92.
May 12, 2012

Sadly we announce the death of William Garfitt aged 90. William crossed the Bar May 7th William served on Amethyst as a Leading Seaman during the whole of the Yangtze incident and was an active member of the Amethyst Association. The funeral will take place on May 22nd 1045 hrs at Grenoside Crematorium 5 Stoke Lane Sheffield S35 8 RJ Donations to Royal British Legion.

Charlie Chivers
Amethyst Association

91.
Mar. 17, 2012

I am trying to find out what ship Mr. R. Whitehead served on during the Yangtze incident, as I am having trouble researching his career.

Best regards,
Andy

90.
Feb. 29, 2012

It is with regret that the Amethyst Association has to announce the death of Joseph Ferrett, who crossed the bar 27/2/12. Joe served on board Amethyst as a Leading Signalman at the start of the Yangtze incident April 1949. The funeral will be held at Macclesfield Crematorium at 1440 hrs on the 12th March. Family flowers only, Donations to The Heart Foundation of The Amethyst Association.

Charlie Chivers,
Amethyst Association

89.
Feb. 13, 2012

We are trying to track my maternal Grandad's navy history. My mother (his daughter) knows he was on board the HMS Amethyst and thinks he joined the Navy when he was around 15/16 he was born in 1928. We have photos of him and who we believe to be other crew members, some of which have dates and places on the back, such as May and June 1944, Rock and Trengrenu. His name was William (Bill) Henry Silkstone. If you served with him, knew of him or have any information it will be gratefully received.

William passed away on Friday 10th February 2012, we have been going through paperwork etc and that's when we came across the photos, would be great to learn some of his history!

Kind Regards,
Dawn & Rhianna Ogle

88.
Feb. 4, 2012

My request is for information on the engineering officer of HMS Amethyst. Looking at other sources relating to the ship your site would seem to have most information. I keep coming across the name Lt. Stephen Hett [sic] who served aboard her during the 'Yangtze Incident'. What I have managed to gather so far is that his name was Lt. Ernest George Wilkinson (E) and that he was transferred after being injured in the initial shelling the ship suffered.

My interest stems from the fact that I joined HMS Ganges as a boy 1959/1960 and three years previously they had used the location to make the film and this is where my memory is stretched because we had an officer serving there a Lt. Commander, I never found out his name but he limped quite badly and the rumour amongst the lads was that he had served on the Amethyst.

What I do have is a picture of this officer (showing below) it shows all the serving officers there in 1959/60 the one I am referring to is in the third row from the front on the extreme right behind the seated nurse. I have also cropped the photo but it is quite small. Anyhow I am sending this to yourself hoping that you will be able to pass this on to someone who will be able to help thanking you in anticipation.

James Lyon

87.
Feb. 2, 2012

It is with deep regret that we Announce the death of Charles Williams. He crossed the Bar 31st January, 2012. He was a well known character and for ten years was the Associations Sin-Bo's'n. He served on Amethyst during the latter part of WW2. The funeral is at 2.30 pm (1430) on Wed 8 Feb at Dunkeswell Parish Church. Refreshments afterwards in the Church Hall, and there will be a cremation after the Church Service.

Charlie Chivers
Amethyst Association

Poppies
by Charles Williams

Poppies No Poppies grow on a sailor's Grave
No Bugles disturb his sleep
He lies alone beneath the Sea
Rocked by the rhythm of the deep

No medals are on the wavelets
No Headstone to tell what he has done
He keeps to himself the memories
Of life before battle begun

No sad tears will fall on his body
No Eulogies read where he lies
He waits for the day of judgment
With pride and hope in his eyes
May God grant him peace and mercy
In his life to come
And perhaps the occasional tot
Of good old Naval Rum

86.
Jan. 26, 2012

My late father, Ivor Brynley Daniels, served in HMS Amethyst in 1949,  I vaguely remember him briefly talking about being stationed in Hong Kong and HMS Amethyst, so I am keen to know if he was aboard HMS Amethyst during the China Incident? 

Regards,
Phil Daniels

Jan. 30, 2012

Dear Mr Hett,

Thank you for getting back to me so promptly. I have copied my father's (Ivor Brynley Daniels, nickname Danny) service records (see below). It appears he took his QM3 rate on board HMS Amethyst. He joined Tamar (Amethyst) as an OD 11/11/1947 through to 17/4/1949. I clearly remember as a youngster playing with his HMS Amethyst cap tally, but don't recall any medal. I would be very grateful for any information you may provide.

Regards,
Phil Daniels

85.
Jan. 23, 2012

I am trying to find information regarding a Ronald Isaac, my grandfather. Unfortunately the family has little information other than he served on the Amethyst as a radar operator (possibly in 1944, being born in 1922)
if you have any advice on where to search for information it would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Ashley Isaac

84.
Jan. 7, 2011

It is with great regret that we announce that one of the founder Members of the AMETHYST Association, Norman Stapleton, died on 28 December. He was serving in HMS AMETHYST when she came under Chinese Communist gunfire on 20 April 1949. His funeral is at 1500 on Friday 13 January at Weston Mills Crematorium, Ferndale Rd, Plymouth, PL2 2EP. Afterwards there will be a reception at Plymstock Golf Club.

Stewart Hett

83.
Dec. 16, 2011

My father SSX815174 Richard [Dick] Wells served on HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze incident. He passed away from cancer 2003 in New Zealand. I have the medal he was awarded which also has the Malaya clasp, was this awarded as part of his service aboard HMS Amethyst? Have you any stories or memories about him? [didn't really speak about his experiences during that time.]

Thanks,
Peter Wells

82.
Dec. 9, 2011

Interested in learning about an old neighbor from my youth I believe was on his Amethyst During the Yangtze incident, his name was Ron Potter. I recall there was a 'Daily Mirror' photo of him being carried off ship, injured.

Tony Adamson

81.
Nov. 17, 2011

I am the son of the late Stoker Samuel Bannister, HMS Amethyst. I've just come across your web page and would like to correspond with Stewart Hett who served on board with my dad.  I'm trying to trace as many old photographs of the ship and its company as possible.

Andrew Bannister

80.
Nov. 16, 2011

My grandfather David Cleghorn passed away on Thursday 26th May 2011, he always spoke of his time at sea on the Amethyst, but details were at times a bit sketchy, please could you forward me any details that you might have. I believe he may have served between 1940s - 1950s. He said that he was a young man when he joined and had been a diver and had also peeled plenty potatoes. I would like to maybe read a bit of his history, and get a few of the blanks filled in.

Regards,
Mrs. Kim Harper
Bangor, Co. Down

79.
Nov. 13, 2011

I served in the Royal Navy 1962-1974, and I have recently become the caretaker (owner seems the wrong word as I did not earn them) of a medal group for PO E. J. YOUNG D/JX125913, consisting of 1939/45 Star, Atlantic Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Naval General Service Medal YANGTZE 1949. I am hoping to find out some information about the recipient, and which ship he served aboard during the Incident, is it possible you can help me with this. I am a member of the RNA and Royal British Legion, we pay a usually visit the Services Arboretum every couple of years and the next time I go I will be making enquiries about donating the group to them in my will when my days are over, (not to soon in the future I hope) as I feel they should be shared with others.

Hoping you can help,
Yours sincerely Dave "Rattler" Morgan, Ex LEM
(Greenie)

78.
Nov. 13, 2011

I am trying to find out about my dad (now deceased) who was involved in the Yangtze incident. He was a member of the merchant navy from about 1940 to 1942, then the Royal Navy from about 1942. He served on HMS Speaker during the war. After the war he returned to the merchant navy until leaving in about 1959.

My mom (also deceased) remembers my dad being involved in the Yangtze incident, but could not remember which ship he was on or whether he was in the Royal or merchant fleet.

My dad was adopted as a child and there are no close relatives left to ask. His birth name was John Dickson and his adopted name was John Dixon Black. This was never a formal adoption so I do not know which name he would have signed up with. He was always known as Jack or Jackie.

Does anyone remember him (see photo below) or can give me information about his time out there. I would be very thankful for any information/pictures etc.

Thank you,
Yours Jasmine J. Cross (Mrs) nee Black

77.
Nov. 10, 2011

My father, Arthur Jones, served on the Amethyst during WWII. He was from Fazakerle , Liverpool. He unfortunately passed away in 1977 aged only 54 and during the passing of time his photographs and documents have all been lost. It was a time of his life he was reluctant to talk about but I know he was an Able Seaman and i'm sure he mentioned he was a gunner. I would be delighted if anybody remembered him and could tell me more about his days as a young man.

Kindest regards,
Arthur Jones Jnr.

76.
Nov. 5, 2011

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Sam Marsh. Sam served as a Boy Seaman (aged 17) on board Amethyst During the Yangtze incident. He was wounded in the early stages of the incident, while serving as a Loading Number for X Gun (Twin 4" QF). Sam Crossed the Bar on the 3rd November 2011. His funeral will be held at Dinder Church, Dinder, Somerset. 2pm on the 11/11.

Charlie Chivers
Amethyst Association