The Amethyst returns to Hong Kong following the Amethyst Incident (1949)

GAUMONT BRITISH NEWSREEL (REUTERS)
To license this film, visit www.britishpathe.com/video/VL...
Royal Navy frigate HMS Amethyst arrives in Hong Kong harbor, cheers and salutes from RN ships, Governer of Hong Kong congratulates officers and crew
Full Description:
SLATE INFORMATION: The Amethyst Returns in Triumph
CHINA: Hong Kong:
EXT
AMETHYST, H.M.S. Returns to Hong Kong after escaping from her berth on the Yangtse River under Communist guns. On the bridge, see Commander Kerans and Lieut. Hett. Seen nearing the harbour with crew of 60 officers and ratings on board. Shots of the damage - shattered superstructure and smashed gun turrets. Holes in the hull plugged by hammocks. Passing ships of the Far Eastern Station each in turn cheering the Amethyst. Accorded the honour of entering Hong Kong ahead of the cruiser, Jamaica - whose crews joined in more cheers. H.M.S. Belfast, flagship of the Commander-in-chief now saluted the Amethyst., who hoists signal. Shots of the tattered White Ensign. Union Jack painted on her decks for aircraft recognition. Thousands on shore watch and let off firecrackers. Governor of Hong Kong welcomes the Commander Kerans, Radio-operator Jack French and Doctor Fliehgt-Lieut Fearnley
"BELFAST", H.M.S. Flagship of Commander-in-Chief at Hong Kong after escaping from its birth in the Yangtze River
RADIO-OPERATOR JACK FRENCH of the AMETHYST D.S.M. Being congratulated by Governor of Hong Kong and high officials on the Amethyst's arrival at Hong Kong
HONG KONG. Amethyst enters Hong Kong harbour ahead of the cruiser Jamaica. Governor of Hong Kong comes on board to congratulate Lieut. Commander Kerans and members of the crew. Thousands on shore let off fire crackers and watch Amethyst come in
JAMAICA (R.N). Amethyst on escaping from Yangtze River accorded honour of entering Hong Kong harbour before Jamaica while Jamaica's crew cheers the Amethyst's crew
LIEUT-COMMANDER KERANS OF THE AMETHYST Seen on the bridge of the Amethyst on entering Hong Kong harbour - also with his second in command Lieut Hett. Later, being congratulated by the Governor of Hong Kong and other officials
NAVAL BRITISH Amethyst returns to Hong Kong. Enters harbour ahead of Cruiser Jamaica, whose crew joins in cheers. H.M.S. Belfast flagship of commander-in-Chief now salutes the Amethyst.Amethyst much damage to superstructure, gun turrets etc.For full details see card Amethyst
Navy - Active
ship, ships, war hero, war heroes, sailor, sailors, harbor, harbour, Royal Navy, flags, White Ensign, Union Jack, Communist, Communism, China, HMS Consort, Chinese Civil War, People's Liberation Army, PLA, field gun, battery, batteries, shore guns, cannon, Lieutenant Commander B. M. Skinner, First-Lieutenant Geoffrey Weston, Lieutenant-Commander John Simon Kerans, Naval Attache, HMS London, HMS Black Swan, commander Ye Fei
Background: Royal Navy frigate HMS Amethyst arrives in Hong Kong harbor, cheers and salutes from RN ships, Governer of Hong Kong congratulates officers and crew
FILM ID: VLVAA5STMWR2TNTIDG8KY8O274B18
To license this film, visit www.britishpathe.com/video/VL...
Archive: Reuters
Archive managed by: British Pathé

[@phbrinsden]

I was a 6 year old standing on that dock among the crowds as Amethyst steamed slowly in. I recall she had to move slowly to avoid water entering holes. I’m now 81. Good grief, such a long time ago.

[@billyponsonby]

Fighting from an open bridge you need balls of steel and an umbrella

[@montyzumazoom1337]

William Hartnell was brilliant in the movie.

[@jackwills7092]

Iron men wooden ships Today ironside wooden men Look up Stoker Bannister

[@user-mq3lj9jc3t]

The incident itself seems starting from an accident or misinformation. But after 100 years it surely evolved differently than 1840.

[@jamesnorton8316]

Good Show "Amethyst." Talk about your river cruises!👍👍👍

[@ThePanzer6]

Plenty of Stiff upper Lips

[@coleparker]

I just got through watching the movie that was made about this incident. A great portrayal of the brave crews trial in the situation.

[@indeficit2]

They were defeated. If they were brave they wouldn't have retreated.

[@coleparker]

@@indeficit2 That does not mean anything. No one was expecting them to replicate the Alamo Battle and die in their places defending the ship.

[@indeficit2]

@@coleparkerIt was a disgrace. Nothing brave about it is what it means.

[@coleparker]

@@indeficit2 Easy for someone to say that was not there.

[@davepoole5582]

My Great Uncle was the only man from the HMS Amethyst to be be missing in action....

[@ricbarker4829]

The RAF Flt LT looks like a Sqn Ldr.

[@user-cl6jb3xq5b]

In April 1949, the Third Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army was preparing to launch a cross-river operation in the Zhenjiang section of the Yangtze River the next day. The British Navy's Far East Fleet frigate "HMSAmethyst" ignored the People's Liberation Army's announcement of April 20, 1949, the deadline for foreign ships to evacuate the Yangtze River, and broke into the People's Liberation Army's front line to cross the river section. After disobeying the warning and being shelled by the People's Liberation Army, the "Amethyst" immediately fired back. During the artillery battle, the "Amethyst" was seriously damaged and ran aground. From the afternoon of April 20 to 21, the People's Liberation Army artillery will successively arrive for reinforcements from the British Navy's Far East Fleet destroyer HMS Consort, heavy cruiser HMS London, and frigate HMS Black. Swan) repelled. Subsequently, the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the United Kingdom initiated contacts and negotiations on the issue of responsibility for the incident and the detention of the "Amethyst", but no results have been achieved. On July 30, 1949, the "Amethyst" escaped during the night and exchanged fire again with the People's Liberation Army artillery on the way. On July 31, the "Amethyst" escaped from the Yangtze Estuary, and the relevant negotiations between the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the United Kingdom were terminated. In the "Amethyst" incident, the Chinese People's Liberation Army suffered 252 casualties, and the British Navy suffered 45 deaths, 1 missing, and 93 injuries. The "Amethyst" also caused heavy casualties among civilians during its escape. This incident demonstrated the firm determination and strong courage of the Chinese Communist Party, which is about to establish a new China, to defend national sovereignty. This incident also marked the final end of the "gunboat diplomacy" of Great Britain and other powers in China.

[@user-lh1hd8ss9i]

I can see that by the statement made above by user-cl6jb3xq5b that there has been no change in the People's Republic of China's tendency to present lying propaganda in place of truth! He is clearly a chinese propagandist promoting the propaganda of Beijing. The truth of the matter is that the Chinese Communist forces fired on HMS Amethyst, then HMS Consort, HMS London and HMS Black Sawn without provocation by the British and as a means of proving to the world that they could defy international law as a revolutionary force who would soon take over all of China. Once in power in 1949 and as an established threat to world peace today, China has continued her policies of atrocity including mass starvation, mass murder and slavery! As a sign of what kind of nation and government that the People's Republic of China is during the Cultural Revolution they desecrated the graves of all foreign military personnel buried in China including the graves of the HMS Amethyst crewmen who died during the incident and were buried in Shanghai. The graves were opened, the bodies exhumed and then destroyed after being shown to the public. This is similar to what the Iranians did to the American military personnel who died in Operation Eagle Claw(the failed hostage rescue mission) during the Carter Administration when the dead burned bodies were dragged through the streets of Tehran. It is not stange therefore that China and Iran should have an alliance as they are both savage nations bent on world conquest. This is the truth that all those who seek peace should acknowledge and use all of their will to oppose these lying murderous regimes!

[@ahmadzurishaameri5035]

Where's her master mascot, the cat 🐈?

[@HarborLockRoad]

Should have all gotten the VC

[@montyzumazoom1337]

Men with hearts of Oak

[@brianmarshall1637]

Nothing has been said about the Attlee governments response to China.

[@martinmcgoldrick1357]

We Should have fought alongside the nationalist's. Hong Kong would still be british today.

[@user-hb9jq7wb7l]

那要靠军事实力，不要靠嘴

[@chaorommel1204]

If you say that in Hong Kong, try our fist

[@Youyouyoutube999]

Wake up💤

[@phbrinsden]

People forget that Hong Kong was not “owned” by UK but was a long term lease. When the lease ended it was handed back as per contract. UK didn’t “lose” HK but simply handed it back when lease ended. The CCP actually allowed the lease to run as per the terms for years.

[@user-rc1fi5gz6g]

This is news

[@outsidewell6932]

It was let to “escape” secretly by the PLA who supplied the needed fuel as well.

[@crickcrot]

Lies are you Chinese

[@hrunchtayt1587]

Back it up with a source bro. Or is it a source you found wrapped in tinfoil?

[@chaorommel1204]

@@hrunchtayt1587 At that time, Mao, who was in charge of military and diplomatic power, first ordered the army to capture warships, but in the end, considering the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations with Western countries on an equal footing after the founding of New China, he acquiesced in allowing the Amethyst to sail out of the Yangtze River. If you doubt my point, look at the House of Commons debate papers for yourself.

[@j.r.hartley5127]

Trying to imagine how the British would feel if a Chinese warship sailed up the Thames to ‘protect Chinese interests’ and guard the Chinese embassy in London. The British still seem to be ignorant about their own national history and have no clue how much lasting resentment and strife the British Empire created. What DO they teach in British history classes?

[@roysimmons3549]

It also brought order to lot of places where there was none..But I don't expect an AB to acknowledge that. Live here? Take a look around the ME area sunshine.

[@nickprohoroff3720]

Ho, ho. Dragon whips tail. White man limp home.

[@amaamas6550]

Talking crap you fool, my father was on that ship, so I know what happened, where were you , coward on a keyboard

[@coleparker]

Hardly. Had them trapped, but white man out wits them again.

[@edthebumblingfool]

Wasnt it PLA incompetance that turn it into an incident in the first place?

[@Amoore-vv9wx]

you ran away. keep running. anglo-saxons have a very active imagination.@@coleparker

[@GodfreeRoberts]

Amethyst got whipped. Not heroes. Murderous bullies.

[@jbut1208]

Murderous bullies is a great description of the PLA who committed murder against there own kids in 1989 or did you miss that mate! Convenient Eh!!

[@cao7064]

@@jbut1208 yep, but Amethyst are bullies anyway...They refused to leave another country's territory and choose to open fire... Murderous indeed... Your stupidity blinds yourself

[@daviecrocket9160]

@@cao7064 lets just agree that all nations are murderous, or shall we say their leaders?

[@Brecconable]

Free Tibet. Long Live Hong Kong.

[@crickcrot]

@@cao7064 the Chinese reds opened fire first if it were not the Americans also British Empire then China would have been dominated by Japan's fascist Empire.

[@user-cl6jb3xq5b]

The Amethyst Incident, also known as the Yangtze Incident , was a military conflict between the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the British Royal Navy on April 20-21, 1949, on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River near Zhenjiang. On April 20, 1949, when the Third Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army was preparing to launch a cross-river operation in the Zhenjiang section of the Yangtze River the next day, the British Navy's Far East Fleet frigate HMS Amethyst sailed into the Yangtze River, China's inland river. Amethyst is still sailing from Shanghai to Nanjing as usual, preparing to change defenses to the "Mate" destroyer deployed here. Ignoring the April 20 deadline announced by the People's Liberation Army for foreign ships to evacuate the Yangtze River, they tried to use the People's Liberation Army to reserve a defense zone for the crossing section. And did not heed the warning, a military conflict broke out between China and Britain. The People's Liberation Army artillery bombarded the Amethyst after the warning failed, and the British ship immediately fired back. During the artillery battle, the Amethyst hoisted a white flag and turned around. However, due to the serious injury of the captain, the hull leaked and finally ran aground on Taipingzhou, Zhenjiang. The British immediately ordered the destroyer "Mate" stationed in Nanjing to go down, and the heavy cruiser London in the offshore led the "Black Swan" frigate stationed in Shanghai to go up for reinforcements, intending to drag the Amethyst out of the shoal to Shanghai. From the afternoon of April 20 to April 21, the People's Liberation Army artillery bombarded the British Navy's Far East Fleet destroyer HMS Consort, heavy cruiser HMS London, and Black Swan, which arrived for reinforcements. "HMS Black Swan" corvette. The scale of the firefight greatly exceeded the Amethyst war itself. In the end, the three British ships gave up the tow plan and returned to Shanghai. Since then, the two sides have been in contact and negotiation for three months on the responsibility for the incident and the seizure of the Amethyst, but there has been no result. During this period, the Amethyst made simple repairs and left the shoal on its own, under the supervision of the People's Liberation Army. The artillery was wrapped with a white flag and anchored in the river. On July 30, the Amethyst Quartz weighed anchor at night while the tide was high, and escaped close to the port side of the passing passenger ship "Gangling Liberation" of similar tonnage and shape. The People's Liberation Army artillery on the south bank of the Yangtze River discovered and intercepted it, but the "Jiangling Liberation" was unknown. After the lights went out, it was mistakenly thought that the Amethyst was sunk. On July 31, the Amethyst escaped from the Yangtze Estuary, and the relevant negotiations were terminated.