HMS Amethyst - Yangste River 19/4/49 to 31/7/49
Extracts from the Private log of Acting Petty Officer L.
Frank (Coxswain)
May 16th Until May 31st
 Monday 16th May
Weather very bad indeed today, blowing hard with occasional very
heavy gusts, steam at immediate notice, we reverted to 2 hours
at 19:00 hrs as both wind and sea (river) calmed down
considerably. During the day the river was empty of traffic,
later in the evening a few small tugs and junks were seen.
Tuesday 17th May
Throughout the night convoys of lorries were observed passing
along the road westward. Lt Hett went ashore at 09:00 to
interview Tai Ko Liang, with a view to obtaining interview with
the Area Commander at Chin Kiang. The interview was satisfactory
although TKL would make no promises. Doctor treaded the left eye
of one of the sampan babies. 17:00 TKL came onboard to call on
the Captain, this was done at the request of Lt Hett at the
interview in the forenoon. He repeated that he could not get
through by phone to the Area Commander as he was not "at
home". He inferred that telephoning was very difficult and
conversation had to be brief, this was offered as an excuse for
failure to obtain information about the two wounded. This
suggests that communication network is very much overworked and
unreliable. He said that he would send a message with an
"Aide Memoir" from Amethyst tonight and an interview
might be possible in two to four days. Interview cordial.
Wednesday 18th May
The C-in-C sent a signal hastening the safe conduct agreement.
Lt Hett went ashore to hasten interview with Col. Kang the Area
Commander at Chin Kiang. Tai Ko Lou promised all co-operation
and would phone Chin Kiang PM if he did not receive a reply to
request for interview at Chin Kiang.
Later, TKL and two political agents came onboard and
delivered a reply to Amethysts' 3 Aide Memories. Interview
lasted about 30 minutes and was cordial.
Weather deteriorated during the night.
Thursday 19th May
Weather very bad this morning, blowing extra hard, ship came to
immediate notice for steam, this lasted 5 hours from noon. No
contact with shore today, owing to the weather. Battery off our
port bow apparently moved during the night, whilst it was dark.
Friday 20th May
Battery off the port bow definitely not visible this morning
17:00 Relief battery at home or mule drawn
artillery, appear to have begun to dig themselves in, at the
same emplacement on the port bow, as the battery vacated last
night, the guns appear to be about 12 pdrs from here, but
you can never tell. Certain amount of river traffic, but not
much as the weather is still none to good.
Saturday 21st May
Weather is much improved. Today we had the new battery squeezing
the triggers at there guns both during the forenoon and evening,
in fact I should say that they are that keen, they are actually
trigger happy. Not much doing today.
Sunday 22nd May
Now, we are going to begin to feel the pinch, the fuel is
getting low and we are having to shut down at night to try and
be as economical as possible. We have emergency lighting run
from our low power batteries, and it is surprising how the
electricians, have overcome great difficulties to rig there
emergency or secondary lighting arrangements, we certainly owe
them a vote of thanks.
06:45 Power on the ship once more.
3 tugs came out of the Grand Canal at about 14:00 towing
about 40 craft between them, they appeared to be, motor sampans.
Shut down again for the night
Monday 23rd May
Further signal from the C-in-C for Col. Kang at Chin Kaing has
been received. Lt Hett went ashore to bring off TKL without
effect. Later messenger from TKL came onboard, to see if a
message could be sent. Letter for the Col of the batter, and
area political agent was sent requesting that the C-in-C's note
be personally delivered to the General.
Three heavy guns which were mounted on barges, were towed
down the Grand Canal at about 11:30 this forenoon.
Same routine as for steam.
Tuesday 24th May
During the forenoon 3 timber rafts were towed down river, and
this is certainly a work of art, in the this river. The sampan
went inshore and brought a letter back to the ship, which,
stated that an interview had been arranged between Col. Kang and
the Captain. Captain then went ashore to deliver to Col. Kang
the C-in-C's note and returned at about 18:30. Routine for
steam.
Wednesday 25th May
Lt Hett went ashore during the forenoon to deliver formal
request for the return of the two wounded ratings. They had
promised at the meeting the day before to return them on
receiving a formal request in writing.
Contractor came onboard to barter food. Arrangements were
made for him to supply us with eggs and potatoes.
Electrician Blomley went ashore to deliver to TKL a letter
for the Col giving the C-in-C's request that Amethyst be
supplied with provisions & fuel.
7:15 Sampan brought a note from TKL saying
that the two wounded are ashore. Lt Hett went ashore to collect
& bring them off to the ship.
18:15 Sampan returned to the ship. Stated
that they had been well treated with plenty of food, if not
always as they would have liked it.
Thursday 26th May
No communication with the shore, although the sampan was
alongside. Sampan hailed from shore, went, but did not return to
the ship, called in by the contractor.
Weather very bad again.
Mr. Leo interpreter to Naval Attaché Nanking, arrived in the
village and remained with Tai Kou Wang.
Friday 27th May
Sampan came out to the ship bringing fresh vegetables and eggs.
Weather still bad, consequently we have not seen much river
traffic.
Saturday 28th May
Today the weather is too bad, we definitely cannot establish
communication with shore, in fact there have only been 3 or 4
fishing junks out all day, and it is bad when they stop.
Sunday 29th May
Well if I remember rightly at home, this is Royal Oak Day, I
wish that I was back in that old English village where I was
born, but one never knows one of these days perhaps we shall be
moving off down the river. The weather has improved a lot.
Electrician Blomley went ashore with the C-in-C's despatch.
Returned onboard and brought some mail from Nankin.
Mr. Leo the interpreter joined the ship today.
Monday 30th May
Today has been uneventful. The weather is very poor. Large
floating timber raft proceeding down river, secured at the port
bank off our port bow for the night. I am afraid that the
outlook is beginning to get grim.
Tuesday 31st May
Another uneventful night and forenoon. After lunch a ferry
brought Col. Kang and his wingers down river and landed them
ashore on our port beam, about half an hour later in came out to
the ship to take the Captain to a meeting with Kang. Captain
returned onboard, shut down steam after signal had been passed
to C-in-C detailing the result of the meeting.
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