The Yangtze Incident 1949 / 2008
Someone, somewhere, at sometime, coined the phrase; “Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.” an example of that phrase having been put into practice can be seen in the author, Lawrence Earl’s, 1952 publication, titled Yangtze Incident, which, for the lie therein was seized upon and reproduced in the 1957 film production also titled Yangtze Incident. Both the book and subsequent film were published and produced long before the release of official documents appertaining to the 1949 Yangtze Incident.
Within Mr Earl’s, 1952 publication ‘Yangtze Incident’ it can be seen that the foreword to the book is written and signed by Commander J. S Kearns, D.S.O. R.N., and within the last paragraph of that foreword, there is a sentence that for its value I now quote; * “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 Service.* Unquote.
One of those who took part in the action which has become known as the Yangtze Incident of 1949 was, Lt Cmdr. K. Stewart Hett, M.B.E. RN (Ret)., and while still going about his devious ways, he has of recently provided a website with his; Summary of the 1949 Yangtze Incident. See; www.maritimequest.com
Here below is a photo of H.M.S. Amethyst, on its arrival at Hong Kong, following its
Escape from China’s Yangtze River, 31st July 1949. And here on the following page is a photograph depicting one of the scenes from the 1957 film Yangtze Incident.
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This photo above is from the scene in the film Yangtze Incident, where as a Peoples Liberation Army gun boat is approaching the Amethyst, as it lay captured on the Yangtze River, the actor playing the part of Lieutenant Stewart Hett, and a boffer gun crew are seen on the ships-wing at the ‘stood to position’ in readiness, to respond if fired upon.
Now lets take a further look at the photograph of H.M.S. Amethyst, as it came alongside of the dockyard jetty at Hong Kong, following its escape 31st July 1949.
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On that photograph within the encircled an area is a gun mounting but there’s no gun on it.
That photograph proves up the yet undisclosed fact that when H.M.S. Amethyst, was ordered into China’s Yangtze River, in the first instance, (19th April 1949) the ships secondary armament was not onboard the ship at that time, and with that being the situation it rubbishes, Prime Minister, Clement Attlee’s, statement that was made within the House of Commons, 26th April 1949 appertaining to the incident on China’s Yangtze River, 20th and 21st April 1949.
For almost fifty nine years now the following is more or less been what has been relied upon as;
(THE YANGTZE INCIDENT)
THE OFFICIAL REPORT
In December 1948 and due to the Chinese Civil War a British warship was stationed at Nanking (Nanjing) to act as guard ship to the British Embassy and to evacuate staff and other British Nationals if it became necessary.
On the 20th April 1949 at 0830, H.M.S. Amethyst (Lt Commander B.M. Skinner RN) en-route to Nanking up the River Yangtze to relieve the guard ship H.M.S. Consort, came under very heavy fire from the north bank, due to serious damage she went aground at Rose Island, she signalled she was under heavy fire, aground, and had suffered casualties. The Captain was mortally wounded, the firstLieutenant though wounded assumed command. During the forenoon the Communist continued to fire at H.M.S. Amethyst. To save further loss of life, about 60 lightly wounded and uninjured were evacuated ashore, further evacuation stopped when those in the water came under fire. Those put ashore eventually arrived in Shanghaha. Lt Cdr Skinner’s wife and two sons were staying in Hong Kong as guest’s of Ann Rodney wife of Lt Cdr Nigel Rodney the Captain of Concord and Admiral Brind asked Ann Rodney to break the news of Lt Cdr Skinners death to Mrs Skinner.
The signal was heard by H.M.S. Consort (Cdr I.G. Robertson, DSO,DSC,RM), she immediately prepared to get under way, leaving Nanking and proceeding at 30 knots towards H.M.S. Amethyst, reaching her at 1400. As she approached H.M.S. Amethyst, she came under very heavy fire. She made three attempts to assist H.M.S. Amethyst, but having sustained many casualties and serious damage she abandoned the rescue and proceeded down river. The signal was also picked up by the frigate H.M.S. Black Swan Ccaptain A.D.H.Jay DSO,DSC,RN) in Shanghai, and the cruiser H.M.S. London (Captain P.G.L. Gazalet DSO,DSC, RN) en-route to Shanghai from Hong Kong. At dusk, both ships met H.M.S. Consort off Kiangyin on the Yangtze. Because of the need to get the wounded to hospital and the damage sustained, H.M.S. Consort took no further pat in the action and sailed for Shanghai.
21st April 0030. H.M.S. Amethyst was refloated and anchored in the river. At 0600
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H.M.S. London and H.M.S. Black Swan went 12miles up the Yanktze to about 30 miles from H.M.S. Amethyst and waited for further information, none came. At 1030 both sailed up river, with White Ensignes, and large white flags hoisted, (white flags meant neurral ships on a peaceful mission) hung on each side of both ships were large Union Flags. Almost immediately both ships came under heavy point blank fire from the north bank, each receiving direct hits. Both ships proceeded as fast as possible in the narrow river, returning fire. At about 15 miles from H.M.S. Amethyst and having sustained many casualties and a great deal of damage, it was decided that to proceed further would be disastrous for both ships and their crews, the order was given to return to Shanghai. This meant running the gauntlet again with both ships incurring further casualties and damage during the next 50 minutes of almost continous fire. Both ships arrived at in Shanghai at 1930.
At 1630 an RAF Sunderland Flying Boat (Llt Lt K.Letford DSO 7 Bar, DFC, RAF0 landed near H.M.S. Amethyst bringing a doctor and medical supplies, as the doctor got into a junk to take him to the ship, firing from the North Bank was directed at the aircraft and it had to take off immediately.
22nd April. Lt Cdr J.S. Kearns RN arrived from Nanking. After assessing the situation he took command of H.M.S. Amethyst. She reamaine a prisoner for 100 days. When it was obvious negotiations for safe passage down river were leading nowhere Lt Cdr Kearns planned the escape of H.M.S. Amethyst.
30th July, at 2209 with the Yangtze at its highest, H.M.S. Amethyst started her famous escape. She was fired on and hit once immediately. Though the firing continued there was no further hits from the large guns. During the confusion the shore batteries sank a civilian ferry.
31st July. At 0500 H.M.S. Amethyst met the destroyer H.M.S. Concord (Lt Cdr N.R.H. Rodney RN) at the mouth of the River and sent her famous signal.
“Have rejoined the fleet south of Woosung, no damage or casualties, God Save The King”.
As a result of the incident, 3,D.S.O.’s, 4 DSC’s, 1 DFC, 7DSM’s, 1 BEM and many Mentioned in Ddespatches” were awarded.
The human cost in the four ships was 46 dead and 68 wounded
That was what the official report amounted to, however the true events which took place after 2209 on the 30th July 1949 have not been recorded properly so therefore in order that they may be recognised in this day and age by “Her Majesty the Queen” the true events which took place after 2209 on the 30th July 1949 are as follows.
When Lt Cdr Kearns informed Admiral Brind in a coded signal that he intended to break out at 2200, Admiral Brind without reference to the Admiralty or the Foreign Office signalled H.M.S. Concord to assist H.M.S. Amethyst and should the Woosung
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Forts open fire they (Concord) were to return fire in support of Amethyst.
In the late evening of 30th July Concord proceeded up river where she was challenged by a Nationalist Gun Boat. Concord subsequently anchored and and then at 0145 under cover of darkness she weighed anchor and proceeded up river at 20 knots.
At 0220 she spoke briefly with a Chinese Nationalist warship in the vicinity of the Tungshan banks bouy. 0255Came to starboard anchor Kiutan LV 289 degrees 1.8 miles.
At 0345 weighed anchor and proceeded course 285degrees speed 20 knots. At 0415 altered course to 301 degrees then altered course to 290 degrees 0445 passed S.2 Knoll Bouy. 0450 altered course 300degrees speed 16 knots. 0510 slow speed in vicinity of Blockhouse bouy. 0512 Amethyst contacted on radar Bearing 286 7miles.
0525 Amethyst in sight 3 miles. (Due to bends in the river it appeared as if she was coming across land to meet them) Concord signal Amethyst “Fancy Meeting You Again” Amethyst replyes “Never Repeat Never Has a Ship Been More Welcome” Kearns then signalled Admiral Brind copy to Admiralty “Have rejoined the fleet, no damage or casualties God Save The King”
0535 Concord on station 2 cables with Amethyst on starboard quarter. Course 120 speed 19 knots. 064 Kituan L.V. abeam to Port. Altered course to 115. 0710 speed 10 knots. 0715 Secured from Action Stations. 0740 passed Yangtze L.V. abeam to Starboard 1 mile. 0915 Set course 140 degrees speed 11 knots. Amethyst in station astern. 1158 engines slow ahead to-gether. Course as required to aqttend to Amethyst. 1200 Concord proceeded alongside Amethyst. 1212 rang off main engines. 2 hours notice for steam. Transferred stores and discharged 147 tons of fuel oil to Amethyst. (when she hove to alongside Concord she only had 7 tons of fuel oil left)
1800 Lt T.J.D. Grant was drafted to Amethyst on temporary loan, also 1 signalman and 1 telegraphst. 2000 slipped from Amethyst. And in company set course for Hong Kong. A short while later met Cossack (Captain (D) who ordered Concord to proceed on patrol leaving Cossack to escort Amethyst back to Hong Kong. Concords log book was taken out of service and replaced.
Admiral Brind, it appeared, had exceeded his authority by ordering Concord to assist Amethyst and it looked set for condemnation by both the Admiralty and the Government. Amethyst’s escape had been kept secret up to this point. Then the story was leaked to the press. King George V1 on hearing of Amethyst’s escape, entered the arena by congratulating all concerned including Admiral Brind.
Until now, very little was was known of Concord’[s true involvement it had always been ‘understood’ that Concord had waited at the mouth of the Yangtze for Amethyst when in fact she had gone up river trained her guns on the Woosung Forts as she and Amethyst passed below.
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Here below is the news cutting that shows the story that was leaked to the news media all those years ago, the story that King George V1, got to hear about and entered the arena by congratulating all concerned, including Admiral Brind.
Perhaps now at this late date the true story of H.M.S. Amethyst’s escape from the Yangtze River 31st July 1949 will be recognised by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 and as a result hopefully H.M.S. Concord and its 1949 ships-company will now be seen to have qualified in the award system appertaining to the 1949 Yangtze Campaign Medal.