This was a busy period and it has to be remembered that not all the crew changed at the same time. The Chronology states that some of the crew changed in January 1950.
Some of the period during the next two years was taken up patrolling the east and west coasts of Malaya to support the military operations against terrorist forces and to stop gun running and smuggling. The ship also took its turn as Guard Ship at Hong Kong and of course refits and exercises were carried out.
It was 15th August 1951 when Commander WC Elder took command and in November that year when the ship was nominated for service with the U N during the Korean War, between December 1950 and October 1952 the ship had three different periods in these waters. The duties carried out were numerous and varied.
A report of the first patrol 5th to 19th Oct 51 starts with a bombardment in the Han River and other areas. It also gives details of a pilot from USS Rendova being shot down near the enemy coast. The pilot was rescued by the ships boats. The same pilot was to earn his keep by acting as Air Liaison Officer directing his colleagues on other strikes until being returned to his ship.
Rescued American pilot
There were many other areas where bombardments with or without air cover took place some of them with very little sea room. Great difficulty was experienced in these often uncharted areas in being able to communicate orders so they could be heard by the helmsman with all the noise that was going on. It is mentioned that in the latter days the co-operation between the aircraft carriers and the ship had become very effective. A total of 51 bombardments were carried out with 633 rounds of H E and 46 of starshell being fired. Another brief report covering a period in December 1951 tells the story of co-operation with South Korean Guerrillas and other activites.
30th December 1952 Cdr. J G T Western assumed Command.
A report covering 19th July to 9th August 1952 notes the conditions for the crew of continuous watchkeeping and several sessions of all night action stations with interesting but arduous duties. The ship often worked with the US Navy and on one occasion when USS Carmick 'killed' a train on the coast. St Brides Bay remained in the area firing at the train to stop it being removed. This entailed using her armament whenever movement took place. Starshell was used at night to illuminate the area.
St Brides Bay was relieved by USS John R Pierce (www.ussjohnrpiercedd753.com) but unfortunately this ship was hit by a shore battery, having no medical staff of its own. St Brides Bay returned to the area and sent across the ships Doctor and LSBA. Quite a few more bombardments and coast watch patrols were carried out before this patrol ended.
Part of a report between 14th to 25 September mentions activities with US and South Korean Forces.
During October the ship worked quite a bit with ROKN (South Korean) patrol ships, with local guerrillas often being involved. At one period it is mentioned that Cdr Western whilst ashore heard of a landing that was to take place on a certain night and was just in time to stop a strike by aircraft on allied forces from an American carrier that that was due to take place.
A visit from First Sea Lord in HMS Birmingham on the 16th October made a welcome break. Unfortunately a planned visit by him to a local orphanage on Yong Pyong Do was not possible. The report does mention that in his absence the ships medical officer who had been a regular visitor presented each child with a bag of sweets from the Royal Navy. This shows the many varying roles that the members of the ships company carried out during this period.
A large number of the crew left the ship at the end of this year
Compilled by Eric Wyatt