"Get Off My Bloody Ship!" The British Last Stand in Shanghai 1941

I lived in Shanghai for 10 years, and the incredible story of HMS Peterel's last stand action on the Huangpu River always fascinated me. Join me as I explore the story of one tiny river gunboat taking on the might of the Imperial Japanese Navy the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed!
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Film: KZbin Creative Commons

[@markstringer4227]

The last man from that ship passed away this year age 103 I know his daughter very well

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

I didn't know that! I would love to have interviewed him

[@chrish3850]

VERY WELL

[@waffelreitter7231]

VERY WELL

[@hodaka1000]

Every man on that ship should have been decorated including the radio operator.

[@hodaka1000]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Do you know about the captured Japanese fishing boat the "MV Krait" that was used in the evacuation of civilians and soldiers during the fall of Singapore? That part of the Krait's history is a very interesting story itself. Later the Krait was sail back to Singapore through thousands of miles of Japanese occupied waters by Australian "Z Force" members to attacked ships in Singapore Harbour using canoes. Then after retrieving the attack parties the Krait successfully return to Australian? An amazing story!!

[@jagdflieger4861]

I will now be using "get off my bloody ship" in everyday occasions

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

I find it works every time!

[@juststeve5542]

I'd reserve such a strongly worded statement for extreme situations only.

[@questlove_satx]

I'm having a welcome mat made for my front door with the inscription.

[@derptank3308]

Third time Lucky GET OFF MY BLOODY YARD

[@jonnibegood1]

Brilliant! My surname is Skipper so I'll be using it daily from now on. 👊🏼🇬🇧😁

[@sarjim4381]

My guess is that British and American officers and crews would have fought to the last man if they had any idea what lay ahead for them as prisoners. I know I would have.

[@knutdergroe9757]

Should have, Anyone who had been in China any amount of time. Should have known.....

[@paulmarchant9231]

Didn't have any choice...... Ordered to surrender

[@feartheghus]

Paul Marchant choice is simple, ignore the order.

[@cass276]

My father in law was captured in Singapore, he literally walked off the ship he came on into captivity and spent the rest of the war in Changi prison. He spent most of the war working 12 hour shifts in a carbide factory, he told me the process of making carbide was a very delicate one, as any unwanted metal contamination would wreck the mix. Apparently many a hammer etc would 'accidently' fall into the mix, much to the anger of the Japanese! He served his time in 'the Loyals' and died about 7 years ago, At his funeral the British legion honoured him with the 'At the going down of the sun, We Will Remember Them' flag lowering ceremony, which was very moving. Afterwards I was given his medals, and was very honoured to receive them. R.I.P James (Jimmy) Wilcocks. Chris Casson

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Singapore was a dreadful and easily avoided cock-up. So few veterans left now who witnessed the horror of Japanese captivity, and who were so shamefully denied meaningful compensation after the war.

[@cass276]

He did receive a payment of £10,000 about 7-8 years before he died, and although he said the Japanese captors weren't overly cruel he did have nightmares right up to the day he died. He told me one story, where he and some other prisoners were sent out on a working party to unload a train, part of the cargo consisted of large carboys of saki. They found one was cracked and leaking, fearing being blamed, they told their guard what they had found. The guard's response was 'put it behind those straw bales, and one at a time we will have a drink!' My step-father said we all went back to the camp absolutley bladdered, including the guard!....luckily the guards mate was on duty at the camp gate, and he let us in without making a report, otherwise we would have been for it!..the guard as well!. yours Chris

[@IrishManJT]

It’s a pity Lieutenant Stephen Polkinghorn RNR was not in command of the garrison in Singapore instead of Percival. With more than a three to one advantage over the invading Japanese he would have shown them where the rising sun never shines.

[@caractacusbrittania7442]

Percival,was a war office scapegoat. Admittedly he could and should have reacted differently But hindsight a wonderful thing. He allowed himself to be penned in,he made no provision for water After the supply was cut. However his plans for the defence Of Singapore, were rejected by the war office in 1937. Further,percival forwarded what he peceieved would be the Japanese plan of attack,this was also rejected by the war office. That plan was very similar to the actual japanese attack. The war office favoured the naval gun defence,arguing that the Japanese would attack by sea, They did not. Percival only had pitifull air support,and basically no air Recon. Percival was no coward In ww1 he was awarded the Croix de guerre And the dso Among other medals. The decrepit war office thinking Stulted by 20 years of peace dividend cuts,left percival With no modern weapons no tanks No air support no recon, A recipe for disaster.

[@sillyoldbastard3280]

@@caractacusbrittania7442 I can't speak about this instance but many good men where thrown under the bus by the establishment bureaucracy. Those higher up needed to keep face

[@tomriley5790]

The problem at Singapore was not men but Material and supplies - singapore was cut off without fuel, ammuntion and fresh water. The assessment made in advance of the war regarding the number of tanks and aircraft needed to defend her was ignored. So there were none. It wasn't lack of men or willingness to fight - there was just nothing left to fight with.

[@philbox4566]

@@caractacusbrittania7442 That puts him in a whole nuther light. I've always seen him as a callow insipid socialite who too easily gave up. Even after your defence of him I still see that he should have put up more of a fight instead of giving in at the first demand by Yamushta who fully expected to be asked for his own surrender as he was down to his last bullets. That affair once again proves that fortune favours the bold. All just very much a tragedy for those who were caught up in that surrender. My wife's uncle never got over having to spend the war in Changi.

[@olderthanyoucali8512]

@@philbox4566 many graves are filled with men who were under leaders that followed the idea that " fortune favors the bold"thinking, apparently you've never read Sun tzu's The Art of war.

[@stevejauncey3086]

I'd rather go down fighting than be a prisoner of the Japanese.

[@63bplumb]

Sadly the men knew nothing of the Japanese atrocities that lie ahead! They probably figured they would be treated reasonably.

[@monroetoolman]

Wooden ships. Iron men.

[@idothings6908]

Unfortunately it is the other way around now a days

[@anihtgenga4096]

And brazen hussies.

[@FuttBuckerson]

It seems like the more I learn about WWII, the less I know and the more I realize I need to learn. So many lifetimes worth of valor, courage, and stories to read and learn about.

[@DragoonEnNoir]

More Britons need to be reminded that THIS is their legacy: Hearts of Oak.

[@ProfLars]

A brave last stand from the British but kind of overkill from the Japanese.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

I think it was because Polkinghorn took away the Japanese officers' face - a big no-no in Asia

[@sarjim4381]

It was the job of the Japanese to silence opposition and take over the rest of Shanghai. They had a foretaste of what would happen to them from Wake Island if they didn't go in with overwhelming forces.

[@spartan11payne]

The Japanese had a thing for overkill, back then.

[@Jay-ln1co]

"You need to surrender." "Understood, sir." *hangs up* *picks up a dictionary* "'S...u...r...' Nope, not here. Alright, lads, tally-ho!"

[@tbwpiper189]

Brits of old...balls of steel.

[@texx1985]

Not really - Percival gave up Singapore because he was scared like a little child

[@user-sc9oy1kz8g]

@@texx1985 He had green troops, ran out of water, had little air support and no reinforcements nearby. All while facing elite Japanese troops in a jungle (they obviously had more experience) and when the Japanese had tanks while he had none. Wow, I wonder why he didn't win.

[@okapmeinkap7311]

... then they shitted their pants

[@ricoman486]

W.A.S.P 22 we had more men

[@herewardofliverpool1662]

Bloody terrible the way they treated the pow`s.....Still angers me.

[@andy3267]

Dear god, that picture of the prisoners at the end was something else.

[@Will_CH1]

Well said. A small gunboat was never going to be a match for an armoured cruiser, but there was never going to be a surrender. Just like HMS Rawalpindi making a valiant stand against Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, HMS Glowworm against Hipper, HMS Ardent and HMS Acasta against Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, HMAS Yarra against Atago, Takao and Maya, the 7 little American destroyers and destroyer escorts at Leyte Gulf and many others. I am completely humbled by the bravery of men who stood against insurmountable odds and carried out their duty to the end.

[@captaintyrrell6428]

This incident is portrayed in the book and film 'Empire of the Sun'. It's worth a watch.

[@LWVH81]

Ironically I’m watching this from The Peninsula Hotel in Shanghai on the Bund

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Great - and a lovely hotel. I had afternoon tea there many years ago shortly after it opened.

[@bmused55]

The Royal Navy will always stand their ground and fight. Surrender is only for once the fight is over. Even the HMS Hood, as she split in two and sunk, fired her guns as a final shake of the fist at the enemy. Mark, you do fabulous work. Telling the stories that have gone untold. Keep it up!

[@Axgoodofdunemaul]

When I was a child in the early 1950s in the Far East, my (U.S. military) parents met several of the "old hands" that experienced these crazy events at various places. My mother, who was pretty and sociable, was told their amazing stories at the parties they used to go to. I barely understood the stories she relayed to us kids, but I got a thrilling and glamorous impression of what those times were like. Today, I still retain the impression they made on me. As a child, I had similar adventures when my mother, alone with us kids in Guatemala City, led us from house to house during the 1948 coup. Terry and the Pirates; the days of high adventure, the grimness not mentioned. As an adult, I heard similar tales from my fellow Vietnam veterans about the Fall of Saigon. I was then old enough to be glad I wasn't involved. Today, at age 76, I hope to God they don't happen again, especially not in in our beloved USA. Young people, consider this when you are voting in the 2020 election.

[@sr633]

Nameless men who did their duty RIP

[@Trek001]

Might only have been a T/L, but he reflected the finest traditions of the Naval Service and, despite being out matched by the Japanese forces, followed General Order 1 - engage the enemy

[@thomasbeck9075]

The British have always shook the world. Even when they lost they maintained their dignity

[@johnclayden1670]

True enough: but wasn't this fellow Australian?

[@catified2081]

Not anymore. England is a hollowed out shell of it's former self.

[@What2Have4Dinner]

Yea..... Brexit....

[@user-pk1yh1wf2p]

although in singapore they surrendered like jerks

[@davidedbrooke9324]

We also come back and are avenged.

[@dgray3771]

You have to be from a true seafaring nation to appreciate this captain. We Dutch do!

[@feartheghus]

Are you now trying to gatekeeper teh right to respect a man?

[@ntcarib]

Wow! This fella had Bloody Big Balls of Steel! Thank you again sir!

[@mirola73]

He got some of his crew killed in a utterly senseless act of defiance. Not sure the dead thank him for that ! He could have stretched the surrender, giving him time to destroy the code books, scuttling the ship and get his crew to shore, all alive.

[@timareskog2418]

Well, that's a fare bit of history I had never heard of before. It makes what we were taught at school pale into insignificance, yet we were well taught anything concerning Australia or the British Empire. Thank you for presenting this.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

My pleasure

[@wewuzvikangz4829]

I miss this great Britain, it needs to come back!

[@dictatorinperpetuity]

Mark Felton, keep up the good work. Everything you make is literally some of the greatest untold stories I most likely would not have heard unless I found your channel. Sooner or later your hard work will payoff.

[@alphalobster8021]

Here. Here.

[@ZuluLifesaBeech-]

I thank Mark Felton and The History Guy for not letting these stories be lost to time.

[@kingerikthegreatest.ofall.7860]

Well done mark. British ( and Anzac) courage at its best.

[@spo666tty]

I love learning about these little snapshots of history you don’t hear about anywhere else!

[@bubbasquid]

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels! Keep up the good work!

[@ellisdiggle1523]

I always love these david and goliath stories, a tiny gun boat vs a cruiser and shore batteries. Reminds me of Acasta and Ardent protecting Glorious from Scharnhorst and Gneisau

[@tedbaxter5234]

You may pay a price less than I but you will pay a price! I will not surrender! Wonderful story of

[@knutdergroe9757]

A Brave man, and Crew.....

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Sadly forgotten

[@knutdergroe9757]

Not by US !

[@imbetterthanyou6927]

Absolute mad lad

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Not bad for a 61 year old

[@imbetterthanyou6927]

Mark Felton Productions I must say, your works are great sources for academic writing. Keep up the good work.

[@Curiosity-NZ]

As a New Zealander myself, Polkinghorn was just being a typical kiwi. Throughout history it is recognized that Kiwis don't like being told what to do and do not like others taking what does not belong to them. That is why he told the Japanese "to get off my Bloody Ship". He would sooner go down fighting that to surrender meekly. If he had more weapons available he would have put up one heck off a show and definitely gone down fighting. But the safety off his crew was also uppermost in his mind. When he realized the futility of the situation he ordered the ship abandoned.

[@planetmikusha5898]

He didn't go down fighting.

[@AR-jx6wr]

Such brave men.

[@garysmith9842]

A Kiwi captain always willing to fight it out

[@simonmcnicholas]

First class narration of an epic tale, bravo

[@vespelian5769]

In the finest tradition of the service.

[@rexmundi3108]

People who's vocabulary does not include "surrender" are often left at a loss for words...I blame British dictionaries. I've heard there was one that defined "retreat" as a maneuver used by the French Navy. Ow!

[@Shorthairification]

You are by far the most interesting, gripping, and dry witted historical KZbinr I have ever come across. Hats off to you! Never quit

[@Bob.W.]

Would that the general officers at Singapore had this man' courage.

[@charliejdk]

Thank you for teaching me something I never knew before. Terrific production!

[@dr.ofdubiouswisdom4189]

Great narrative! You really brought that piece of history across. Thanks!

[@Tophet1]

Best WWII channel on KZbin.

[@theelderkine]

Now that’s proper defiance. Legend!

[@CentsTwo]

Wow that was an intense narration. Great to see stories from Asia too.

[@goldlee6094]

Respect or disrespect it’s up to you,but you shoul never look down or underestimate British!!!

[@Harryseal20055]

gold lee don’t doubt my great uncle😃

[@palibrae]

4:47 Launch heading for USS Houston, sunk with HMAS Perth on March 1, 1942 near the Sunda Strait. They didn't strike their colors either.

[@douglasthompson2740]

Just a note: A lieutenant commander is addressed for short as "Commander" not "Lieutenant". In formal situations he would be given his full rank when addressed. I think he earned all the respect that is due him. Too bad the general staff failed so miserably in the far east during the early days of the war. But then general staffs usually do! Take care. Doug

[@threestepssideways1202]

Indeed in much the say way that a Lieutenant Colonel is addressed as ''Colonel'', which to confuse those who have never served is the naval equivalent rank of a Captain, a Captain in the Army being the equivalent of a Navy Lieutenant, all of whom are all addressed as their rank formally.

[@frankh2811]

Wonderful as always, thank you again Mark.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thank you

[@antonfarquar8799]

The bulk of the German Jews in Shanghai were the decorated men who had fought with valor in the German Army in the first world war and their families. They were sent there by the Nazi government aboard chartered German liners. My friend, Siegfried Neumann, was the 17 yo son of one of them - apparently the German Jews were allowed to stay in Shanghai for the duration of the war. After WWII Siegfried immigrated to the United States living in Bridgeport Connecticut.

[@charlesinglin]

During the '30's the Chiang Kai-Shek government contracted with Germany for military equipment and military advisers. Gen. Hans von Seeckt, who'd been commander of the Reichswehr in the '20's, was involved with this and used it as a way of protecting and finding work for German Jewish officers who were being thrown out of the army after the Nazi's took over. During the battle of Shanghai in 1937 many of these advisers actually accompanied the Chinese units they were advising into the battle, though they weren't supposed to. The German-Japanese alliance of course put an end to this.

[@pilroberts6185]

Thousands of Jews there were also there escaping from Lithuania because the Japanese Vice Consul to Lithuania Chiune Sugihara gave them visas to escape the soon to be invading Germans. The SS commander in Shanghai told the Japanese to hand over these 'dangerous' jews to the SS. But the Japanese General Officer in charge refused. Apparently he had talked with the Jewish leaders who told them that one day the Germans might be the Japanese enemy as well, after all Jews were of Asian decent, and the Nazis would eventually fight or be masters of all non aryans. Also the Japanese General remembered that it was a Jewish banker alone among many who gave Japan funding in a time of Japan's dire need before the Russo--Japanese war. Thus the Jews of Shanghai were protected and survived the war. Interesting isn't it.

[@svy99n]

I am a British Ship's Captain and work around the Far East quite a lot. The story of the Petrel's stand is legend to ANZAC and British seafarers alike. Could you do a piece on the immense bravery displayed by Captain Fegen and the largely Merchant Navy and Auxiliary crew of HMS Jervis Bay? You could also include the forgotten action of the SS Beaverford and Capt Pettigrew who took up the Battle against the Admiral Scheer after Jervis Bay was sunk. It should be remembered that the Beaverford was a Merchant Vessel and just like the Jervis Bay was pathetically armed.

[@davidrussell5242]

All of Mr. Felton's work is superior as are the comments it generates Congratulations all around

[@battlements7649]

My heart, how chilling an account. The imagery- you have outdone all relevant competition, and are deserving of recognition- thank you!

[@Harryseal20055]

Battlements Corner Stephen polkinghorn is my great uncle lol if you didn’t know 😂😃 he is part of my dads side so he’s my dads uncle

[@trevorhoward2254]

Thank you for telling me this story.

[@ashleyhyatt6319]

Cuming's actions should be better known. There should be a film or documentary made. Very intriguing man!

[@mikebarktic7416]

Ah, the Glowworm spirit: 'That inveterate British characteristic - a bloody-minded objection to being shoved-around too much'. *"At 'em".

[@fr-tigerfangs7039]

Mark, keep on sheding light on these tiny spots in history where people showed their true selves. In this age of darkening reason and growing superficiality, we need to know that our ancestors stood up for something and that courage should never be seen as a vanishing word. Thanks again.

[@relivinghistory710]

This heroic effort, has the makings of a good film.

[@bigblue6917]

Typical British awkward squad. You've got to love him

[@lewismcculloch7397]

This was one of the best yet!!

[@ahall442]

What a story! I think this would make a great movie... One of many stories from the war.

[@brendanjohnson9149]

10/10 would watch again.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thank you

[@2headedtasman200]

Then watch it again.

[@asheland_numismatics]

This channel delivers!

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Many thanks

[@iantregale3215]

I never knew about this before I saw this film thanks for making it.

[@Jon908584]

After the Japanese surrender at the end of WW2 there was a lot of clearing up to do. A R.N. destroyer was sent to accept the surrender of a Japanese garrison on Sumatra. The Japanese Commanding Officer asked what was the name and rank of the destroyer's Commanding Officer. He then stated that he couldn't possible surrender to a mere Lieutenant Commander as he was a full Colonel . A full clip of 40mm Bofor shells through his office window brought about a change of mind. I would like to think that the sailors were not too gentle with the prisoners, particularly with the officers who tended to treat their rank and file with cruel contempt and force marched to wherever they were to be interned. Maybe handing them over to the Sumatrans might have been a fun thing to do.

[@prof2yousmithe444]

Love the British!!!!! Well done Dr. FELTON!!!!

[@Joker-jt3vn]

Another great story I had never heard. One thing gave me a chuckle... the Japanese shells were “throwing up great geezers”.

[@joshtiel2980]

Had no idea this even happened! Thankyou for sharing this story

[@harryohrt5255]

Once again, I, as a Yank (and former Canuck) am impressed by the professionalism of the British armed forces. Regretfully, I can not say the same for the American forces.

[@peterdirlis6461]

As always Dr. Felton, well done!!!!!!

[@princeofdenmark9142]

Good men, proud British.

[@ProfLars]

Thank you for your interesting videos! I discovered your chanel not long ago but I wanted to thank you for your work. I think it's important to learn about the lesser known aspects of the war.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Welcome aboard

[@ProfLars]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Thank you very much.

[@garydesarro2968]

This story is almost similar to the story of another British ship, the HMS Amethyst, which was under siege at the Yangtze River by the Chinese Communists, at nineteen forty-nine. At this situation, the HMS Amethyst heroically sneaked out in the middle of the evening time, and escaped from the capture. This program should do a video of the HMS Amethyst dilemma.

[@phbrinsden]

I was a 6 year old living in HK when Amethyst sailed into harbor, full of holes, but ensigns flying. She received a great loud cheer from harbor side.

[@garydesarro2968]

+pbrin Good to hear that. There was an old, black and white movie about the HMS Amethyst. I think the name of it was the "Battle Ground." It was a nineteen fifty-five movie. Just four years earlier, the British and the Communist Chinese were fighting as allies, against the same enemy....the Japanese. Soon after the Second World War ended, the Communist Chinese turned against their former wartime allies....the Nationalists Chinese, the Americans, and the British. By the way, I remember seeing an old black and white photograph in the Newsweek magazine, of the crew of the HMS Amethyst, standing on the dock in front of the ship, after it docked at the London. The ship's crew received a heroes welcome. At least the Amethyst caused a little bit of damage to the Communist Chinese on the shore, when it fired its artillery at them.

[@ernestturnage3653]

I had never heard of the HMS Petrel or the USS Wren until now. I am however well versed in the Panay Incident.Thank you for sharing the story.

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

Wonderful Mark, please do HMAS Yarra - the sloop that defended her convoy against a IJN cruiser squadron and their destroyers.

[@supershane1960]

Thanks mate, great story. So much history we're not made aware of... Well done.

[@RoonVonBismarck]

Damn, the Japanese cruiser had a long service life. If I'm not mistaken, Izumo was built well before WW1 and served until it was bombed and sunk in 1945.

[@CPDheadstomp]

Thank you for the history lesson and fantastic videos and pics.

[@BillHalliwell]

G'day Mark, You have to admire the pluck and stubbornness of the Kiwi Captain. Facing up to a battle cruiser with a couple of machine guns could be seen as stupid or courageous; I'll go with the latter. What an ignorant British Ambassador. Royal Navy skippers don't hand over their warships (even if they are river boats) without a fight. Ships at sea and aircraft don't surrender that's the convention and, I think, a right one too. The river boat's crew knew what the possible outcomes could be and followed orders and tradition. Good on them for enduring the years of captivity. I'll wager not one of them blamed their skipper for their predicament. Good story, thanks, Mark. Cheers, BH

[@mcmurdo6572]

Again another superb video about heroic British deeds!

[@patroit5192]

excellent clip of history. my hat off to your work sir.

[@fulcrum9641]

Great video. Keep up the good work !

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thanks

[@catherinejeffries7999]

The spirit that made England great

[@gilmoyes2590]

1. Pilkington was a New Zealander 2. You seem to have forgotten about Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, without them england would be nothing.

[@momouppa]

He was a Kiwi though...

[@eshuut9049]

This must be one of my favourite videos.

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

Please do a story on Mr. Tree, who was clearly a hero.

[@19ThreeLions97]

Pretty sure the japanese, too, respected the descision to fight back

[@aarondeck1884]

Hello Mark. I can't stop watching your videos! Subscribed! Thank you for the great content.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thank you for watching

[@n.m.s7552]

What a great story, about a true hero. Manned his ship to the end... Even though it would have had no use to help out later on in the war, it was still a British ship that needed to be protected or go down fighting! God bless him for opposing Japanese oppression, and thank you for sharing Mark.

[@worldwar2freak12]

I've been thinking this for a while, and this only confrims it; All Royal Navy small boy (fighting ships smaller than a battle cruiser) captains are insane. Between the Gloworm, the Rawalpindi, the Exeter and Ajax, Belfast and now this ship, there is definitly a recurring theme of small Royal ships fighting way harder then the situation should have allowed them to.

[@timrobertsgb]

RNR is a Merchant Navy officer serving in the Royal Navy

[@GrenadierV]

Also known as the Wavy Navy, because of the style of their rank on their uniform.

[@Zampan0]

A heroic tale. The crew in the POW camp were mighty thin, but they all had smiles and seemed to be ok.

[@khanvonaltena5780]

Subscribed ..and great work Mr Mark😎

[@katweasel]

Living in Shanghai Myself now - this was fascinating

[@johncook3125]

Fascinating video. Thanks

[@cartersmith8560]

you never fail to have me riveted

[@kevincito946]

My heart sank when I saw the pow photo

[@Kacer99281]

In the great tradition of Sir Richard Grenville