And so i became simon, the frigate hms amethysts initially, unofficial ships cat. And morale was certainly in need of a boost following the events that started in late april 1949, to become known as the yangtze incident, inspiring not. The attack on the british frigate amethyst on the yangtze river by chinese communists in 1949 made world headlines. Hms amethyst the yangtse incident 1948 naval historical. The amethyst incident, also known as the yangtze incident, was a historic event which involved the royal navy ships hms amethyst, hms consort, hms london and hms black swan on the yangtze river for three months during the chinese civil war in the summer of 1949. Medals for everyone the numismatics of the yangtze incident.
Hms amethyst and the yangtze incident, watercolour painting by andrew howat. In 1949, during the chinese civil war, british warship h. These gunboats protected traders and missionaries, safeguarded national interests, and patrolled chinese rivers in search of pirates. Yangtse incident film project gutenberg selfpublishing. An attempt to relieve the ship on duty there would lead to an international incident that would make one cat famous.
Yangtse incident by earl, lawrence and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I will begin by speaking briefly about the yangtze incident, drawing on the official accounts from the time. There was even more publicity when the ship made a dramatic escape after being trapped for 101 days. The yangtze incident tandridge, st peter a church near you. A british frigate is heavily shelled and captured by chinese communists on the yangtse river in 1949. It was based upon the book written by lawrence earl. The first work in a generation to reveal the extent of japanese atrocities during the chinese war, it remains controversial. On 20 april 1949, hms amethyst was sailing up the river yangtze to relieve hms consort, which was stationed at nanking as the guard ship for the british embassy during the chinese civil war. Medals for everyone the numismatics of the yangtze. Due to the very sensitive nature of her mission, the concords log book was taken out of service and replaced. Oct, 2017 and morale was certainly in need of a boost following the events that started in late april 1949, to become known as the yangtze incident, inspiring not only books but the 1957 film yangtse. Jun 26, 2018 in april 1949, with civil war raging in china between the chinese communist peoples liberation army and nationalist kuomintang forces, the frigate a type of warship hms amethyst was ordered up the yangtze river to act as a guardship for the british embassy in nanjing. A young ordinary seaman, george hickinbottom rescued the malnourished cat from the docks of hong kong and took him aboard the hmsa amethyst, which was soon hit by chinese fire. The yangtse incident is the story of how in 1949 the communist chinese army shelled and detained the british navy frigate hms amethyst in an unprovoked attack upon a neutral vessel.
The river orwell, which runs between felixstowe and harwich, in suffolk, england doubled as the yangtze river during the making of this film. Jan 15, 20 he presents a knowledgeable summary of the political situation in china up to world war ii, including the bombing of the panay, the siege of shanghai, and the nanking incident. Today in this present day and age 2009 as we approach the 60 th anniversary of the 1949 yangtze incident, a shipscompliment that was involved in that now known as the 1949 yangtze campaign, has still never been recognised in the british award system for the part they and the ship h. Amethyst sails up the yangtse river but on the return trip finds its way blocked by a barrage fire from the communist chinese shore batteries. Yangtze showdown by brian izzard overdrive rakuten. How a stray cat from hong kong became a hero of sino. Amethyst is a british war film that tells the story of the british frigate hms amethyst caught up in the chinese civil war it was based upon the book written by lawrence earl. The untold rescue of the hms amethyst during the yangtse. The yangtze incident of 20 april 1949 was a brief but bloody engagement involving the royal navy frigate hms amethyst, during the course of the chinese civil war of 19451949. This is a short introduction to the hms amethyst incident in the yangtse river when she was fired on by communist forces with heavy losses to herself and those ships that attempted to rescue her. It flows from the glaciers on the tibetan plateau in qinghai right through southwest, central and eastern china to the east china sea.
Amethyst by earl, lawrence and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Hms amethyst had steamed up the yangtze river, preparing to evacuate british and commonwealth citizens from nanking, from being engulfed in the civil war. The yangtze incident 1949 britains last war in china mark felton. Lord hall, first lord of the admiralty, spoke in cardiff yesterday of the gallantry shown by officers and men of the royal navy during the incident in the yangtze. In april 1949, with civil war raging in china between the chinese communist peoples liberation army and nationalist kuomintang forces, the frigate a type of warship hms amethyst was ordered up the yangtze river to act as a guardship for the british embassy in nanjing when it was around 70 miles away from nanjing, amethyst came under fire from. Lawrence earl april 29, 1915 april 5, 2005, born lawrence earl weizel, was a canadian photojournalist and author of several books. Concord, played when ordered to go to the assistance of h. Strong drama about the 1949 incident involving hms amethyst. Well worth watching for some history about an incident which seems to have been forgotten about. At the time of the yangtze incident also called the amethyst incident, the british embassy was located in nanking nanjing, on the lower yangtze river. This is a short book relating to an incident that occurred on the yangtze river of china, 20th, 21st april 1949 where four royal navy ships were by order sent on. The amethyst incident, also known as the yangtze incident, was a historic event which involved. Amethyst, april 20, 1949, to july 31, 1949 first edition reprinted by lawrence earl isbn. Navy sampan shanghai shell ship ships shore signal situation stevenson to fo troops upriver vessels weston woosung wounded yangtse incident yangtze youde yuan.
Roll of honour royal navy yangtse river incident april. Mar 03, 2010 the untold rescue of the hms amethyst during the yangtse incident. Jul 06, 2017 at the time of the yangtze incident also called the amethyst incident, the british embassy was located in nanking nanjing, on the lower yangtze river. He is best known for yangtse incident, which was adapted into the 1957 film yangtse incident. Transforming the yangtze setting a new standard for excellence. Purveyor of the finest illustration art and illustrated books. After a failed rescue mission by a sister ship, the. Of the one hundred and eighty three men on board, twenty. Eulogized by the british as an example of outstanding courage and fortitude, the yangtze incident was even made into a feature film, which depicted the ship and her crew as innocent victims of communist aggression. Amethyst managed to refloat after 15 hours aground and under pla fire which she was unable to return. With richard todd, william hartnell, akim tamiroff, donald houston. Directed by michael anderson, it stars richard todd, william hartnell, and akim tamiroff. Ladies wanted to adopt me, but my shipmates wouldnt allow it.
He had been awarded the dso distinguished service order for distinguished services during active operations against the enemy for his part in the amethyst incident, and soon after helping on the film served a term in the house of commons after being elected conservative member of parliament for the hartlepools district from 1959 to 1964. For one, harmsen offered an mostly objective perspective on the war, incluing some indications of his own thoughts. Yangtse incident the story of hms amethyst lawrence earl on. From the end of the 19th century through the first half of the 20th, most western powers maintained a naval presence in china. With the british government snared in bureaucratic red tape, the ships captain, lieutenant commander kearns must figure out a way to maneuver down the yangtze in the. Read yangtze incident by michael covino available from rakuten kobo. I found this book to be very informative about this incident. Eulogized by the british as an example of outstanding courage and fortitude, the yangtze incident was even made into a feature film. Yangtze incident by michael covino nook book ebook. Hms amethyst and the yangtse incident going postal.
Stalingrad on the yangtze is a very wellwritten book about a war between the chinese and the japanese. Lord hall, first lord of the admiralty, spoke in cardiff yesterday of the gallantry shown by officers and. Amethyst 1957 is a british war film that tells the story of the british sloop hms amethyst caught up in the chinese civil war and involved in the 1949 yangtze incident. At every port we stopped at on the way to the ships home, i was given some award or another. The battle sceanes are excellently done using real ships. The yangtse incident is the saga of the amethyst, a british vessel left stranded in china during. Heavy artillery fires upon the ship from the nearby shore. Far more than a routine account of naval operations on the great yangtze, this book is an unforgettable reading experience that has attracted readers since 1971 when it. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Hm ships london and black swan were then sailed up the yangtze to assist, but they too came under fire and were forced to retire.
The story of the socalled yangtse incident and the saga of hms amethyst has been told and retold in the press and over the radio of the world, but i shall attempt to give a more personal account as it affected my wife and myself. It was a wild, lawless time in china as ruthless warlords fought numerous small wars to increase their power and influence. Eulogised by the british as an example of outstanding courage and fortitude, the yangtze incident was even made into a feature film, which depicted the ship and her crew as innocent victims of communist aggression. Apr 15, 20 i have won this book in a goodreads giveaway. Maritimequest summary of the 1949 yangtze incident by lt. The men of the mess deck spoiled me with titbits, but one of his majestys frigates is a large world to explore and it was only a matter of time before i slipped out of the mess deck into the world of steel, strange smells, men and rats. He presents a knowledgeable summary of the political situation in china up to world war ii, including the bombing of the panay, the siege of shanghai, and the nanking incident. The film was known in the us by the alternative titles battle hell, escape of the amethyst, their greatest. Hms amethyst and the yangtze incident original signed. Jun 15, 2015 there was even more publicity when the ship made a dramatic escape after being trapped for 101 days. Shortly after darryl was discharged from a mental healthcare center, he kills himself, leaving behind a wife, wealth, an. Iris changs astonishing book became an international sensation upon publication. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone.
Yangtze incident ebook by michael covino rakuten kobo. For one, harmsen offered an mostly objective perspective on the war, incluing some indications of. The british were keen that there would be no trace of concords invasion of the yantgze river. Due to the very sensitive nature of her mission, the concords log book was taken out of service and. Publisher of illustrators quarterly and illustrated books, specialising in illustration artists and their work.
During the incident 17 members of the crew were killed and 10 wounded, including the captain, lieutenant commander bernard skinner, who later died. Directed by michael anderson, it stars richard todd, william hartnell, and akim tamiroff it was based upon the book written by lawrence earl. Quite real looking for a 1957 film, even the acting isnt as stilted as most films from that era. Amethyst battle hell photos view all photos 2 movie info. As the amethysts main engines were no longer operational, hms magpie stood in for the shots of the ship moving. Angus konstam this book covers the gunboats of all the major nations that stationed naval forces in china, including the united states, britain, france, germany, italy, and japan, and looks at such famous. Understandably, because of my role in the yangzi incident, i was awarded the dicken medal and featured in the press and newsreels. The untold rescue of the hms amethyst during the yangtse incident. It is an important read for anyone interested in the causes of wwii, and for understanding the events that led up to the panay incident. Amethyst, consort, london and black swan, got caught up in the conflict, of the ensuing chinese civil war in chinas yangtze river. Maikel of the old weather project, which has edited the log books of british gunboats on the yangtze lists nearly 20 english variations.
The yangtze incident 19492012 1 between the 20 th and 21 st of april 1949 four royal navy warships, namely h. On 20th april 1949, the frigate, hms amethyst, steamed up the yangtze river to relieve the guard ship hms consort at nanking, prepared to evacuate british and commonwealth citizens caught up in the advance of the chinese communist forces. The film was known in the us by the alternative titles battle hell, escape of the amethyst, their greatest glory and yangtze incident. The yangtze incident 1949 britains last war in china. The yangtse incident is the saga of the amethyst, a british vessel left stranded in.
Amethyst, and the battle of baltinglass, which won the 1953 stephen leacock memorial medal for humour. Roll of honour royal navy yangtse river incident april to. How a stray cat from hong kong became a hero of sinobritish. Amethyst, april 20, 1949 to july 31, 1949 lawrence earl snippet view 1951. Amethyst is making its way down chinas yangtze river when its passage is unexpectedly blocked by units of the chinese communist army.
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