My time in HMS St Brides Bay was from Oct 1953 to Oct 1954. I joined half way through a commission and left with everyone else at the end.

I got as far as Hong Kong in a troopship from Liverpool and found that St Brides Bay was in Japan. A week later I took passage in the Australian HMAS Tobruk to Sasebo and joined my new ship. As some of the Association will recall Sasebo was the American naval base in Japan, whilst Kure was the base for Commonwealth ships. I was given the job of Gunnery Officer, and a shoot had already been arranged for two days later! I hope it went off all right, but I really cannot remember. Soon we were in Kure, along with many other ships.

Kure had a big dockyard, much of which was still serviceable in spite of the bombing it had received a few years before. Kure is in the 'Inland Sea', like a huge lake with three narrow connections to the open sea. Our ships were regularly docked and repaired at Kure. I don't think we ever had any more than minor work done for us there.

The run ashore was considered good if not a bit too lively. It certainly gave the doctor plenty of work in the weeks later!

Autumn and Winter saw us doing repeated patrols along the west coast of Korea. The war was over; at least there was a ceasefire, but the allies were taking no chances and continued to be on their guard. One could easily see the coast and the off lying islands. It was really rather boring and exceedingly cold. I have never felt so cold as I did on the open bridge off Korea. We did not have any really good warm clothing in those days. The pusser's duffle coat was not up to the job.

As well the 4th Frigate Squadron there were usually 2 or 3 'C' class destroyers, several frigates or destroyers from Canada, Australia or New Zealand and a cruiser or two. I particularly remember seeing the Newcastle and the Newfoundland. The Americans, together with some South American navies took care of the east coast patrols from their base at Sasebo.

It must have in the Spring of '54 that we were let off the Korean duties and sent to Hong Kong for patrols in the Formosa Straits. Then, as today, the Communist Chinese on the mainland and the Nationalist Chinese on Formosa were all but actually at war with one another. Merchant ships of other nationalities using the Straits were in danger of being attacked by either side. For this reason the RN kept a destroyer or frigate ready.

It was during one of these patrols that we had to take a merchant ship in tow. She was the TEFKROSS.

During another patrol the Captain decided to anchor for the night in international waters off the mainland port of Foochow. It was Christmas Eve and we all had a wonderful meal, exchanged presents and sat down for a film. The latter was interrupted by the officer-of-the-watch who reported a ship approaching without lights and not willing to answer a challenge by signal light. We went to action-stations and I remember clearly, from my position in the director, watching this Chinese Nationalist frigate passing through the path of light given by the moon. Our guns were trained and loaded and it only needed one word from the Captain and I am quite sure our unwelcome visitor would have been sunk. However he just went on his way and never answered any signals that were sent to him. That was a Christmas I shall always remember.

In the Summer of 1954 we went in to Hong Kong dockyard for refit. I think it lasted about two months. As some of the members will recall, there was a fine dockyard in HK, with a dry dock and all the usual facilities. I believe the dock could take a cruiser, though I never saw a cruiser in it. Before docking St Brides Bay we saved ourselves the chore of de-ammunitioning, by firing off all the rounds during a succession of surface and AA shoots!

In October we paid off in Singapore, but before going into the naval base we did some work with the army and bombarded some positions along the west coast of Malaya where the guerrillas were said to be hiding.

Coming home was quicker than going out as we flew in 2 York aeroplanes, with three overnight stops on the way.

Lieutenant Commander Adrian Pettitt RN (Rtd)
Recalling his time in HMS St Brides Bay
October 1953 to October 1954

Names recalled:

Captain - Cdr C Le M. Scott. (Retired as a Captain and then became a Church of England vicar)
First Lieutenant - Lt Cdr Sherwood (a submariner)
Lt Cdr Hipkiss
Lt Rupert Prescott (crossed-the-bar circa 1998).
Mr Arthur Turner, Senior Commissioned Engineer Officer.
Petty Officer Corbett, captain of the FX.