HMS Amethyst - Yangste River 19/4/49 to 31/7/49
Extracts from the Private log of Acting Petty Officer L.
Frank (Coxswain)
June 1st until June 15
 Wednesday 1st June
The raft, which had been moored to the bank off our port bow,
sailed with one tug down river at 09:15. The remainder of the
day was uneventful.
Thursday 2nd June
In the early morning 2 larger lighters went down river being
towed by a medium sized tug named ' Pei-Kiang' of Shanghai.
Later in the forenoon 2 lighters with Reg No. 331 & 332
towed by tug named 'Chung Sang' went down river. Mr. Leo our
interpreter went ashore to talk with Tai Kou Wang, he also spoke
to Col. Kang by telephone. During the afternoon 11 ML's & 5
LCM's passed the ship going down river and entered the canal at
Chen Po Chien Kow, Chinese naval (nationalist) officers and
ratings were seen in most of the vessels.
During the evening the battery fired one round at a tug ferry
coming up the river without flying the proper flag, but this was
very soon hoisted and carried on her journey unharmed. It
appears that the code flags for ships moving in the river is a
red and green flag. Ships proceeding up river have the red flag
hoisted superior to the green & coming down river the
position is reversed.
Friday 3rd June.
At about 10:30 a launch called at the South bank and collected
Tai Kou Lou and then came out to the ship to ask the Captain to
attend an interview with Col. Kang at Chiao Shan, the Captain
agreed and went ashore in the launch, returning at about 18:30
and not looking too happy about things, and we found out later
that he was not.
Saturday 4th June
Early morning 2 motor lighters Chi-Kin & Chin Chen passed
down river. About an hour later a large tug named the 'Ming'
& numbered 306 with large lighter secured alongside
proceeded down river.
Contractor came onboard during the forenoon to arrange supply
of potatoes & eggs. Mr. Leo left the ship on his way to
Nanking to collect 200,000 Chen Ming (PLA money) from the Naval
Attaché there.
Sunday 5th June
Both weather and visibility deteriorated during the afternoon,
and it was not to pleasant doing a watch on the bridge. A
gunboat passed the ship going up river mounting a small calibre
(303 or 300) in an Orlikon mounting, gun was pointed at the ship
but unmanned as craft passed Amethyst.
Monday 6th June
Traffic now back to normal on river, we had one large passenger
steamer pass us going up river, the Ming Chaun registered at
Shanghai. Weather very bad and getting worse. Shut down at 20:30
but at 22:30 we had to flash up again and go to immediate
notice, owing to the weather.
Tuesday 7th June
Rough night, blowing hard and raining. Later, reverted to 4
hours notice for steam. Tug Tr Chuan towing a large covered-in
barge full of civilians passed the ship proceeding down river.
During the afternoon the contractors came onboard with eggs.
Uneventful day.
Wednesday 8th June
Nothing happened during the night. At 08:00 approx. 100 soldiers
were observed marching along the main road on the South bank.
Gunboat with 20 soldiers onboard passed the ship (and slowed
down whilst passing) going up river, they definitely appeared to
be on a sight seeing trip. This gunboat returned at about 12:30
doing the same thing but on the opposite side of the ship. A
gale blew up at 17:30 which was most unexpected as there was not
a cloud in the sky one minute and then it was blowing and
raining like hell, and it subsided just as quickly in about ¾'s
of an hour. Shut down at 19:10. We are even getting used to this
now.
Thursday 9th June
Kings Birthday, but not for Amethyst, no flags, no holiday, no
salute in fact no nothings. It looks like being a nice day but
after 8 weeks in the Yangtze we have learnt to our cost that it
can be very deceptive. We learnt by signal today that our mail
has reached Shanghai, and that the Air Attaché (Howard
Williams) is going to try and bring it up for us by jeep. Good
Luck, to the Air Force, we already have one of there doctors
staying with us, and how thankful we are that he is here. A tug
towing 2 barges both with the reg numbers in English 303 &
304 passed us going down river.
Friday 10th June
Another uneventful night, the frogs are croaking all night long,
on the beaches each side of the river and we hear the cuckoo at
all hours of the night, in fact it makes you think that you are
home again on a fine spring morning, until you take a look
around and see all the sampans out fishing, and believe me this
is hard work on this river. The contractor came onboard this
morning with potatoes & cabbage, but it is not a bit like
what we get in UK Still we have to be thankful for what we can
get, because without them we should be in a very bad way. Over
the radio we hear that the Communist Mayor of Shanghai is
appealing for trade. It is a glorious day, light breeze blowing
and plenty of sun. The control batter on our port bow fired
small arms at an ex-LCI towing a barge & going up river, and
made her go over from the north to the south bank for
inspection, the LCI was flying the flags of the international
code and after about a half hours delay, she was allowed to
proceed up river. Mr. Leo returned from Nanking and brought a
parcel of books and a private letter for me from my very good
friends Flt Sgt and Mrs Jack Scarborough. Some day I may be able
to thank them for their kindness and let them know just how the
letter, and books were appreciated both by myself and the rest
of the boys. Mr. Leo was held ashore at CPLA HQ's because his
pass was for 4 days and he had taken five, as he had to wait for
our money, 200,000 Chen Min (Communist Currency) which when he
got it was quoted at 580 to the £, but the next day it was
2,800 and therefore as all Chinese currency useless. They soon
let him return onboard.
Saturday 11th June
Another lovely day. The usual amount of traffic on the river.
During the afternoon one LST passed down river with some
soldiers of the CPLA and women onboard who had the audacity to
wave to us onboard Amethyst as they passed by. Our side party
sampan went ashore and brought 2 soldiers out, who took
photographs of the ship.
Sunday 12th June
Quiet and uneventful night, launch came to the ship from shore
containing soldiers, one of whom had a letter from Col. Kang. At
10:45 the Captain, Stores PO McCathy & Mr. Leo went ashore
for interview. The Captain informed Col. Kang that the question
of safe conduct was being dealt with by higher local authorities
in Peking and Nanking. Col stated that he knew nothing about
that, but by the end of the interview had promised to telephone
with Peking and Nanking for information. Also stated that the
General would be only to pleased to give a pass for mail to be
brought through from Shanghai, but must arrange it with other
authorities first. Repeated his statement of previous interview
that he would give every assistance in Amethyst obtaining fresh
provisions. He told the Captain that he had no objection to
Amethyst proceeding down river, providing that Peking and
Nanking gave him the order. This would of course save his face
and put him right in the clear. He did not say that it is only
my own thoughts.
Monday 13th June
Uneventful but very unpleasant night, blowing hard and raining
until about 04:00 then it cleared up. Later still blowing but
the sun is now shining. At 14:15 the Kiang Msin proceeding up
river with passengers. This was the first ship, since we have
been anchored here to give the maritime courtesy of the sea
(that is dipping of the ensigns) Still we get the surprises only
half an hour later a ship proceeding down river the Kiang-An
wearing two very large photographs which took the whole of the
front of the bridge of the Chairman of the CPLA Mao Tse Tong and
she also dressed ship from bow to the top of her foremast, with
two strings of red flags, which were lowered just as she had
passed us. About 300 soldiers observed to be carrying out
exercises on the hills opposite the ship during the evening. We
are now beginning to look with anxious eyes to the oil readings
every morning as it is beginning to get very low.
Tuesday 14th June
The night as been uneventful. Dawn broke with the Cuckoo in full
song, the sun shining but the wind still very strong. This
evening a large converted TLC passed and the Maritime courtesy
of the sea was exchanged between the two ships. Shut down engine
and boiler rooms for 24 hours. Flashed up again at 07:30 on
Thursday morning.
Wednesday 15th June
Very bad night; pouring with rain throughout. Today we are
staring our real test of our economy, there will be no power on
the ship at all until tomorrow, all water for drinking and
washing will be pumped by hand and to flush the lavatories water
will be pumped by hand from the Yangste. The Captain went ashore
this morning and he as now returned onboard but what the outcome
of this will be impossible to tell yet. Everyone seems to be
taking this grim situation in their stride and showing all the
usual attitudes of indifference, which in fact is the attitude
of the British sailor everywhere. He swears and raves and lets
himself go and forgets for a while at least everything that is
going on. It is now 57 days since we first found ourselves in
this unhappy situation, and it certainly does not seem as if we
are any nearer to getting down the Yangste and away from here
then we were 50 days ago.
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