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FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE NEWS MEDIA, PRIME MINISTER, GORDON BROWN, & LORDS OF THE ADMIRALTY ******************************* Several weeks ago it was brought to my attention that from among the Admiralty records relating to the 1949 Yangtze Incident that are available for public examination within the National Archives at Kew, HMS CONCORD’s log for July1949 held under the reference; ‘ADM 53/125839’ had been pulled for some sort of examination.
Well as of this date, Wednesday 27th August 2008 it would seem that, ‘ADM 53/125839’ is now in the post and on its way back to the National Archives at Kew, from a Government office at Portsmouth where it was allegedly being examined. Was it being examined for some unforeseen and extraordinary reason? Like for instance, was it the genuine log from H.M.S. Concord, covering the dates 30th and 31st July 1949, or was it the false log that had been made up and used to replace the original for the dates 30th and 31st July 1949? Upon the orders of no lesser an authority than that of the C-in-C, Far East Station, Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, H.M.S. Concord, was on the 30th July 1949 ordered to enter China’s, Yangtze River, and there after to make its way to a location on that river known as the Woosung Forts, to train its armament on the Forts, in readiness to respond in the event of H.M.S. Amethyst, being fired upon whilst making its escape bid from where it had been held hostage on the Yangtze River, since 20th April 1949.
This photograph being shown here is one of H.M.S. Amethyst that was taken with a Brownie camara as H.M.S. Amethyst, in the early hours of the morning passed by H.M.S. Concord, which was providing covering for the Amethyst, at a location in close proximity to the Woosung Forts, on China’s, Yangtze River. |
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Noticeable, on the photo the Union Jack that had been painted on canvas and attached to bearing-off-spars is still unfurled down the Amethyst’s, ships side from the time, of the order being given to do so on the 20th April 1949.
Further, the next two photographs’s being posted on the next page, they were also taken with a Brownie camara on the 31st July 1949 within the estuary of China’s Yangtze River, when the Amethyst, came alongside of H.M.S. Concord, to take onboard provisions and oil fuel, this took place at a location known as the Saddle. On the left hand side of the top photo some of the damage that was inflicted upon the Amethyst, on the 20th April 1949 is noticeable, and in between H.M.S. Amethyst and Concord, again the unfurled Union Jack, already referred to can again be seen.
To the left of the bottom photograph the land fall of a small island in the mouth of the river can be seen and of course, Amethyst’s name is also visible the photo. |
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When H.M.S. Concord, escorted H.M.S. Amethyst, out of China’s Yangtze River, H.M.S. Concord, was stopped and boarded by Captain D of H.M.S. Cossack, and it was then that the ships log of H.M.S. Concord, covering the 30th and 31st July 1949 was taken out of commission and replaced with another. H. M. S. Concord, was then ordered else where.
If in this present day and age some Government or Admiralty office is prepared to go to the length of pulling from circulation a file such H.M.S. Concord’s, log for July 1949 that was being held within the National Archives at Kew then perhaps Prime Minister, Brown, or a delegate of the First Sea Lord, might consider attending the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla, Far East Station, Association’s, Annual Reunion at Scarburgh, over the weekend commencing, Friday, 12th September, 2008 and meet up with the yet unrecognised and unrewarded heroes, from H.M.S. Concord’s 1949 commission that were involved in the 1949 Yangtze Campaign.
In the meantime here is some further reading material, it in the form a hand written letter that on the 5th August 1949 a young Royal Navy Commander, by the name of Peter Dickens, that was Flag Officer, to the C-in-C, on board H.M.S. Belfast, on the Far East Station, wrote to his father Admiral Dickens. |
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And And here is a further five pages of Commander, Dickens, hand written correspondence with his parent Admiral Dickens. |
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Commander Peter Dickens had a long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy going on to become Admiral Sir, Peter Dickens.
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