Eulogy For Eric

What a marvellous way, that this day has been described by Eric Junior, which is..

“Eric Sets Sail on his Final Patrol" For that is what we did; we patrolled the seas around Hong Kong.

Small craft alone at sea three days out, two days in harbour.

Some ratings of the HKF are here today:

Stoker mechanic Eric Milner, SKX841644

Chairman. Hong Kong Flotilla Association. Leading Seaman Ron Renshaw.

Able Seaman Andy Andrews, myself.

Now we are a few of the remaining lads that once served on those small Hong Kong Patrol Boats so long ago.

So it’s great privilege to pay this tribute to Eric on this last Patrol.

He is our special Shipmate.

He is the last survivor of the Hong Kong Pearl River incident that resulted in seven of our Shipmates being killed in action on his boat. They did not come home, as we few that are left came home.

They now rest in peace in Hong Kong, that piece of land which will be forever England.

Not only did Eric bravely serve then, but that service for years was unsung, unwritten, yet he was a Royal Navy hero in every sense of the word. Eric's bravery was not only 65 years ago but throughout his illness he was as stubborn over that as he was in his brave words in defence of his Captain, Lt Merrimen, who was wrongly considered to be at fault in that action.

An author has recently published Eric’s defence of his Captain in an article where Eric gives his impassioned version and putting the record straight.

Eric received 65 years ago an active service gallantry award, as did his Shipmate Able Seaman Ralph Shearman who bravely maintained the wheel, until he too was killed by the last shell. “ Mentioned in Dispatches”

Ralph's sister Ruth aged 10 years old then is here with her husband Tom.

Together with Eric Senior and Eric and Trish we are all members of the thriving Hong Kong Flotilla Association.

Eric had never forgotten those seven killed on 1323, and throughout his life, he has defended his brave Captain. Who was wrongly blamed for going to close to the Communist Gunboat that attacked Eric’s boat. That same Captain suffered terrible injuries; he suffered without the help of morphine.

He died just as they reached safety.

Ron Renshaw of Patrol craft 1329 was waiting on the quayside to help rescue the wounded and care for the dead. Ron is a living witness of that fateful day.

Together with 1323's Leading Seaman Cleaver BEM and the few surviving members of the crew Eric kept the engines running to enable the boat to reach harbour. He extinguished fires although surrounded by unexploded shells, and he attended to the wounded and helped rig the craft so she could sail safely, but Eric's duty was keep those engines running. Those engines he said he loved… those engines did not fail.

Years ago, Warrant Officer Mr Bennett Engineer officer in charge of the boats and who completed the after action report on the Engine Room told me "the fuel lines were peppered and punctured and but Rating Eric Milner repaired the engines and enabled the boat to power it's way home.

Motor Patrol Gunboat 1323 is not just a number to us few of the Flotilla and here today. Able Seaman "Andy" Andrews 1323, and Leading Seaman Ron Renshaw 1329, Peter Yeates 3510, these numbers are etched in our memories, so today is the last Patrol for Stoker Mach Eric, and we hare honoured to be here.

Finally: In my experience, true heroes rarely appear like the Hollywood version. They are usually modest, understated, dignified people with a sense of moral integrity and loyalty. That was my impression Eric Milner.

We talked for well over an hour about his life in the Andrew and the incident when he was decorated for bravery for his part in bringing the damaged Crimpboat home to safety in Hong Kong. During our long talk he never mentioned that he had been injured himself on that day and received extensive splinter wounds to his back. I only learned of it later.