The Early Days 2 - by Vincent Hart

E.M..D/MX819966,MFV 1069

My Naval career began 11^th February 1947, when I joined HMS Ganges as a Boy Seaman. 

Twelve months later, during which time I attained the “rank” of Petty Officer Boy, I was drafted to my first ship ……HMS VANGUARD alongside at Devonport. It was aboard the good ship VANGUARD that I became somewhat disillusioned with the Seaman Branch of His Majesty’s Royal Navy , possibly something to do with having to scrub the ship’s side in all weathers or holy stoning and hand scrubbing the wooden quarterdeck, barefoot, in February, March etc, etc,etc.

So, together with two other Boy Seamen, I requested transfer to the newly formed (1947) Electrical Branch. Our requests were granted.Subsequently, when all the other Boys were drafted, en bloc, mainly to NORFOLK and NIGERIA, we three remained on VANGUARD…Tony Scammell as Topman, Dave Brigden as Foc’c’sleman and Guess who as the one and only Quarterdeckman!!For my sins, it became my daily routine to scrub the quarterdeck barefoot on my own, whilst Scouse Killick Seaman, in seaboots, of course, manned the hose. Me and my long handled scrubber doing the business two planks at a time. Thankfully, I was eventually “seconded” to the Electrical High Power Party, with whom I worked until being drafted  to the old HMS DEFIANCE Electrical School for my EM2’s course in August 1948.

This course successfully completed in February 1949 , I received draft orders to join the ill fated HMS AMETHYST in the Far East, meanwhile I was to join Devonport RN Barracks to await the next available troopship. At this time it appeared that Lady Luck was with me, because it would be several weeks before the next troopship would be ready to leave.

Sadly as we all know the Yangste incident occurred on April 19^th  and amongst those killed in action was a fellow Electrical Junior Rating, E.M.I Hicks. S.P.. It was not until May 4^th that I eventually departed the UK aboard the troopship S.S.LANCASHIRE, along with a considerable number of other Naval personnel heading for various ships,AMETHYST, CONSORT, BLACK SWAN etc.

We arrived in Hong Kong June 6^th and were temporarily billeted in the China Fleet Club, where I may say we lived rather well. To compensate for having to endure countless runs ashore and other such punishments , we were allowed to work on various ships in the harbour. Already residing in the Fleet Club were a contingent of ratings from AMETHYST, who had escaped the ship and been brought to Hong Kong by ship or flying boat. As you can imagine a great deal of ear bashing about the incident went on, whilst we were living together.

It was in July that the newly formed Hong Kong Naval force was inaugurated to become part of the Hong Kong Defence Force….the Flotilla to consist of four Admiralty Type Motor Fishing Vessels, these were

MFV 1540, built Wivenhoe Shipyard, 200 tons, 1 Shaft Crossley Diesel Motor, BHP 240 (9.25 knots). Dimensions 90ft(pp). 97.5ft(o.a)x22.5ftx5.5/11ft.

MFV’s 1044 built Herd and McKenzie (Buckie)

              1069 builders not known

               1156 Built Humphrey and Smith (Grimsby)

                All 114 Tons

                Armament Single Oerlikon mounted over the after cabin