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SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE The Right Hon John Hutton., MP *************************** Mr Hutton, for your information and that of all others within the House of Commons; The Qualifying Criteria For The ‘Yangtze 1949’ Clasp To The Naval General Service Medal, 1915
(AFO) 3963 -
Medals - Naval General Service Medal (1915) - Conditions of Award For
Service On The River Yangtze between 20th April and 31st
July, 1949. The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the current Naval General Service Medal, with an appropriate Clasp, for specific service on the River Yangtze between 20th and 31st July, 1949, both dates inclusive, as described below.
Royal Navy 2.(a) Service in the following of His Majesty’s ships, on the dates or within the period shown.
(b) Officers
carried to HMS “Amethyst” on 21st or 22nd April, 1949
in a Royal Air Force Sunderland aircraft are also eligible. Could it be that the terms within this copy of His Majesties Ambassador, Sir Ralph Stevenson’s telegram dated 31st July 1949 being posted here had something to do with H.M.S. Concord, being excluded from the accolade of His Majesty, in 1949 ?
In July 1992, September 2002, and June 2003., Rear Admiral Sir David Scott, deposited within the Churchill Archives Centre at Cambridge, a collection that mainly consists of naval signal logs from the Amethyst Incident of 30th and 31st July 1949. The copy of the telegram above is an item from within that collection. The reference to the overall collection is; GBR/0014/DKNS and the material evidence within that collection clearly establishes H.M.S. Concord’s, involvement and role in the Yangtze Incident 30th and 31st July, 1949. On and at the time of those dates 30th and 31st July, 1949. Rear Admiral Scott, was, Flag-Lieutenant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Station, Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, KCB, CBE., on-board H.M.S. Belfast. Had the material evidence that is now available under reference; GBR/0014/DKNS at the Churchill College Archives, Cambridge, been made available in November 1949 this is how; Cmd 7813, dated November 1949: would have read. The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the current Naval General Service Medal, with an appropriate Clasp, for specific service on the River Yangtze between 20th and 31st July, 1949, both dates inclusive, as described below.
However, from within, Column 17 of Hansard 23rd February 2009 from an item raised within the House of Commons, for its the terms therein, the same, I now quote; * “Mr Jim Devine. (Livingston) (Lab): As my right hon. Friend the Minister is aware, my constituent Willie Leitch lobbies me almost daily about the Yangtze Incident. I have written to my to my right hon. Friend to raise the issue with him, but will he put the Governments position on record so that I can reassure my constituent Mr Leitch. Mr Bob Ainsworth: I have replied to my hon. Friend in the past and I am more than happy to meet him if he wants more detail about the issue.”* Unquote.
In the event that
it escaped the notice of all assembled within the House of Commons on the 23rd
February 2009. Mr Bob Ainsworth, evaded the issue raised by Mr Devine, the
issue being that Mr Ainsworth, was being asked, if “he would put the
Governments position on record”. (Mr Devine, take and make note of the following; Bob Ainsworth, is not the GOVERNMENT.) Clearly this copy of my Public Petition being openly posted here, the Public Petition, which I sent to you, on the 3rd November 2008 for the purpose of having it presented to the House of Commons, that was five months ago, an issue to be raised an dealt with by the House of Commons, not Bob Ainsworth, a Minister, within the Ministry of Defence.
Mr Bob Ainsworth, in writing to Mr Jim Devine, on the 18th November 2007 letter reference; D/Min(AF)/BA MC05786/2007 about H.M.S. Concord, and its eligibility for the ‘Yangtze 1949’ clasp to the Naval General Service Medal 1915 states in the penultimate paragraph of his letter the following which I now quote;* “By the time HMS AMETHYST reached HMS CONCORD’s position at the mouth of the river Yangtze on the morning of 31 July 1949, she had succeeded in making her escape.” Mr Seretary of State, Members of Parliament, 60 years ago come the 30th July 2009 the Commander-in-Chief, Far East Station, Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, in ordering His Majesty’s Ship Concord, to enter Chinas, territorial waters namely the Yangtze Kiang River, and there after to proceed to a location or sector on the river known as the Woosung Forts, to purposely train the ships armament on the Forts in readiness to respond in the event of His Majesty’s Ship Amethyst, being fired upon, as it passed that location or sector on the River Yangtze, whilst making its escape from where it had been held captive. To-day in this present day and age 60 years nearly 60 years on in time when evidence has come to light that is capable of establishing that H.M.S. Concord, played a valiant role and part in the Yangtze Incident, we have people like Bob Ainsworth, as The Minister for The Armed Forces, and Mr Spear, The Naval Secretery, who would hold, that, H.M.S. Concord, did not enter the River Yangtze, and was never in a position of Risk or Rigour. To conclude, I trust that Member of Parliament, Jim Devine, will get round to presenting my Petition, of 3rd November 2008 to the House of Commons or placing it within the the sack provided for such at the Speakers, chair.
Yours Sincerely,
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(Transcribed) TO_ _ CONCORD.® AMETHYST, FROM….C.IN.C F.E.S. D.8. AFLOAT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLOSE CHIMP WRECK BUOY. 2.IF AMETHYST PASSES WOOSUNG NEAR DAWN SUPPORT HER BY ENGAGING BATTERIES FROM SEAWARD IF THEY OPEN FIRE. YOU SHOULD NOT GO ABOVE INDENTIFIED BATTERIES EXCEPT IN EMERGENCY. D.T.G…301801%.
T.B.S. P/L T.O.D…1807%. D.A.S 30/7/49
(Transcribed) EMERGENCY CONFIDENTIAL
TO…CONCORD, D8
® ADMIRALTY, F.O.2.i/e FROM CINC.F.E.S. AFLOAT. CONCORD CLOSE KIATOAN LIGHT VESSEL. AND AWAIT ORDERS TELL NATIONALIST THAT YOU ARE AWAITING AMETHYST AND YOU MAY HAVE TO PROCEED FURTHER UP RIVER 2..D.8. WITH FLOTILLA CLOSE YANGTZE 3. AMETHYST SLIPPED AT 2200 AND HAS COME UNDER FIRE =301 355 CENEX GR 103 T.O.D. 30/7/49
(Transcribed) EMERGENCY TO…NANKING A.N.A. SHANGHAI ® C.IN.C.F.E.S. AFLOAT FROM. C.IN.C.F.E.S. ASHORE AT APPROXAMATELY 2001 YESTERDAY SATURDAY H.M.S. AMETHYST GOT UNDER WAY COMING UNDER HEAVY FIRE AS SHE DID SO AND PROCEEDED DOWN RIVER. SHE WAS AGAIN FIRED ON OFF KIANGCIR. AT0520 TODAY SUNDAY SHE WAS MET OF WOOSUNG BY H.M.S. CONCORD AND REPORTED SHE HAD REJOINED THE FLEET WITH NO DAMAGE OR CASUALTIES. 2..FURTHER SIGNALS FOLLOWS. =3021005 FF W/T P/L T.O.R.2246
(Transcribed) CONFIDENTIAL OPERATIOMAL PRIORITY TO…CONCORD FROM..C.IN.C.AFLOAT MY 301801. NO FURTHER INTELEGENCE OF BATTERIES, THEY USED TO EXTEND INTERMITTENTLY FROM WOOSUNG TO KIETOAN BEACON. WOOSUNG FORT HAS HEAVY GUNS. =301808% CENEX GR.65 T.O.D.1835 30/7/49 ************************************************************* |
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