St Brides Bay received a message to attend a boat in trouble. It had refused to identify itself and was shelled by an American plane.

On arrival at the scene we found a small family fishing boat - if I recall correctly, three members of the family injured. The most serious being the father who had an injury to his back that you could almost put your fist in.

At this time this incident caused some anti US feeling. None more than from Surgeon Lt Alan Mackay, who, like most of the crew, could not understand how a small fishing boat was to contact a US plane and identify itself! The Surgeon got together a band of assistants - Jim (McLelland) being one of them - to perform an operation lasting many hours. Even with many of the crew donating 'O' Group blood, the patient was sadly lost.

Having both recently joined the HMS St Brides Bay Association (Leading Seaman) Tony Christmas and (Able Seaman) Jim McLelland are corresponding with each other after nearly 50 years! The following are some of their memories the 4th commission during the Korean War.

Another memory of the Korean War is of the numbers of bodies that were pulled from the Han River. All had to be looked at for identity bracelets, if none were being worn the bodies were left to drift on. If they were servicemen they were brought on board to aid identification and cause of death.

It was Tony (Christmas) who reminded Jim of the occassion St Brides rescued an American pilot who'd been shot down ....

Brides Bay was supporting and spotting for aircraft from an American carrier. The target was an island in the Han River - a fortress bristling with AA guns.

After many attacks with rockets and Napalm bombs, and as there was no reply from the island, it was assumed the exercise had been a success and the American pilot flew in low and close to access the damage. Seen bailing out St Brides Bay immediately launched her motor boat - Tony being a crew member. We could see that the Communists had also set out to capture him but with a little covering fire we got their first. Although shaken the pilot was none the worse for his experience.

A few days later, after he'd been returned to his carrier, a ransom was duly paid in the form of a two gallon container of ice cream, ending the episode on a lighter note. Both ships then resumed normal duties.