HMS Amethyst U-16 / F-116
Message Board

9.
Sept. 18, 2008

Please can anyone help me. As far as I know my father was a member of the crew of the Amethyst during the Yangtze incident but I cannot confirm this, I would appreciate any help or input regarding my fathers service during this incident. His Name was Albert Ernest Stephen Mepstead, known as Bert I believe. My thoughts are with all the crew members who served on the Amethyst during this time. Thank you for any help you can give
me.

Colin Mepstead

Reply 1
Sept. 19, 2008

The quick answer is that Mepstead's name does not appear on the list of names of those serving on board AMETHYST in 1949, nor in the list of names serving on board during the Korean War.  I do not have any list of the ship's company in 1943 to 1947, he may have been on board then.

It is possible that he served on board as an extra crew member during AMETHYST's return to UK when numbers were augmented to bring the complement up to strength. My list is based on those serving in March 1949. He might have been loaned for a short period when his name would not be on any list.

I leave this morning for the Annual AMETHYST Reunion. I will check if anyone has heard of A E S Mepstead, and also see if I can get names for those in the MacClean picture,

Best wishes,
Stewart Hett

Reply 2
Sept. 22, 2008

Now back from our Annual Reunion. I was unable to identify the people in the photo. One person thought that
the man on the right of the picture might have been Ord Sea A E Driscoll, who was killed in the Incident, but this was not a definite identification. The HMS cap tally produced some comment that the picture was taken during
or soon after WW2. 

MacLean was an Ordinary Seaman in 1949, so would be most unlikely to have served in WW2. I suspect the man in the middle had not yet received his ship's cap tally, and the picture was taken in '48 or '49. No one recognized the name Mepstead. He may well have served in AMETHYST before or after the Incident, but I am fairly certain he was not in the ship in April 1949.

Best wishes,
Stewart Hett


8.
Aug. 29, 2008

I am writing on behalf of the Quirindi and District Historical Society. We have been shown the attached piece of work for identification. The woman knows nothing about it except that it has been in her Mothers possession for some time. We have identified the flags as Royal Navy flags and the coat of arms as the Royal Coat of Arms.  She knows of an uncle, her mother's brother, who served on HMS Amethyst and his surname was Tanner, but doesn't know when he served on the ship and we are wondering if he was involved in the Yangtze incident and if this patchwork was made during this time. 

Do you have any lists of crew members? The patchwork has been done rather crudely and the backing is a sheet of paper or parchment full of either Chinese or Japanese writing on it. The red marking on the backing is the stitching. Any help by you or your members would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Anita Appleby
Reply 1
Sept. 4, 2008

The name "Tanner" does not appear on our crew list for the Yangtze Incident. In all probabilities he was a wartime member of the crew. You could check his service records, M.O.D .site.

Best Wishes,
Charlie Chivers
Amethyst Association


7.
July 16, 2008

Amethyst Reunion Announcement

6.
July 3, 2008

My Father, now in his late 70's, says that he served on the Amethyst as a junior seaman and swam ashore under fire from the Chinese..dads mind is starting to go through a mixture of old age and alcohol. I have in my possession his certificate of qualification for Auxiliary Machinery Course for Stoker Mechanics signed on Jan. 6th 1942 and I cannot make out the signatures. It looks like J S EAST /LAST or even J B. The commanding officers name is B ???L/CMDR. Dads number was D/KX 778123 I also have various other papers including the History Sheet for Stoker Ratings confirming he was on Amethyst on 6/1/49. Again I cannot make out the signature. Are you able to shed any light on this subject as we the family would like to know if he is/was eligible for any award.

Many thanks,
Andrew Hustler

5.
June 22, 2008

My grandfather James McClean served on the HMS Amethyst in 1949, he was only 17yrs
old when he was trapped on the Yangtze river. He lost his best friend in this battle, he later
married Nora and they had 3 sons, 9 grandchildren and 16 greatgrand children. His wife
Nora passed away in May 2002 and my granddad Jimmy passed away on Friday 13th June,
2008, may he rest in peace.

Love his granddaughter,
Alison, X X


4.
Apr. 26, 2008

My mother in law has recently been taken into hospital in east London, after being very ill and unable to understand what was going on. She has told us that she was awoke one night to find a seamen standing in her room. The hat the man had on had H.M.S Amethyst on it, strange I know, but would you know if any of those brave souls came from this area.

Yours,
Steve


3.
Feb. 22, 2008

Amethyst Reunion 19-21 September 2008 at Coventry, contact Eric Mustoe Tel 01213 784618.
eric.mustoe@btinternet.com

Charlie Chivers


2.
Jan. 31, 2008

My father was CPO R. Nicholls seriously wounded at the helm of Amethyst and taken ashore off Rose Island with many other wounded. Many had to swim ashore under sniper fire some did not make it.

Amethyst was under fire by the Liberation Army on April 20th 1949. Most of the men killed on board Amethyst were interred into the Yangtze River; two were buried within Hung-jao cemetery a British cemetery on the mainland not far from Shanghai. All those killed from HMS Consort, HMS London were also interred within the Hung-jao cemetery. It is now called Panyu Greenland a wonderful parkland and a site for sore eyes.

I have created a documentary honouring the Four Ships who were involved in the Yangtze Incident when the Liberation army was making their well informed crossing to take Shanghai on the 20th April 1949. The hung-jao cemetery deserves a Memorial and “The Friends of the Four ships” is trying to make this possible with the financial help from the British Government. The PM T. Blaire was given misleading information in the year 2000 and he believed what the Chinese told him that a factory was built on top of the graves of our hero’s.

I have been talking with crew members of USS AH-16 Repose hospital ship, the USS LCI-989 who did a great job transferring the wounded and stunned crew of all ships to the Repose. I just finished talking with a Dr. James Packard who is now a young 94 and lives independently in a retirement village in the USA. Dr. J. Packard served one year in Shanghai and he spent one day with our wounded and helped them make the overland journey through rice paddies to the waiting train to take the men to Shanghai. A wonderful man, he even works out in a gym three times a week. I gave him much gratitude from the Friends of the Four Ships and the Amethyst Association. He was delighted and could remember everyone.

Yours Sincerely,
Steven Nicholls
son of the late CPO R. Nicholls wounded at the helm of HMS Amethyst April 20th 1949


1.
Jan. 15, 2008

I must express my gratitude and thanks to Lt. Commander Hett, for publishing the photographs of "Simons" grave and my wreath (I am Bob), placed there on the day of the re dedication of the PDSA Animal Cemetery at Ilford, on December 13th 2007. The existence of the "MaritimeQuest" site was, until recently an unknown
to me, that is prior to attempting to research some history of my relatives who were also in the Royal Navy. I will post the results of this work on the site later.

The discovery of "Able Seacat Simon" on "MQ" was a very pleasurable surprise. My Dad was in the RAF posted in Aden in 1949 and apparently made the acquaintance of Commander Kerans. Dad was in the habit of sending home little snippets for me, in his letters to my Mum and on this occasion, it was about "Simon" who by that time had already become a household name.

When the "Amethyst" came home, my Grandad (ex RN), took me to see her and specifically Simon, about whom, I apparently never stopped talking. My fondness of Simon, must have been quite significant, as it was something both my family and I, were always reminded of whenever we had a get together, in particular at Christmas.

In respect of this, I am indebted to Lt. Commander Hett for enabling me to re-live these precious memories of long ago and indeed the honour of having met him on the day of the rededication. Our pen for the Rescue Cats at home, is a shrine to "Simon". His picture there is a reminder of a very special cat and of the important place animals have in our lives.

Thank you so much,
Robert (Bob) W. Green



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