Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Naval General Service Medal awarded to Boy K. J. Morton, Royal Navy, one of the youngest members of the ship’s company in H.M.S. Amethyst during the ‘Yangtze Incident’ in 1949

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Yangtze 1949 (D/JX 836312 K. J. Morton, Boy. R.N.) in named card box of issue, extremely fine £1800-2200

Kenneth John Morton (1931-2005) entered the Royal Navy as a boy rating at the training establishment Ganges in July 1947, and first went to sea in the cruiser Norfolk. But by early 1949, he was serving in H.M.S. Amethyst, as a consequence of which he was present on the occasion when Chinese Communist forces opened fire on her on the Yangtze on 20 April that year. One of 59 of the ship’s company subsequently evacuated, having swum across from Rose Island where the ship lay aground, he made his way cross-country with his shipmates to Shanghai. On arrival, he was admitted to hospital with a complaint believed to have been contracted during his time in the water of the Yangtze. He was later repatriated to Hong Kong, where he rejoined the Amethyst after her famous escape at the end of July 1949. Back in London, he participated in the ensuing celebrations, marching through the streets of the capital and attending the official dinner held at the Dorchester on 16 November 1949. He retired from the Royal Navy in March 1957.