1944-1960

12 May (Friday)

SS ETHEL MOLER incident.  Seized back from the Chinese Nationalists and returned to Hong Kong on the 13^th under a boarding party led by Lt Cdr R.T. Ridgeway

Whilst on patrol off Amoy COSSACK sighted in the early morning a light merchant vessel in the vicinity of Chapel Islands. Closing to identify the vessel it was found to be the SS ETHEL MOLLER (564 tons) who had been captured by the Chinese nationalists three months previous. Painted on her side were the Chinese characters meaning – “To live again on Resurrection Day”.  The boarding party were piped away and within a few minutes fourteen men who had been specially drilled for the occasion were crammed in the whaler hurriedly adjusting their equipment and all the more excited than nervous. In the whaler the boarding officers gave their instructions as to where each man had to go. Two positions in particular had to be taken in control immediately on boarding – the bridge and the engine room.

Lining the MOLLER’s rails were many well-armed Nationalist soldiers stood watching whilst the boarding party clambered up the ship’s side. They offered no resistance but then COSSACK was close by with all guns trained. In less than a minute everything was under control. Captain Waites, the Master and his crew were very pleased to see the boarding party as they had had a pretty rough time during the three months the ship was in the Nationalist’s hands.

It was learnt that there were onboard 150 soldiers, 2 generals, 12 Chinese women and 4 children. There was also 3 boxes of silver bullion.. The job of disarming the soldiers was soon under way. Rifles, bayonets, hand grenades and revolvers were locked away in an after compartment under guard. The boxes of silver were placed on the bridge.

Meanwhile signals were flashing between ETHEL MOLLER and COSSACK and the whaler returned  to the MOLLER bringing Lt Cdr H.J. Bartlett and the steaming party with provisions, including a jar of rum.  The whaler also brought COSSACK’s medical Officer (Surgeon Lt R. Morgan RN) to attend the four men who were wounded when the MOLLER left Tungsang harbour under Communist fire at midnight on inspecting the filthy conditions forward were the wounded lay very soon found better accommodation for them by putting them in the compartments occupied by the generals and their wives who reluctantly transferred themselves elsewhere. With their wounds dressed all were left comfortable, except one with serious head injuries. Lt Cdr Bartlett and the steaming party took charge and the ETHELL MOLLER got under weigh and headed south for Hong Kong escorted by COSSACK. During the late afternoon HMS Whitsand Bay took over escort and COSSACK returned to her patrol.

The Chinese were pleased as punch they had got their bunks back from the soldiers and the Chef proudly ordered them out of his galley, his enthusiasm was so much affected that he set fire to the galley funnel twice when he turned up the oil. Another happy member was the Chief Steward who calculated that his wife in Hong Kong should be “having a baby at any time now”.

The steaming party settled down into two watches. Rum was ‘issued in the correct fashion and at the proper time. The meals were as good as could be expected.

For the night it was decided that only women and children would sleep in No 1 hold, all the soldiers, except the generals bedded down on the rice sacks in No 2 hold so as to be kept under supervision from the bridge.  Arrangements were also made for a quick “black out” should there be retaliation from Nationalists planes.

At approximately 2000 a plane was heard circling around the ship and the ship was darkened.  This happened twice before information from WHITSAND BAY that the aircraft was from Kai Tak exercising with BELFAST.

The night passed uneventfully and the following morning preparations were made for entering Hong Kong. After having an early dinner the steaming Party with bayonets fixed were stationed at vantage points all over the ship and at 1210 Saturday May 13^th the ETHEL MOLLER entered into her home port.

Press launches were the first to greet her, taking pictures as she headed for the quarantine anchorage in Kowloon Bay where the police and health authorities came onboard and took over responsibility.

At 1315 the Navy (with half a jar of rum) left the steamer in a police launch to board HMS Alacrity leaving Lt Cdr Bartlett to attend the Inquiry etc. Almost immediately ALACARITY sailed and the following day the steaming party were transferred back to COSSACK ending an interesting, sometimes exciting and much publicised episode.

 

In May 1951 COSSACK intercepted SS Ethel Moller carrying a cargo of rubber and escorted her towards Singapore – her master – Captain Waites!

 

 

Boarding party

 

Lt Cdr. T .G. Ridgeway RN

Surgeon Lt R. Morgan RN

S. M. Baker. AL

POSM Fahey J

Elect. Harrop F

L/Seaman Kingland F

ERA Knights H

EM Kermeen J

PO Orchard C

SM Reid D

SBA Sharp E

AB Smith L.G

L/Seaman Stevens D

L/Signalman N

 

 

Steaming Party

Lt Cdr H.J. Barlett DSC.RN

SM Baker A

Mech 3 Bristow C

Elect Harrop F

AB Haywood B

AB Luke A.C

CPO SM marsh W

AB McDowell R.

OD McGuffie J

PO Orchard C

SM Reid D

AB Smith L G

Tel Sawyer E.

OD Todd A

OD Warrener

 

24 – 28 June.

Yangste Patrol (26 June 1950 Korean War started)

 

In late June, 1950, the U.S.S. ROCHESTER joined the Carrier Task Force. The ROCHESTER was under the command of Captain Edward L. Woodyard and proceeded to Korean waters. The ROCHESTER was ordered to the West Coast of Korea, carrying the flag of Vice Admiral Struble and operated with TG77.1

Support Force ( RADM W. G. Andrewes, R.N.) consisting of cruiser’s U.S.S. ROCHESTER [CA 124], Capt. E. Woodyard in command, and H.M.S. BELFAST, Capt. Sir Aubrey St. Clair – Foc in command.

 

The screening destroyers were TG77.2 comprising of SHELTON, EVERSOLE, FLETCHER, RADFORD,MADDOX, S.N. MOORE, BRUSH, TAUSSIG, H.M.S. COSSACK, H.M.S. CONSORT. The Fast Carrier Group TG 77.4 (RADM J. M. Hoskins, U.S.N ) consisted of the U.S.S VALLEY FORGE and H.M.S.TRIUMPH.

COSACK was allocated to T.U. 96.8.1 with BELFAST and CONSORT under Rear Admiral Andrews