HMS Amethyst and the Yangtze Incident 1949

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Hear the story of Richard Todd's real experiences on D-Day 1944
   • Richard Todd - WW2 D-Day Veteran  

The 1957 film Yangtze Incident, starring Richard Todd, all about a Royal Navy vessel, trapped by communist forces deep inside China was based upon real events that took place in 1949.

Travelling up the Yangtze River from Shanghai to Nanking (modern Nanjing), to protect the british Embassy during the Chinese Civil War, Royal Navy sloop, HMS Amethyst, came under fire from Communist forces.

Hit by 50 artillery shells, her guns out of action, her sterring wrecked and her captian mortally wounded, HMS Amethyst was grounded on an island in the middle of the river.

Surrounded by Communist forces and nearly 100 miles from safety, the remaining crew were trapped.

This is the real story of HMS Amethyst, her crew and a cat called Simon, in the Yangtze incident 1949.

Despite attempted rescue attempts by HMS Consort, HMS London and HMS Black Swan, the Amethyst could not be freed.

Eventually, her new captain, Lt. Commander John Kerans made a break for freedom, down the river on the night of the 30/31 July 1949.
HMS Amethyst was spotted by Chinese shore batteries which opened fire.

Eventually at dawn, Kerans and his ship rached the safety of the mouth of the Yangtze River.
He famously signalled:
"Have rejoined the fleet south of Woosung. No damage. No casualties. God save The King."

Kerans was one of 6 members of the crew to be decorated for his actions.
There was one other member of the crew who also received a decoration, the ship's cat, Simon.
He was awarded the Dickin Medal - often called the animal Victoria Cross.

Unfortunately, shortly after his arrival back in England, Simon died of wounds sustained during the Yangtze Incident.

The Yangtze Incident was the last battle fought by the British in China.
In total, 50 British servicemen lost their lives.



Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:28 Chinese Civil War
1:39 HMS Amethyst
3:03 Under Attack
7:12 My Free Newsletter
7:22 Rescue Effort
7:52 HMS Consort
9:03 Re-floated
9:54 HMS London
10:22 Surrounded
11:51 Simon To The Rescue
13:24 Escape
15:07 Safe At Last
16:35 Simon & His Dickin Medal
17:23 The Film
18:13 End Of An Era
18:50 The History Chap

#yangtzeincident #hmsamethyst #militaryhistory

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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.

History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.

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