Orders, Decorations and Medals

Naval General Service 1915-62, 2 clasps, Yangtze 1949, Minesweeping 1945-51 (D/KX.97531 D. C. Augustyn, Ldg. Sto. Mech. R.N.) corrections to official number, otherwise very fine

Leading Stoker Mechanic Denis Charles Augustyns, a native of Hull, served aboard H.M.S. Amethyst during the Yangtze incident, 20 April to 31 July 1949, and was one of those who remained on board the ship after the evacuations at Rose Island on 20 April, and Hsiao Ho on 21 April, taking part in the successful break out to freedom. He is mentioned in the diary of Petty Officer Frank, coxwain of the Amethyst, as one of the lucky winners in a raffle for one of four bottles of Pilsner beer that Captain Kerans brought back to ship after his meeting with the Chinese Commander on 22 July. It was the first beer they had seen for 94 days. Sold with copy Certificate of Service which confirms medal and both clasps, and shows that he served aboard Amethyst from March 1949 until January 1952.