CAMPAIGN GROUPS AND PAIRS


Acheson was shot in the back as he climbed a ladder to Cockchafer’s bridge and he fell to the deck, bleeding profusely, but continued to direct operations from the spot.


Darley in the Kiawo hoisted the signal for “Open fire’, and Cockchafer’s guns went into action. Her six inch guns were directed at targets in the city and one of her first 6 inch shells demolished Yang Sen’s yamen, or headquarters, although the General was absent at the time. The 3 inch guns engaged the batteries that were firing on her. The Widgeon also joined in, pinpointing some of the guns.


Despite the murderous fire of the Chinese defenders, the bridge rescue party reached its objective and the Wanhsien’s Captain and five others were led to safety aboard Kiawo. However, naval casualties were severe; Lieutenant Higgins and several of his men were killed in the first rush, and Lieutenant Ridge, after holding off a group of armed Chinese, finally fell with 15 bullets in his body. Commander Darley boarded Kiawo to check on the progress of the operation and was almost immediately shot dead.


In the meantime, the three officers on Wantung took the opportunity to escape from the saloon. Two attempted to swim to a nearby French gunboat, which took no part in the action; one made it, the other didn’t. The third crouched on the ship’s rubbing strake, from where he was later rescued by Kiawo.


Lieutenant Fogg–Elliott realised that there was no prospect of recovering the ships and gave the order to withdraw, once a final effort had been made to recover the casualties. By that time night had fallen, and the darkness was lit by red streaks of rifle fire, the flash of shell bursts and the glare of burning buildings. Kiawo led the two gunboats to an anchorage about five miles from the city, where they could assess the damage and casualties. The killed numbered 3 officers and 4 ratings, whilst two officers and 13 ratings were wounded. On board Cockchafer, in addition to Commander Acheson, five more members of the crew had been wounded. Lieutenant A. F. Pugsley of Widgeon took temporary command.


Cockchafer was not yet out of danger. The following morning, as Kiawo and Widgeon disappeared downstream, the No. 1 Pilot told Pugsley that there was insufficient water for the larger Cockchafer to negotiate the rapids safely. The No. 2 Pilot seemed willing to try, whereupon the No. 1 Pilot said that he could do it after-all. However, the latter was acting oddly and at the critical moment, as the ship was gripped by the fierce current and racing towards the foot of the rapids, he ordered the helm to port instead of to starboard. Pugsley had been watching the man closely and instantly ordered full astern; the ship went aground but, fortunately, on a bank of shingle. Later that day, as she anchored for the night, a Chinese regiment passed by only a stone’s throw away on its way to Wanhsien; Cockchafer did not advertise her presence and, apparently, was not recognised.


During the action, Cockchafer fired 23 rounds of 6-inch and thirty of 3-inch, mainly directed at the troops and gun emplacements ashore, as well as a considerable quantity of small arms ammunition. Widgeon fired 66 rounds from her 6-pounders. Chinese casualties were hard to assess, as details of the incident were distorted and exaggerated for propaganda purposes, but one reliable estimate puts them at about 250 soldiers and up to 100 civilians. It is interesting to note that, following his recovery, Commander Acheson was posted to an appointment far from China. The Chinese blamed him for the affair and had placed a bounty on his head.


Despite the only partial success of the operation, the Admiralty expressed its thanks to the participants, to which the Commander-in- Chief, China, Admiral Alexander–Sinclair, added his own appreciation. Several decorations were awarded, including the Distinguished Service Cross (2), the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (2) and the Distinguished Service Medal (4). A total of 27 officers and men were mentioned in despatches, some posthumously; Leading Seaman Wright was one of 15 from Cockchafer to be so mentioned.


In May 1928 Wright took passage in the Concord to return to the United Kingdom. In November 1929 he began a two year draft to the Adventure in the Atlantic Fleet. Then, after a period ashore in Plymouth, he served from September 1932 to January 1935 in the cruiser Norfolk on the America and West Indies station. He was rated Petty Officer in August 1934, and served ashore at Drake, the RN Barracks at Devonport, from January 1935 to September 1936. Having been consistently assessed as a man of 'Very Good' character, Wright was awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in May 1935.


Wright was next drafted to the destroyer Basilisk, deployed with the Home Fleet, in September 1936, and left the ship at the end of her commission in March 1939. He served ashore at Drake from March 1939 to January 1941, having been promoted to Gunner (a Warrant Officer rank) in December 1940, and the following month he was assigned to the Prince Leopold. In December 1941 the Prince Leopold was part of a force which carried out a raid on German-occupied Norway (Operation Archery). On the 27th the force entered Vaagsfiord in northern Norway and landed 585 Commandos, who destroyed the local fish processing and telecommunications facilities. Meanwhile, the warships sank some German patrol boats and merchant ships and the Kenya engaged a coastal battery. Their most important success was the capture of ‘enigma’ related codes from a German naval trawler. The force arrived back at Scapa Flow on New Year's Day 1942 bringing with them 343 Norwegian volunteers.


Prince Leopold was one of the landing ships deployed for Operation Jubilee, the landing at Dieppe in August 1942, and in July 1943 she was deployed in Operation Husky, the Allied landings in Sicily. In February 1944 Wright returned to Plymouth. His Commanding Officer described him as “An efficient officer and excellent disciplinarian.”


Wright's next ship was the Speaker, which he joined on 13 January 1945, and then sailed for Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, in company with two other escort carriers and three destroyers. They had brief stops at Alexandria and Aden, with flying practice en route, and reached Colombo on 4 February. Some of the ships joined the Eastern Fleet, but the Speaker was ordered to continue her voyage to Sydney, where she would join the British Pacific Fleet. She arrived at Sydney on 23 February; the first priority was repairs and maintenance, giving her company the opportunity to enjoy the famous Australian hospitality.


The Speaker left Sydney on 9 March for Manus, the BPF's forward base, and was designated flagship of the 30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron, commanded by Commodore R. P. Carne. After a short sojourn at this bleak place she sailed for the refuelling area of the Fleet and provided air cover (Combat Air Patrols) during Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa. Her sixteen pilots flew 446 hours of CAP duties in thirty-three days. The ships off Okinawa and the Sakashima islands were repeatedly attacked by kamikazes but Speaker and the ships of the logistics force were not involved in combat action. On conclusion of 'Iceberg' she returned to Sydney for repairs, resupply and shore leave.


In June 1945 Speaker's CO, Captain James, reported that Wright ‘has worked satisfactorily and shown himself a reliable Officer Of the Watch at sea and in harbour.’ With this recommendation, he was promoted Acting Commissioned Gunner.


The BPF then began operations against Japan itself, flying missions against targets in the home islands. Speaker rejoined the Support Group on 20 August with replacement aircraft. As many aircraft as possible were then flown off to the operational carriers and Speaker prepared to act as an accommodation ship. The surrender of Japan was followed by operations to locate POW camps and then liberate the prisoners, many of whom were in a desperate condition. Speaker was the first British warship to embark prisoners of war; on 3 September she sailed for Manila with 473 Commonwealth men on board. Captain James had been instructed to pass by a few of the larger ships but when he saw that the decks of every ship were crammed with men all bursting to cheer, he took Speaker out of the Bay by 'a most tortuous path.'


Speaker's departure from Tokyo Bay was one of the most moving scenes of the war: ‘As she steamed through the British anchorage the ship's companies of all the British ships gave her a send-off which those who saw it will never forget. The sight of this small carrier with her ship's company fallen in for leaving harbour in accordance with naval custom but with, in addition, hundreds of ex-prisoners of war ranged on the flight deck cheering like mad and being cheered, brought tears to the eyes and the realisation of what the presence of the great fleet in Tokyo Bay meant to these men.’


Wright began his no-doubt long-awaited passage back to the UK on 28 September 1945. On his return from the Far East, he was reappointed to Drake. He retired with effect from 24 September 1946, with the rank of Temporary Lieutenant. George Wright died in January 1987 at East Dereham, Norfolk.


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