| Back |
|
|
The UNITED KINGDOM’S PARLIAMENT House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 27 Apr 2006 (pt 14) Campaign Medals |
|
This medal shown above is the 1949 Yangtze campaign medal awarded for continuous service. Here now is an example of how you would qualify for the above award.
Campaign. Number of qualifying days. From. To. Yangtze 1 HMS Consort 20 April 1949 20 April 1949 HMS London 21 April 1949 21 April 1949 HMS Black Swan 21 April 1949 21 April 1949 HMS Amethyst 21 April 1949 31 July 1949 ************ **************************** |
(2)
|
Note; that example can be seen to be applicable to four ship’s, H.M.S. Consort, London, Black Swan and Amethyst. So for the information of all who might be interested in the 1949 Yangtze Campaign Medal, that medal was also awarded to all who flew in the three sorties of the R.A.F., Sunderland, that was involved in the incident, 21st 22nd and 23rd April 1949 and among those involved were two air dispatchers of 799 Company R.A.S.C. (AD) a Blondie Donno and Ken Hotchkiss. Here, I am producing what by to-days terms might be described as an historical document; |
(3)
|
What you have there is a Special Order of the Day that was sent out to the four ships H.M.S. Consort, London, Black Swan and Amethyst, the order is dated, 22nd December 1949 and its signed by Admiral, Patrick Brind. It is, when read into, the orders of a devious dictator dictating his terms. If anyone cares to search the H.M.S. Belfast, website, on that site there is a History Section for H.M.S. Belfast 1945-1947 and it touches on the 1949 Yangtze Incident, I am now going to quote that stated in the last paragraph of that history section. I quote, * “Although HMS Belfast was not actively involved in the crisis, the Commander-in-Chief Far East Station, Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, was wearing his flag on board in Hong Kong and all orders given to the Amethyst’s temporary commander, Lieutenant Commander J S Kerans, emanated from the Belfast.” * Unquote. Well, from onboard the H.M.S. Belfast, Admiral Brind, was also sending orders to the H.M.S. Concord, and to Captain D, on H.M.S. Cossack, that which follows is a result of such orders. Ships Log. H.M.S. Concord, Sunday, 31st July 1949. From Yangtze Entrance to Sea. Position, In Mouth of Yangtze Kiang Meeting H.M.S. Amethyst 0145 Weighed and proceeded at 20 knots. Course as required to proceed up river. 0220 Spoke to Chinese Nationalist Warship, vicinity Tungshan banks buoy. 0255 Came to Starboard, anchor in position, Kiutuan. L.V.289° 1.8miles. Veered to 2 shackles in 4-5 fathoms. 0345 Weighed and proceeded, Course 285° speed 20 knots. Altered course 310° 0415 altered course 290° J.T.B. 0420 Altered course 320° 0431 Altered course 285° ‘Hands to Knight Action Stations’ 0445 Passed S.2, Knoll buoy. 0448 Altered course 300° 0450 speed 16 knots. 0510 Request for slow speed, vicinity Blockhouse buoy. 0512 Amethyst contacted by radar, Bearing 286, 7 miles. |
(4)
|
0525 Amethyst in sight 3miles. 0535 On station, two cables. Amethyst on Starboard quarter. Course 120, Speed 19 knots. 0548 Altered course 130. 0605 Altered course 140. 0623 Altered course125. 0640 Kituan L.V. abeam, Port. Altered course 115 0710 Speed 10 knots. 0715 Secured from Action Stations 0740 Passed Yangtze L.V. Abeam Starboard 1 mile. 0815-0840 Two attempts to remain alongside Amethyst--anchored in position 1 Mile East of L.V. unsuccessful due to tide. Starboard anchor let go and weighed again in each case. J.T.B. 0915 Set course140° speed 11 knots. Amethyst in station astern. 0930 Y.K. L.V. bearing 311° A, Gulzlaff B. Bearing 223° M. Pei Ting Mors Bearing 176° 1040 Speed 18 knots. 10-50 Speed 10 knots. 1110 K.S. Saddle 111° N.E. Saddle 080° A. Blinker 058° 1155 Amethyst in position (30°-40° N, (20° 45° E. 1158 Slow ahead together. Course as required to attend Amethyst. 1200 Concord proceeded alongside Amethyst. |
(5)
|
1212 Ring off main engines, 2 hours notice for steam. S.P. correct. Transferred Canteen Stores to H.M.S. Amethyst. Discharged 147 tons of oil fuel to H.M.S. Amethyst. J.T.B. 1215 Hands to Make and Mend Cloths. Position Latitude Longitude Depending on Currents Experienced 0800 31° 02 N 122° 19-5 E Fix 0740 Tidal Streams Draught = 11’-3” For’ad 12’-6” Aft. 1700 Exercised Fire Parties 1800 Lieutenant T.J.D. Grant, RN. Drafted to Amethyst on temporary loan, also one Signalman and 1 Telegraphs. C.A.B. 2000 Slipped from Amethyst and proceeded. 2010 Speed as requisite. 2020 Fall out Special Sea Dutymen. 2030 Fix 71 E Saddle 393° K.S. Saddle3 277° 71 False Saddle 313-5 2033 Altered course 166° Speed 12 knots. 2050 Altered course 180° Rounds correct. J.I.F. 2120 Assumed economical steaming conditions. Amethyst on our Port quarter. 2122 K. Kuken bearing 168° Elgarb Light 255°. 2231 A Video 273° 4 Sisters 311° 2 Brothers 026° Altered course 216 2320 Raised Ton Ting Light bearing 228° Upon leaving the Yangtze Estuary and reaching the open sea there was a surprise in waiting for the Concord, it was Captain D, in the form of H.M.S. Cossack, its purpose was to relieve the Concord, of it’s log. That information tends to explain partly why Admiral, Sir Patrick Brind, makes no mention of H.M.S. Concord’s, part in the Yangtze Incident, 31st July, 1949. |
(6)
| H.M.S. Concord was relieved of the ships log and sent on patrol elsewhere, silenced under the official secretes act. So how did I come by the ships log for H.M.S. Concord, well that for me to know and for others to go on guessing about, and in the event that there is any doubts as to the authenticity of the Concords, log covering events for the 31st July 1949 then feast your eyes on the following photographs. |
| The Amethyst, photographed from Concord, on the Yangtze River 31st July 1949. |
(7)
| Here you have the Concord and Amethyst alongside of each other in the Yangtze Esturay, canteen stores and 147 tons of fuel were being transferred from Concord to Amethyst, 31st July 1949. |
(8)
|
Amethyst slipping from alongside Concord after taking on canteen stores and fuel 31st July 1949 and following the same. On the next page is a photograph of H.M.S. Amethyst, that was taken as it tied up alongside Tamer, jetty Hong Kong, with the visible proof that it had in the first instance been sent on a mission without its secondary armament on-board, (See the encircled area). |
(9)
|
When in 1952 the author Lawrence Earl, published his book Yangtze Incident, within the foreword that was written by Lieutenant Commander Kerans, was the following sentence:- (Most of us who took part in the action which has become known as the Yangtze Incident of 1949 are now separated and will go our devious ways, whether in Civilian life or in the Service.)
Well, Prime Minister, Gorden Brown, as we are approaching the 27th June, 2008 a date brought about by you to be known as Veterant-Day perhaps you will correct the devious ways of those who took part in the Yangtze Incident, that has for fifty nine years now deprived the 1949 commission or ships-company of H.M.S. Concord, from being awarded the 1949 Yangtze Campaign Medal.
(Now read on to be educated further)
|
| Back |