman
Warwick, Geoffrey, Ordinary Seaman
Wounded:
Consort
Adams, K, Leading Signalman
Addis, A, Telegraphist
Attridge, C, Able Seaman
Bevan, P, Leading Seaman
Brewer, J, Boy 1st Class
Brown, J, Electrician
Butcher, G, Stoker Mechanic
Chambers, W, Leading Stoker Mechanic
Cox, K, Leading Telegraphist
Davies, L, Stoker Mechanic
Donaldson, A, Petty Officer Cook
Duffin, L, Ordinary Seaman
Flanagan, F, Stoker Mechanic
Fleet, W, Able Seaman
Ford, S, Ordinary Seaman
Greening, H, Petty Officer
Holdsworth, P, Leading Signalman
Robertson, I, Commander
Rose, S, Leading Stoker Mechanic
Tootell, J, Able Seaman
Williams, W, Able Seaman
London
Banfield, Robert, Stores Assistant
Bansall-Allan, Frederick, Petty Officer
Barnard, G, Marine
Barwick, A, Boy
Bayes, V, Ordinary Seaman
Blenkin, T, Leading Writer
Brewer, C, Ordinary Seaman
Brewis, C, Able Seaman
Brown, J, Ordinary Seaman
Cazalet, Peter, Captain
Clark, Edwin, Able Seaman
Dalrymple-Kelly, J, Sergeant
Deeks, H, Marine
Gale, A, Chief Petty Officer
Hall, C, Ordinary Seaman
Head, J, Marine
Hipwell, William, Petty Officer Airman
How, B, Marine
Ingham, Robert, Sub Lieutenant
Main, T, Stoker
McCarthy, R, Marine
Meikle, R, Able Seaman
Melia, T, Able Seaman
Morris, Stuart, Stores Assistant
Pearce, L, Able Seaman
Pike, Ronald, Stoker Mechanic
Piper, E, Stoker Mechanic
Prescott, Walter, Able Seaman
Pulling, R, Leading Writer
Sabin, Charles, Able Seaman
Searle, G, Marine
Spence, W, Able Seaman
Warr, Norman, Marine
Watts, R, Boy
Wells, James, Mechanic 1st Class
Wilmhurst, Edwin, Petty Officer Writer
Wilson, A, Able Seaman
Black Swan
Dickson, A, Ordinary Telegraphist
Esplin, K, Boy 1st Class
Fowler, G, Ordinary Seaman
McKenzie, T, Telegraphist
Potter, A, Boy 1st Class
Reeves, M, Ordinary Seaman
Tincombe, D, Boy 1st Class
Appendix 4: Awards
Awards to Amethyst
Distinguished Service Order
Lieutenant Commander John Kerans
Bar to Distinguished Service Cross
Lieutenant Geoffrey W
eston
Distinguished Service Cross
Lieutenant Peter Berger
Flight Lieutenant Michael Fearnley RAF
Member of the Order of the British Empire
Lieutenant Commander (L) George Strain
Distinguished Service Medal
Acting Petty Officer Leslie Frank
Telegraphist Jack French
Engine Room Artificer Leonard Williams
Mention in Despatches
Surgeon Lieutenant John Alderton (posthumously)
Electrical Artificer Lionel Chare
Petty Officer William Freeman
Lieutenant Stewart Hett
Stores Petty Officer John McCarthy
Boy 1st Class Keith Martin
Lieutenant Commander Bernard Skinner (posthumously)
Ordinary Seaman Reginald Wright (posthumously)
Awards to Consort
Distinguished Service Order
Commander Ian Robertson
Distinguished Service Medal
Leading Stoker Mechanic Tony Johnson
Chief Petty Officer Henry Robinson (awarded the George Medal in 1942)
Mention in Despatches
Ordinary Seaman Ivan Bennett-Bound
Lieutenant William Bonner
Able Seaman Albert McKee
Acting Leading Telegraphist Robert Miller
Awards to London
Bar to Distinguished Service Order
Captain Peter Cazalet
Distinguished Service Cross
Commissioned Gunner Reginald Smith
Distinguished Service Medal
Able Seaman Alan Dudley
Bandmaster Frederick Harwood
Mention in Despatches
Chief Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic Henry Fletcher
Corporal William Hart
Chief Petty Officer Thomas Learmouth
Chief Writer Patrick Stowers (posthumously)
Surgeon Commander Wilfred Taylor
Awards to Black Swan
Mention in Despatches
Ordinary Seaman Graham Fowler
Commander Richard Hare
Surgeon Lieutenant William Owen
Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist Reginald Stovell
(Awards announced in The London Gazette of 6 May, 5 August and 1 November 1949.)
Appendix 5: Timeline of Main Events
Edited version of timeline compiled by Lieutenant Commander John Kerans. Some of the times before he joined Amethyst are approximate.
19 April 1949
0800 Amethyst leaves Holt’s Wharf, Shanghai.
1632 Anchors Kiangyin for the night.
20 April
0510 Amethyst weighs and proceeds up river.
0638 Anchors due to fog.
0734 Ship weighs and proceeds up river.
0836 Under fire from starboard side. Jacks unfurled. Battle ensign hoisted at masthead.
0850 Firing ceases. Ship not hit.
0930 Under fire from starboard beam and hit.
0935 Ship runs aground on Rose Island and still under heavy fire. Commanding officer and almost all bridge and wheelhouse personnel killed or seriously wounded. First lieutenant, Weston, though seriously wounded assumes command.
1000 Lieutenant Weston orders all life-saving equipment to be lowered and ship to be evacuated to the south bank.
1015 Medical officer and sick berth attendant killed.
1100 All confidential books are burnt and confidential equipment destroyed. Main steam shut down.
1115 Sniping at ship.
1430 Consort in sight. Unable to tow off Amethyst and continues down river.
1700 Nationalist soldiers offer assistance in evacuating wounded. Offer not taken as it is hoped to refloat ship and proceed Nanking.
1930 Raised steam.
2245 In W/T communication with Hong Kong. Discharged oil fuel and lightened ship.
21 April
0015 Ship refloated.
0045 Under small-arms fire from north bank.
0130 Ship anchors.
0915 Nationalist army personnel arrive on board to offer medical assistance.
1000 Lieutenant Commander Kerans and assistant military attaché Lieutenant Colonel Dewar-Durie leave Nanking by road for Chingkiang.
1045 Nationalist naval craft offers assistance. Not taken as London due 1130.
1130 Ship weighs ready for London’s arrival with Black Swan.
1150 Ship anchors. Opposition too heavy for ships to reach Amethyst. About 50 ratings leave Wutsin by train for Shanghai.
1330 Kerans and Dewar-Durie reach Chingkiang.
1530 Nationalist army medical officer and two orderlies arrive on board.
1630 Sunderland aircraft lands near ship and is fired on. RAF medical officer only and a few supplies reach ship. Gunner Monaghan caught in aircraft, which returns to Shanghai. Ship shifts berth.
1800 Kerans and Dewar-Durie reach Tachiang village.
1830 Nationalist medical officer leaves ship to arrange evacuation of wounded.
2130 He returns to ship with sampans.
2200 Evacuation of wounded begins.
2350 Kerans and Dewar-Durie with medical team reach coast. Communists cross Yangtze and land to east of Kiangyin during the night.
22 April
0100 Kerans and Dewar-Durie leave the coast by sampan to board Amethyst. Last of the wounded except first lieutenant leave ship.
0130 Amethyst moves further up river. Kerans and Dewar-Durie unable to reach ship and return Tachiang.
0235 Ship anchors and is immediately fired upon, this time by Nationalists. Shifts berth again one mile down river.
0345 On shore Lieutenant Commander Skinner and one able seaman succumb to their wounds.
0510 Fourteen seriously wounded men and medical party leave Tachiang for Chingkiang in lorries.
0715 Kerans and Dewar-Durie return to Chingkiang.
0830 Wounded reach Chingkiang.
1000 Wounded arrive at station. Train late.
1100 Four more wounded reach station.
1210 Train leaves for Shanghai.
1315 Sunderland aircraft lands near Amethyst and is fired upon. Aircraft returns Shanghai without disembarking anyone.
1500 Kerans reaches Amethyst in Nationalist naval craft. Lieutenant Weston evacuated to Chingkiang mission hospital. Dewar-Durie remains in Chingkiang.
1534 Kerans ordered by Vice Admiral Madden to assume command of Amethyst.
1630 Buried at anchor 17 dead (11 Church of England, five Roman Catholics and one Chinese).
1800 Communist crossings reported to the east of Nanking. Rapid deterioration of situation.
2010 Vice Admiral Madden signals to be prepared to evacuate Amethyst and sink her.
2145 Preparations completed to beach and destroy ship.
2200 Nationalist navy evacuate Chingkiang. Quiet night.
23 April
In fog at daylight.
0900 Fog lifts. Nationalist forces in area withdrawn.
1200 Communist activity on starboard side. Ship shifts down river two miles and meets accurate battery fire.
1245 Anchors close to south bank. No hits.
1500 Communist crossings ahead and astern unopposed. Vice Admiral Madden approves destruction of ship if no alternative and evacuation to Shanghai.
2145 Chinese naval units pass down river. Heavy fire between ship and batteries.
24 April
Wardroom partially flooded and top weight jettisoned to right ship.
1000 Ship on even keel.
Diplomat Youde’s mission into Communist territory fails to achieve safe passage for Amethyst. Civilian junks appear free to move on river at will.
25 April
Communist troop movements in vicinity of ship. Make good damage and lessen fire risks.
26 April
Crossings ahead and astern of ship.
1330 Three soldiers and two civilians on land endeavour to make ship send out boat. Thi
s is not possible.
1515 Soldiers make further efforts. Decide to risk whaler as weather calm. Interview takes place with Communist major and a senior rating.
27 April
1200 Junk arrives with soldiers. Interview takes place ashore between Lieutenant Hett and a battery commander.
1 May
Clocks advanced one hour (zone 9).
2 May
1730 Interview takes place on board between Kerans and Communist officer from local garrison.
3 May
1200 Fresh eggs bartered for rice and flour as a result of help from local Communist soldiers.
5 May
AM Trader brings fresh potatoes and a request from local garrison commander for Chinese (Cantonese) on board to visit Chingkiang area commander.
6 May
PM Lieutenant Hett calls on local garrison commander to hasten safe conduct. Nothing learnt.
8 May
AM Local garrison commander visits Kerans. Coaxes ship’s Chinese to accept area commander’s request to go ashore next day. No news from Nanking.
9 May
Amethyst’s Chinese return from burial service on Chiso-shan Island. No reactions except all glad to be back.
17 May
Kerans has interview with local garrison commander on board. No result.
18 May
AM Lieutenant Hett visits local garrison commander to hasten interview with area commander.
PM Kerans presented on board with PLA’s formal demands for settlement of Yangtze Incident.
22 May
PM Receive order from Admiral Brind to deliver personal message to General Yuan.
24 May
PM Kerans has first meeting with General Yuan and Colonel Kang. Safe conduct will not be given until Royal Navy takes responsibility for incident.
25 May
PLA return two wounded ratings, Bannister and Martin, to the ship. Both recovered.
29 May
Sam Leo, an interpreter at the British embassy, Nanking, joins Amethyst.
31 May
Kerans has meeting with Colonel Kang at village opposite ship. No progress.
3 June
Kerans has meeting with Colonel Kang on Silver Island. Deadlock.
12 June
Further meeting with Colonel Kang on Silver Island.
15 June
Meeting with Colonel Kang at village opposite ship.
18 June
Meeting with Colonel Kang, who is anxious for Admiral Brind’s views on previous meetings.
20 June
Meeting at Chingkiang headquarters with General Yuan. British side accused of insincerity and delaying tactics.
22 June
Further meetings at Chingkiang headquarters. General expresses opinion incident can be settled by an exchange of notes. Mail clearance for Shanghai granted.
24 June