HMS Consort R-76 / D-76
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Messages 1 to 24


24.
Sept. 3, 2013

IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET WE REPORT THE PASSING OF S/M ALAN SOUTHERN WHO WILL BE REMEMBERED AND SORELEY MISSED BY EVERYONE WHO EVER SERVED WITH HIM DURING HIS SERVICE IN THE R.N. DURING COMMISSIONS IN THE MEDITTERRANEAN, FAR EAST AND HOME FLEET STATTIONS. A VETERAN OF THE KOREA WAR AND THE MALAYA EMERGENCY, ALAN, WITH HIS DEAR WIFE JOAN, JOINED THE CONSORT ASSOCIATION AT THE BEGINNING OF 1993 AND THEY NEVER MISSED ATTENDING THE ANNUAL EVENT UNTIL ILLNESS TOOK ITS TOLL IN 2012.

THE HMS CONSORT MOTTO, "LOYAL & STEADFAST" WAS AS APPLICABLE TO ALAN SOUTHERN AS MUCH AS ANYONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE CONSORT ASSOCIATION AND HIS CONSTANT SMILE AND GOOD HUMOUR WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BY THE MANY WHO TREASURE THE MEMORY OF HIS PRESENCE AMONG US. OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY GOES TO JOAN WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT ALAN'S SIDE IN HEALTH AND DURING THE FINAL ILLNESS. ALAN WAS AMONG THE BEST OF THE BEST AND WE KNOW THE GOOD LORD WILL ENJOY THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY AS MUCH AS ALL HIS SHIPMATES AND FRIENDS HAVE THROUGH MANY YEARS.

Colin Bond, Terry Hodgins, Dick Marchant Marchant, Graham Perrett, Ron Howell. 
Comittee H.M.S. CONSORT Association


23.
Aug. 12, 2013

Was wondering if anyone remembers my late Grandfather Harold David Edwards (was a gunner). Served on Consort during the Yangtze incident. Would love to know if there are any pics of him.

Thank you,
Scott Hurst

Reply 1
Aug. 13, 2013

At the time of the 1949 Yangtze Incident there was a (Three Badge), Able /Seaman by the name of Harold David Edwards, he was located in the forward mess-deck on-board H.M.S. Consort, and he was a crew member on one of the ship's guns. The three good conduct badges or chevrons on the left sleeve of his uniform were testimony to the fact that he had completed 12 years in the Royal Navy at that time. Upon his return to the UK, it is known that he worked in the baggage department within H.M.S. Drake, his Port Division, but lived ashore somewhere in Plymouth, that would be late 1949 early 1950.

Yours Aye,
Willie Leitch


22.
Aug. 2, 2013

I am trying to find out any information in regards to my father Anthony Ireland who was a stoker on HMS Consort. I believe he was on board during the Yangtze incident and that he was injured during that event.

Gillian Jepson


21.
June 19, 2013

It is my sad duty to announce that John Northcott Brewer Passed over the Bar at 0105 on Friday 14 June 2013. He will be missed by all who knew him. Details of his funeral are as follows; Friday 28th June 2013 11.00 am Western Mill Cemetery Ferndale Road Plymouth PL2 2EP wake at Raffles 5 Ermington Terrace Plymouth PL4 6QG. No flowers by his request, but donations to Bridgwater Sea Cadets and ST. Luke's Hospice Plymouth.

Willie Leitch
(To learn more about John see The Life of John Northcote-Brewer)


20.
Mar. 18, 2013

Trying to find out if my dad was on the Consort during the Yangtze Incident. I have his medal with the Yangtze 1949 bar, red and white ribbon. He was a stoker, his name and number is, C/SKX. 792394. GEORGE CRUICKSHANK. Any information would help thank you. He passed away in 1982. He never spoke of his time in the navy.

Unsigned


19.
Nov. 11, 2012

I have discovered a wonderful photo album of my deceased grandad Terence 'Mac' McSweeney of his time in the navy and wondered if you could give me any details? His service number was d/ssx 843850, and DOB was 10.3.1933. I believe he served upon the HMS Consort, but also has pictures of friends in HMS Bruce uniform and HMS Kenya. Some of the pages in the album are titled Korea and Nagasaki. I wonder if you have any information about his naval companions?

I have photographs of: Mr Gobles, snr bmd TAS * Herr Goldenstein, torpedo officer * Herr Frankenstein, electrical officer * J.W Carr, skipper * Anthony Bowen, Lt bmdr * M. O'Donoghue * A. Smith * M. McWillen * Mr Balfour, Gunnery Officer Some of the above names and abbreviations may be slighty wrong as am trying to decipher my grandad's calligraphic handwriting!

Any information you may have on my grandad or any of the above mentioned men would be fantastic as I sit here looking at theses wonderful photo's and would love to know the stories behind them.

Thank you and kind regards,
Claire McSweeney


18.
Sept. 20, 2012

Thanks for the story from Mr. Flanagan and great research Mr. Leitch. My late uncle Michael McInerney (D/KX 853210) served on HMS Consort as a POSM during 1949-51 and received the Yangtze 1949 clasp.  He had a long naval career and passed away on October 2000 aged 87 years.  I have his medals and certificate of service and would grateful to anyone who could provide any further information on Michael's experiences particularly  during this amazing Yangtze river incident.  

Many thanks,
Gerard McInerney


17.
Apr. 30, 2012

I believe an uncle of mine served on HMS COSORT during the (Yangtze Incident). His name, Philip Samuael Langham, of Pontypridd, I think he was a Petty Officer Cook. Sadly passed away May 1989 any info would grateful to help with family history. He has three daughters my aunt his wife sadly passed away Feb 2012.

Yours faithfully,
Towyn Mulcuck
Nephew

Reply 1
May 6, 2012

Petty Officer/ Philip Samuel Langham, was the Officer's Chef on-board H.M.S. Consort at the time of the 1949 Yangtze Incident, he was also a member of the ships Rugby, and Water Polo team.  On the ship Philip, being a Welshman, was known to all as Taff Langham, also serving on the ship at that time was Boy Seaman, John Northcott Brewer, who also played in the ships Rugby and water polo team, as such both became good friends. John Brewer, has informed me to the effect that in later years when he was serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary he saw a report and photograph of Taff Langham in the Company Magazine, and at that time Taff Langham, was at Swansea Technical College lecturing on cooking.  John in informing of such said; "Many cooks of the RAF, I am sure will remember him and be grateful to him for his help."

Yours Aye,
Willie Leitch


16.
Jan. 29, 2012

My late great uncle, Able Seaman Eric Underwood, served on the HMS Consort during the Yangtze Incident and I was wondering if anybody can remember him. He was wounded in his leg by shrapnel, but that is all he would say about the incident. Also at the time of the incident was the ship R76 or D76? I am planning a chest piece tattoo to commemorate my uncle and would like the correct ship number to go along with the consort badge.
Thank you and my uttermost respect to all that served, survived and fell during this incident.

Chris Underwood

Reply 1
Jan. 29, 2012

For your information and that of Christopher Underwood, on the 3rd of April 1949 under a N.A.T.O., ruling the letter (R) as part, of the ships pennant number on destroyer's was changed from, R to D. At the time of that ruling being brought about H.M.S. Consort, was stationed at Nanking, and "for the record" the job of painting out the black capital letter R, with ships-side-grey-paint, and there after, in that space, painted in the capital D,  that job was done by Ordinary Seaman, George Andrews, who worked in the ships paint shop at that time.

Further, there is no mention of Able Seaman, Eric Underwood, having been wounded in the Ships Doctors Written Report, the report only relates to the 26 seriously wounded out of a total of 59 wounded. However I made a phone call and yes, Eric Underwood, was one of those injured by shrapnel fragments while serving on-board D76 H.M.S. Consort, on the 20th April 1949 when ordered to go to the assistance of H.M.S. Amethyst, in Chinas, Yangtze River.

Yours Aye,
Willie Leitch


15.
Sept. 10, 2011

S/M Norman Cotton, who served on-board H.M.S. Consort, 1946 to 1949 crossed the Bar 24th August 2011. The service for Norman, was held at Sutton Coldfiel, crematorium on the 9th September 2011. The President of the H.M.S. Consort Association gave a reading of Norman's life from the time when they created their life times friendship. The service was attended by family and friends. John Albert English, President of the H.M.S. Consort Association with his wife Carol representing the H.M.S. Consort Association, and S/M. Ray Shenstone. (Calm Sea's  Norman.)                                                                                                                                

S/M Willie Leitch
H.M.S Consort



14.
Apr. 29, 2011

I'd like to know if anybody remembers my father who was aboard the HMS Consort, not exactly sure when but before 1957 when he got married.  I remember him telling me about it when I was a kid but he died in 1986 when I was fairly young, so the memories are sketchy now. His name was George Bramley and he told me he was aboard when the Consort did a tour at or near Japan, he brought back a tea set and some photos from Nagasaki.  I think he may have worked in the ships kitchen.

Thanks & best regards,
Michael Bramley


13.
Apr. 8, 2011

Does anyone remember my grandfather, Henry Robinson? I am lead to believe that he served on the HMS Consort during the Yangtze incident. I believe his rank was that of Chief Petty Officer. I believe he was also a gunner. Any information would be gratefully received.

Paul Jones

Reply 1
Apr. 10, 2011

He was awarded the DSM  (Distinguished Service Medal) for gallantry, dauntless courage, Leadership and outstanding devotion to duty under fire. He showed an exceptionally offensive spirit and set a splendid example to the guns crews and supply parties. With unfailing energy and dauntless courage he went wherever trouble occurred keeping the guns in action despite frequent damage and casualties to the armament and the men.

Within Commander Robertson's book, Renegade Signalman, there is a chapter touching in the Yangtze Incident, within that chapter Commander Robertson, who was the Captain, of H.M.S. Consort at the time of the incident, mentions Chief Petty Officer Robinson, by stating; "When "X" Gun jammed the gunner's mate got so excited that in exhortations to the supply party to keep the Bofors in action his upper denture plate fell out. He promptly flung it at the supply parties and when the next belt of ammunition ran out, he said that one half was no good without the other and hurled that plate at those "bloody Communists"

I know that Commander Robertson in submitting his report on Consort's action to the Admiralty elaborated even more so on the actions of  Chief Petty Officer Robinson, when I get some time away from other matters I will search out the copy of Commander Robertson's Actions Report.

Regards,
Willie Leitch, R.N.
(HMS Consort)


12.
Apr. 2, 2011

Could you please tell me if you knew my uncle Sidney Jenkinson. He was only 19 when he had most of his hip blown away and apparently died of shock 8 hours later. Records seem to be very sketchy as I am trying to do my family tree. I never knew him as I was only born in 1958, I never even knew his father, my grandad, and both my Mother and Father have have now passed away without giving me much information.

I can understand my Father not wanting to discuss it but after all its still part of my life and there doesn't seem to be any records kept about the sailors that died on 20 April 1949, as regards death certificates etc, although the AMETHYST seems to be the only ship anyone seems to be bothered about, and I blame the film for that (wasn't even a true representation of what really happened ), let alone the poor buggers that were aboard the CONCORD who nobody seems to be interested in, apparently they still haven't received any medals for their part which seems, pardon the language, very shitty to me. Anyway, just thought I would give you a go. Can't hurt. Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Neil Jenkinson

Reply 1
Feb. 2, 2012

Re, Niel Jenkinson's, uncle, Sidney Jenkinson, who served on-board H.M.S. Consort, at the time of the Yangtze Incident, 20th April 1949 the following is how the demise of Ordinary/ Seaman, S. Jenkinson, was written in H.M.S. Consort's, Doctors reporting of the event; "During Phase 2 of the action O/Sea S. Jenkinson D/SSX 840980 was wounded at 1451 whilst acting as trainer of B Gun. He had complete maceration of Right Buttock and Hip joint - joint fragmented in the wound. He was given three pints of plasma, but died of shock after eight hours." I am submitting a story that is titled "SEND A GUNBOAT" a story written by Terry Currie RN who served on-board H.M.S. Consort, at the time of the incident. Terry's story is that of a realist and as such, not reading material for the faint hearted as you will see.

Yours Aye,
Willie Leitch


11.
Mar. 23, 2011

John MacLeod, An Exemplary Consort

Those of us who served in H.M.S Consort at the same time as S/M John MacLeod, each
of us will have their own memories of 'Mac'. What a Character, as 'Buffer' aboard Consort
his experience and knowledge to organise was seen daily. Always approachable, had a
strong sense of humour and keen to encourage every-one to progress in the Senior Service.

Mac at the age of 91 years of age crossed the bar on Tuesday, 15th March 2011. In our memories, he is still as he was, the exemplary 'Consort'. Calm Sea's Shipmate.

S/M Gwyn Thomas
H.M.S. Consort. 1953-1955


10.
Mar. 2, 2011

It is with a sad heart, that I have to report the passing of JOHN THOMAS FITT (Tom) ex Stoker og H.M.S. CONSORT. Tom passed over the Bar on Tuesday 15th February 2011 after a long illness, bravely borne.  Tom was cremated at the Kent County Crematorium, Carling, Kent, on Tuesday 1st March 2011. REST PEACEFULLY SHIPMATE. Shipmate, John Northcote Brewer, of H.M.S. Consort, was in attendance.

Willie Leitch
(Ex-HMS Consort)


9.
Jan. 2, 2011

My Grandfather, Wallace Branch served on the Consort during the Yangtze incident - as far as I know he never spoke about it apart from one time when I was the first to arrive at his house in Plymouth shortly after my Grandmother had died. The main thing he talked about was of being in the wheelhouse when it was shelled and luckily being saved by the map table. I was wondering if any of the remaining survivors remember Wallace and if they have any stories they could share?

Thanks in advance,
Michael Branch


8.
Mar. 14, 2010

I have recently purchased an NGS 'YANGTZE 1949' medal. The naming on the medal itself is partially erased. I am trying to find out about the recipient and was wondering if anyone can help identify the recipient, I believe he may have served on the Consort. The readable details on the medal are - P/SSX 771-21- C, KEA--- SMN RN. If anyone can help it would be gratefully appreciated.

With thanks,
Andy Davies


7.
Feb. 5, 2010

I have read the very interesting articles on the website. As far as I am aware, my father John Richmond, served on the Consort. I just wondered whether anyone had any further information regarding this. Thanking you in advance.

Paul Richmond


6.
Jan. 12, 2010

When my Father died, he left me some medals. One of them was to a customer of his at his butchers shop in Cardiff, I think if I remember the story, the sailors wife brought it in or something. It is a Naval General Service to a Boy 1 R.N. T. Hodgins, D/JX 818272, with a Yangtze bar. My Dad told me the story of the Amethyst when I was a kid and I remember him showing me the medal, I was fascinated. Did my Father keep it because this sailor was on the Amethyst I wonder, and how could I find out.

Kind regards,
Russell Clarke
Enfield, Middlesex, England

Reply 1
Jan. 13, 2010


On the extreme right of the photograph below is the elderly edition of Boy 1 R.N. Terry Hodgins, D/JX 818272
Terry, was one of the founding members of the H.M.S. Consort Association. For years he has been the
associations treasurer but at the 2009 reunion made it known that he is standing down from that position.

Yours Aye,
William Leitch


From left to right are; Roy Bater, David Morgan, Jim Finch, Bill Davies, Reg Brown, Ron Howell, Ken Miller, Peter Howie, Norman Birt, Bud Flanagan. Terry Hodgin.


5.
Jan. 6, 2010

The reason for my letter is that, two years ago I was visiting my cousin at Kinross, Scotland, whom I had not seen in forty years, and during conversation he informed me that my uncle John Stewart Mailer served in the Royal Navy, as a cook, and was a member of the crew, on either  HMS AMETHYST or the HMS CONSORT, when they were attacked during the Yangtze incident.

Would you be able to confirm or deny this for me, and please if you have any other information about him I would be more than grateful, as my father was sent to Australia in 1927 and never saw his family again. His brother John Stewart was en route to Australia in approximately 1950-53, however at the last moment the ship was sent to another destination and they never got to see each other again. My father passed away in 1991, and I am trying to tie up loose ends on family history, thank you very much.

Yours sincerely,
Stewart Mailer

Reply 1
Jan. 11, 2010


I served in HMS AMETHYST in 1948/49 and I have checked my records and it does not appear that your Uncle served in HMS AMETHYST. I have passed your message to the CONSORT Association and maybe they will be able to check if he served in HMS CONSORT.

I believe one of the Museums in Sydney has a small section on the 1949 Yangtze Incident. I have never visited that museum, but I think it is on the North side of the bridge. Some years ago I exchanged letters with them offering any help they needed concerning the Incident.

Sincerely Stewart Hett



4.
Nov. 7, 2009

My Uncle (sadly deceased) served in the Royal Navy during the Yangtze incident. I have a number of photographs of the HMS Consort R-76, including crew members and a dog! His wife ,who is still alive, informed me that he served on a ship involved with the Amethyst, she has no further details.

I would appreciate any information regarding his period of naval service circa 1948 - 1955, his name was Eric Holland and they nicknamed him Dutchy! There is a mixture of photographs ranging from ships, crew, location and a burial at sea.

Allan Parry


3.
July 6, 2009

It is my sad duty to report the passing of JESMOND WALTER GRIEVE. CPO Coxswain.
Ex. BOSB. Home, Brixham. Royal Hospital School. H.M.S. Consort, H.M.S. Protector,
H.M.S. Harrier, and others. Passed Over The Bar on the evening of Sunday, 21st June, 2009. Aged 78 years. Services to be held on July 8, 2009.

During the Yangtze Incident Jess, while serving on-board H.M.S. Consort, landed a
heaving line on the Amethyst, 20th April 1949 but there was no one on the open or
upper decks of Amethyst to pick up the line.

Yours,
William Leitch, RN


2.
Apr. 3, 2008

My father served on HMS Consort During the Yangtze Incident I am trying to find out more information and
would be grateful for any assistance. P S Great photos of HMS Consort. Mr Flanagan, I for one will keep HMS Consort memory alive. Thank you for telling your story. It makes me proud to know that my dad served on her.

Mark Eccleston


1.
Mar. 20, 2008

I was on HMS Consort during the Yangtze Incident, not much is known about what we did during the battle
and now I want our story to be known.

Admiralty records prove that Consort was hit 68 times with shells from from 105mm, 75mm, 37mm and smaller arms. Those hits knocked out The Wheelhouse (completely destroyed) making it necessary to steer from aft in the Tiller Flat manually. A and B Guns both knocked out, X gun traverse was damaged making the gun more or less ineffectual. The bridge was severely damaged and most of the communications knocked out, with the exception of the the two that were vital for Consort that day, the engine room, that had to perform three emergency full asterns to stop us from ending in the mud of one or other of the islands we were dodging as much as the shells coming at us. The other control was the Boiler house.

We lost the 20mm Bofors and one of the 40mm Bofors. The Gyro compass, the 37mm shells tore the electrical systems of Consort to pieces. We had a fire in the forward magazine, fortunately quickly put out. The smaller arms were coming through the shipside and into the lower messdecks making life very unpleasant for anyone trying to put out the fires.

The magazine hoist had been knocked out by a shell and on examination found that we could not repair it. So we offloaded the ammunition from the hoist and and we started manhandling ammunition by means of a block and tackle on a direct lift from the the magazine. We were operating this system for some considerable time, when the hoist stopped. I went down into the Stokers mess to find out why. The two men that were working in the magazine were trying to put out a fire. I found a couple of fire extinguishers, one for electrical fires and one for normal fires. As I stood looking down into a magazine with a fire inside, I thought what a bloody stupid place this is.

The thoughts going through my head was, am I allowed to take in fire extinguishers into a magazine? How do I flood the magazine, if it is necessary? Have I ever been shown how? Would I need permission to flood the magazine? With these thoughts flashing through my mind. Whilst I was standing looking down into the magazine and praying that these lads could put the fire out. I had a burning sensation on my arm, feeling to see what had stung me, I found blood running down my arm. Wondering where the hell that had come from. I suddenly became aware that there was a lot of pings all around me, I realized these were bullets. When a second bullet parted my hair and bounced of my skull and knocked me to the deck, I was quite groggy for a spell and had one hell of a headache. I run my fingers through my hair to find blood once again. I quickly found a safer place to wait.

I was delighted to see the hoist start up again and the voice from inside the magazine tell me that the fire was out. My prayers had been answered. As the the box of ammunition was being hoisted, a small shell exploded quite close to the box. I realized it was time for me to get the hell out of there. But, I wasn't much safer in the mess above where we operated the hoist, for about a half hour later I was blown across the the mess, hitting the Canteen Mess door pretty hard smacking my already sore head. Sitting there I looked down and on my right knee was my big toe on a long piece of skin. Both the feet were shredded, just blood and bones, the strange thing I was in no pain. I looked around there was no one standing. 

So I crawled over to the bulkhead door and whistled and shouting to attract the attention of anyone. Finally help came and he was a member of the forward damage control party, as I was, but had been needed to help with the hoist and hadn't yet returned to my station. It was a friend of mine a Stoker and he was so stunned that it was me that he froze and could not help me. He was knocked out of the way. I had been asking him to put out the smouldering of my hair and clothes. A rather large pair of hands battered me attempting to put out my smouldering hair and clothes. He and then lifted me and carried me to medical attention. I am eternally grateful to that man, he saved my life. Unfortunately a short time later he was killed as we ran the gauntlet along Low Island. He was Electrical Petty Officer J. C Ackhurst.

Once we reached the decision that we could stay no longer or like Amethyst become stuck on the mud of Rose Island, we picked up speed and taking the bend in the river we approached Low Island and we could see about 8 guns waiting for us. We had no other choice but to run the gauntlet and were hit five times in this run and these hits caused great damage and loss of life and wounded. It was on this last run that we lost the Gyro Compass along with all sorts of electrical problems and fires.

Then suddenly it was quiet, so quiet that you could almost feel it. I had never experienced a quietness or stillness like that before. We reached Kiangyin, one wise guy was heard to say "Well it could have been worse", and when everyone looked at him, he continued "It could have been raining". In fact it was a gloriously warm day, too hot in fact for what we had been doing that afternoon. We had survived, or at least most of us.
Consort's seagoing capacity was down by 20% and by the end of the fight, the fighting capacity was reduced by 80%.

Dr. Gren Wederburn who was one of the senior medical officers in Shanghai and later joined the Consort Association, he told the association that he had treated 81 Consorts for shrapnel and more serious wounds. That was apart from the ten dead Consorts and this out of a crew of just over 160.

I was severely wounded in the Yangtze, losing my right leg below knee and my left foot, severe burns to what was left of the legs. Burns to hands arms, face, ears and head. But it did not stop me playing golf and becoming a 10 handicap golfer. The one thing that hurt me most, I was a an excellent swimmer and high diver, a keen football player and many other sports and these were taken away from me before I was 21 years old. I missed them most of all.

In the film The Yangtze Incident ", HMS Consort comes on the scene fires about 5 shots and runs like hell down river, Nothing could be further from the truth, as the few paragraphs should tell you. This can be backed by the copies of the actual transcripts to and from the Admiralty. Not only all the above, but Consort did get a tow line on the quarterdeck of Amethyst, but there was no one there to take it, so the Consorts watched as the line slipped from the quarterdeck off Amethyst and into the Yangtze River. I was so angry when the film was shown. I was even more angry after being invited along with some of the Consorts to the premier of the film. Afterwards I was interviewed by a reporter who asked how I enjoyed the film... I won't tell you what I told. him.

That was when the Skipper, who was himself severely wounded in the back of his thigh, made up his mind to get out of there. Only his seamanship and the engine room staff Emergency Full Astern three times got Consort out. The wounded were in the Wardroom right under B gun and several shells came through the Wardroom sometimes wounding, the already wounded. The wardroom deck was awash with blood and severely crowded.

One shell landed on his surgical instruments destroying them. All he had left was a scalpel and a straight razor and with these instruments, he amputated a foot through the ankle and a hand. The Doctor and the Leading Sick Berth Attendant were wonderful, preparing for the action, treating and caring for the wounded of Consort, amputating a foot and a hand among his other gory duties. All through the night he attended to the wounded, some were off loaded to HMS London, because they had surgeons and operating theatres and a lot of the Consort wounded were suffering from explosion burns and other burns that needed immediate treatment.

On reaching Shanghai on the 21st April the Doctor and Sick Berth Attendant off loaded the Consort wounded to the local hospital and when that was complete, they went to the rail station to take care of the Amethyst wounded that was just coming down the South side of the river.

On the 21st April, 1949 HMS London and HMS Black Swan made attempts to rescue Amethyst but due to the fierceness of the fighting they could not get within 20 miles of Amethyst.

One other thing about the afternoon of the 20th April, 1949, many of the Amethyst crew were sitting on the South Bank of the River Yangtze watching Consort fighting, they were eye witnesses to Consorts battle, alone and against tremendous odds. I wonder what would have been left of Amethyst if Consort, London and Black Swan had not poked our noses into the fight?

Consort was repaired in Kiangyin on the Yangtze, by HMS London's engineers to make her seaworthy to get to Shanghai and again in Shanghai to get her to Hong Kong. During her passage to Hong Kong, three days out from Shanghai they found an unexploded shell on top of her boilers. When she arrived in Hong Kong and connected to the electrics of the dockyard, fires broke out everywhere, the result of the 37mm shells cutting through the electric cables. She was further repaired and in June when she was despatched to Singapore for a major refit/repairs. All materials and men for the repair were sent out from the UK. 

The rebuild took several months and what was left of the crew of Consort were sent to take over HMS Mendip that had been loaned back from the Chinese navy. It was in an appalling state, nevertheless Mendip was sent into the Malayan Conflict.

Consort was delivered back to the fleet in pristine condition to go to the Korean War for three years. In all she was with the Far East Fleet for 10 years continuous service. From Korea she was sent back to the Malayan uprising, then on to the Montebella Atomic Tests before meeting up with the Royal Yacht with Queen Elizabeth on board to escort her to Australia and the Olympic Games en route to the UK.

40 years later at the 40th Reunion an Admiral, (a Lieutenant on Amethyst in 1949), during his speech he told
of the daring of Consort, to quote "In my time in the navy, I have never seen anything more daring and spectacular than watching Consort fighting in the Yangtze River".

Thomas J. "Bud" Flanagan, RN
Stoker Mechanic, HMS Consort

Nov. 4, 2020

Thomas J. "Bud" Flanagan passed away on Oct. 29, 2020. (See message #47.)

Michael W. Pocock
Webmaster


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