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The HMS Peterel and The USS Wake


The HMS Peterel (Great Britain) and The USS Wake (United States) were two river gunboats that were patrolling the Yangtse and West rivers in 1941. The men who were left behind by their 2 great nations are heroes in every sense of the word. Very little has been written about them and documentation is sparse and hard to obtain.The accounts that have been written are conflicting in some details. Photographs are rare and few in numbers. Just obtaining the names of the men who manned these gunboats are incomplete. The major reason for these things is because that at the time of the actions at Shanghi on December 7, (8th Shanghi time) there were many other battles that were larger, more significant, and far reaching, that were going on at the same time. 

The heroics of the men on the HMS Peterel and the USS Wake deserve to be told.



















With the outbreak of WWII in 1939, there was an urgent need for the concentration of as many Royal Navy ships as was possible, either in home waters or in the Mediterranean. This was imperative. One of the first moves that was made was to bring closer home the bulk of the ships in the China Squadron.

What once had been the most powerful overseas unit of the Navy, after the Mediterranean Fleet, had soon been reduced to a few elderly destroyers and some motor torpedo boats at Hong Kong and a number of the smaller Yangtse and West river gunboats. The attitude of the Japanese Empire was causing concern in London, but. the Royal Navy lacked enough ships to maintain a sizeable force against a possible threat from Japan. They had to deal with the actual threat from the German and later the Italian navies.

Most of the few remaining ships in the Far East lost many of their officers and senior ratings who were needed to help man ships brought forward from reserve at home and to train increasing numbers of reservists.

In order to overcome these reductions, members of the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who, because of their civilian occupations and were already in the Far East, were drafted into the service for manning the China Squadron ships.















Cargo steamer.


One of these R.N.R. officers was Lt, Stephen Polkinghorn, who was Master of a coastal cargo steamer. His war appointment was to the 310 ton river gunboat HMS Peterel.

The HMS Peterel had been built at Yarrow's shipyard at Scotstoun in 1927. It was armed with two 3 inch guns and a number of machine guns. She was powered by steam turbines and had a speed of 16 knots. The HMS Peterel's crew originally numbered 55 officers and ratings.  Like most of the "China River Gunboats", as they were known, the HMS Peterel — whose name was the result of an Admiralty typist's error for "Petrel" - had a very shallow draft of only 3 feet, 2 1/2 inches. The Ship was jokingly said that they could float on a wet face flannel!


















The HMS Petrel


Even though some of the China gunboats had been laid up so that their crews could be drafted elsewhere; the HMS Peterel retained 40 of her ship's company although nearly half of these were locally enlisted Chinese ratings. The main reason for this was that the Peterel's wartime task would be to serve as a radio communications link for the British Consulate in Shanghai.

Lt, Stephen Polkinghorn, had been planning retirement since he was then 62 years old. He found that he was to be the captain and the only commissioned officer on board. The 20 British ratings on board were a Seaman branch Petty Officer who was the Coxswain;  a Chief Engine room Artificer;  a Petty Officer Telegraphist; two Petty Officer Stokers, and a Stores Petty Officer;  a second Seaman Petty Officer;  an Engine room Artificer;  two Telegraphists;  two Leading Seamen and a Leading Stoker;  five Able Seamen,  and two Stokers.

With its reduced complement the HMS Peterel was capable of steaming for only a limited period of time. Her main armament could not be fully manned. Lt. Polkinghorn learned when he relieved the previous captain,  Lt. Commander Creer,  that it was not the intention for the ship to move nor was it expected to fight.  If the Japanese were to attack, Lt. Polkinghorn's orders were to scuttle the ship and to get his ship's company through Japanese occupied China to an area that was still controlled by the Nationalist Chinese army.

Until that time, the HMS Peterel's task was to handle radio signals to and from London.   Shanghai, was one of the major ports through which vast quantities of arms and supplies passed for the Japanese armies in China, and was an ideal spot for the gathering military intelligence.  Because of this, there were two extra naval officers attached as "advisers" to the British Consul.


























Although it was under Japanese control, Shanghai remained an international settlement with British, American, Italian, German and French communities ashore. The Japanese military made a constant and huge presence.


















Shanghai 1941.


An Italian and an American gunboat, besides the HMS Peterel, provided at least a token naval presence.

The Japanese naval forces was usually some gunboats, occasional destroyers and the more or less permanent guard-ship, the Japanese armored cruiser Idzumo which served as the flagship for the Port Admiral.





















IJN IDZUMO on Shanghais Bund by Takeshi Yuki scanned from Color Paintings of Japanese Warships.

The 9,180 ton cruiser Idzumo had been built as an armoured cruiser by Armstrongs at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1899 and was armed with four 8 inch, eight 6 inch and numerous smaller guns. Employed before the war as a training ship, her armament was probably increased to fourteen 6 inches before she arrived at Shanghai.

Throughout most of 1941,  life on board the HMS Peterel continued much as it had done the previous year and the only real reminders of the war in Europe were the occasional jeers by passing crews from the German rowing club and a "victory ball" arranged for members of the local German community.

The HMS Peterel was viewed daily by the Japanese officers from one of the IJN Iszumo's launches and the Japanese flagship occasionally trained her guns on the gunboat.

When talks began between the United States and Japan, in Washington DC, Lt. Polkinghorn felt that the tension had relaxed sufficiently to allow his ship's company some occasional games of football ashore and to permit all-night leave for those who were off-watch and those who had friends, or in the case of the two reservists, families living ashore.

On December 7, 1941, four of the crew had all-night leave but Telegraphist Jack Honywill gave his leave chit to P.O. Telegraphist Jim Cuming.

The duty quartermaster, A.B. Jim Mariner, during his watch had several Phone calls from a friend, who was a French Army sergeant in the small garrison in the French Settlement, asking him to come ashore. A.B. "Micky" Tipping relieved A.B. Jim Mariner just as it began to get daylight. He saw the IJN Idzumo, which lay downstream, training her guns on the HMS Peterel.  Although this had happened before,  Mickey Tipping called the captain,  but Lt. Polkinghorn decided this was all part of a war of nerves.

On December 7, 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor without warning, inflicting serious damage on the United States Pacific Fleet.  At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack,  the HMS Peterel was the last commissioned Royal Navy vessel on the Yangtze River.

News of the Pearl Harbor attack was slow to reach Shanghai.  At 4:20 am (two hours after the Pearl Harbor attack) reports began to trickle into the city. The telephone rang and Comander. Kennedy from the British Consulate asked to speak to the captain and told him he had been informed by the Chief of Police in the International Settlement that the Japanese had attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor.

Lieutenant Stephen Polkinghorn at once ordered "action stations" to be piped.  Since the Chief of Police had warned him not to take the news as official,  he debated whether he should scuttle the ship.

Any doubts were quickly removed when a launch flying a large Japanese ensign came in view carrying Captain Inaho Otani, head of Japanese naval intelligence in Shanghai and a small party of Japanese sailors, approached the HMS Peterel and the Japanese Chief of Staff came on board the HMS Peterel, which was lying at a buoy off the bund which served the French Settlement. 

Lieutenant Polkinghorn met him and took him to the wardroom. Through a civilian interpreter, the Japanese officer informed him that Japan had declared war on Great Britain and accordingly he should surrender his ship "in order to keep the peace of Shanghai".

"But Shanghai is an international port", Lieutenant Polkinghorn replied.  He was attempting to stall for time, in order for the demolition fuses could be lit and the code books could be passed down a special chute in order to be burned in the boiler room.

The Japanese interpreter read a copy of the surrender demands and a copy which was in English, was handed to Lieutenant Polkinghorn.  He refused to accept it. Lieutenant Polkinghorn immediately told the Japanese to "Get off of my bloody ship!"

Lieutenant Polkinghorn hoped that he had time to order the scuttling charges to be fired since resistance would be useless. Because he had been given the scuttling order and the reduced crew,  the HMS Peterel's 3 inch gun breech blocks had been removed and her total armament was now two Lewis machine guns.  The Japanese launch had only moved downstream a few yards when two red signal flares were fired from it.

This was the signal for the cruiser Idzumo and other Japanese warships to open fire and they were quickly joined by field artillery guns along the banks of the Whangpoo river. Within a very short time the HMS Peterel was being hit. The HMS Peterel was hopelessly out gunned, but returned machine gun fire on the opposing force killing a number of Japanese.

In the boiler room Stoker P.O.s Prince and Hornsey got one boiler flashed up (the ship relied on a diesel generator to provide power while at her buoy) and began burning the confidential books as these were passed down a chute, which had been specially rigged for the purpose, from the signals office by Telegraphist Liddington. As they were working there was a heavy crash forward and water started pouring down the boiler room bulkhead. The phone to the engine room was dead.

As soon as the Japanese began shooting, Lieutenant Polkinghorn ordered P.O. Linkhorn, manning the forward Lewis gun, to open fire and he was joined by A.B. Jim Mariner manning the second gun.  Jim Mariner saw that several of the Japanese in the launch were hit.


























Jim Mariner aboard the HMS Peterel


Jim Mariner was a 21-year-old aboard the gunboat HMS Peterel when he won his place in history when he fired the first shots against the Japanese navy,

*****



















Lewis machine gun.


The 21-year-old Jim Mariner was first to fire back with a Lewis machine gun and a number of Japanese were killed in the ensuing firefight.

In later years, Jim Mariner recalled the action just hours after the Japanese attack at Pear Harbor:  "We refused to surrender and were determined to fight to the finish".


























Jim Mariner 1995.


"I walked along and up the ladder on to the gun deck, which was now all action stations".

"We stacked the boat with high explosive charges which we planned to set off if we were boarded and armed ourselves with pistols and cutlasses, ready to resist boarders".

"Then red lights went into the sky and all hell broke loose. We thought it was going to be a mass invasion but it wasn't".

"They wanted to blow us to pieces. I just opened fire with my gun."


























He recalled how he and several colleagues tried to escape in a small motor boat tied alongside, but ultimately swam for safety.

He said: "We always had trouble starting the engine on this blasted thing."

"One of our fellows got down there trying to start the engine and he said: "I'll get this thing going if it's the last thing I do".

"And it was, he took a direct shot.". He said: "I've had it now" as he died. He was a very brave man."

"It was dreadful. The noise was shocking. They were at point blank range and they blew us to smithereens."

"I never thought I would get out of it alive."

After swimming to a Panamanian ship which he thought was safe, he was taken prisoner by Japanese troops that boarded her.

The Japanese declared war on Britain the next day.

They were initially prisoners of the Japanese Navy, but were later transferred to Japanese Army control.

They were transferred by ship to Wusong joining up with a large group of Americans from Wake Island and
marched into their prison camp. Friendships with American POWs continues still today, as do memories of his dead comrades.

He and some shipmates refused to sign the “no escape” contract but a compromise was later found. He spoke admiringly of the example set by the Governor General of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Aitchison Young.

























Sir Mark Aitchison Young.


He served as Governor of Hong Kong between 1941 and 1947. During his term, which coincided with the
Pacific theatre of World War II, Hong Kong came under the threat of Japanese invasion.

Mark Young was a prisoner of war in Japanese hands from December 1941 to August 1945. He was initially held in the Peninsula Hotel and subsequently incarcerated in a prisoner of war camp in Stanley, on the southern shores of Hong Kong Island. Shortly thereafter, he was later transferred, with other high ranking Allied captives including General Maltby, to a series of POW camps in Shanghai, Taiwan, and Japan, then to a camp near the Chinese-Mongolian border, and finally to a location near Mukden (modern Shenyang) Manchuria, until his liberation at war's end. Despite being the colony's highest ranking official, Young was mistreated by his captors. Japan was defeated and surrendered in September 1945 and the British regained control of the colony.


Ultimately Jim Mariner was required to work, but in teaming up with an American surveyor he was able to do his bit for the war effort

After nearly three years of captivity, they were moved, this time by train, breaking the journey in Peking, and passing through Manchuria and Korea when they eventually reached the docks.

The following document was issued to Jim Mariner in January 1942 on boarding the Nitta Maru from
Shanghai to Woosung. It was already, carrying American POW.’s from Wake Island. A number were beheaded by the order of Captain Saito. The O.C. Troop executioners were Warrant Officer Yoshimura, Petty Officer Takamura and Chief Petty Officer Kohara.









































The IJN Nita Maru.


The prisoners disobeying the following orders will be punished with immediate death:

1. Those disobeying orders and instructions.
2. Those showing a motion of antagonism and raising a sign of opposition.
3. Those disordering the regulations by individualism, egoism, thinking only about yourself, rushing for your own goods.
4. Those talking without permission and raising loud voices.
5. Those walking and moving without order.
6. Those carrying unnecessary baggage in embarking.
7. Those resisting mutually.
8. Those touching the boat’s materials, wires, electric light, tools, switches, etc.
9. Those climbing ladder without order.
10. Those showing action of running away from the room or boat.
11. Those trying to take more meal than given to them.
12. Those using more than two blankets.

Since the boat is not well equipped and inside being narrow, food being scarce and poor, you’ll feel uncomfortable during the short time on the boat. Those losing patience and disordering the regulations, will be heavily punished for the reason of not being able to escape.

Be sure to finish your Nature’s call, evacuate the bowels and urine before embarking.

Meal will be given twice a day. One plate only to one prisoner. The prisoners called by the guard, will give out the meal as quickly as possible and honestly. The remaining prisoners will stay in their places quietly and wait for your plates. Those moving from their places reaching for your plate without order will be heavily punished. Same orders will be applied in handling plates after meal.

Toilet will be fixed at the four corners of the room. The buckets and cans will be placed. When filled up, a guard will appoint a prisoner. The prisoner called will take the buckets to the centre of the room. The buckets will be pulled up by the derrick and be thrown away. Toilet paper will be given.

Everyone must co-operate to make the room sanitary. Those being careless will be punished.

Navy of the Great Japanese Empire, will not try to punish you all with death. Those obeying all the rules and regulations, and believing the action and purpose of the Japanese Navy, co-operating with Japan in constructing the new order of the Great Asia which will lead the world’s will be well treated.

Commander of the Prisoner Escort. Navy of the Great Japanese Empire.




















Prison Ship being sunk.


The Japanese prion ships were unmarked as such, and therefore some of them were sunk by the allies. It is said that 126,064 Allied POW's were moved aboard these "Hell Ships" in the 1942-1945 time span, and that the dreadful total of 21,039 died as a result of Allied attacks, mostly by submarines on these transport ships. Others estimate that more than 30,000 Allies died in these sinkings.

The prisoners were loaded onto a ship in Fusan, South Korea and after a terrible journey they arrived in Japan.






















The prisoners passed through a devastated Tokyo from United States bombing, on their trip in Hokkaido.



















A devastated Tokyo.


Jim Mariner described the prison Camp: "In my Japanese Prison Camp, there were seven long prison sheds to house the prisoners, each one divided into sections with rooms at strategic points. Running through each of them was a gangway with the toilets outside at one end. Around the sheds was an electric fence about five feet high with a four feet spread. The rooms were used by senior ratings and civilians."
























The POW barracks at the coal mines.


















"The officers, having their own shed,  Outside our compound was a road and further buildings where the Japanese quarters and the cookhouse were. Behind these was a ten foot high brick wall running all the way around the outside of the camp. On top of this wall was an electric fence. There were also guard towers placed at strategic places along it, manned for twenty four hours a day."




















The Japanese prison guards at the mines.


"The Japanese Sgt Major started walking about the camp closely followed by a small chicken. This thing appeared to have a charmed life, for the electric fence was certainly active as the loss of a few prisoners had proven. We named the chicken Pedro. As the days got longer and longer, he began to look better and better. In fact, he looked so good that one day he disappeared." 



























"The Japanese pulled the camp virtually to pieces in their endeavour to find out just who had been responsible for his disappearance, but all they found was a few feathers in such a position as to be unable to lay the blame at anyone’s doorstep so to speak. I never knew how he was captured, but I did know how he tasted, for the senior American civilians in one of the smaller rooms invited me in as a guest to his demise party. Although we did not have the benefit of roast potatoes and Brussels sprouts to accompany him, I can assure everyone that he tasted just as good."

"The legend of Pedro gave us a good laugh and raised our morale considerably, and became incorporated in our camp songs."



















British POWs who worked in the Japanese Coal Mines.



Jim Mariner and his fellow prisoners were worked in a coal mine until the end of the war.





















Unsupported roof of the main shaft in the working section at the  coal mine, in which POW's were forced to work.

























Crematory that was used to cremate the bodies of the men who died in prison camp.


Jim  recalled the nuclear bomb being dropped in August 1945.  He said: "I looked up in the heavens and it was the most beautiful night. I said: "If there's a God in some mysterious way that can hear me, please let me go home".

"I'm getting thin and I've been seven years abroad and I want to go home and see my dear old mum."























The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.





































Japanese urban area, the city of Hiroshima.

















A view of Hiroshima and outlying hills, seen in the autumn of 1945.


The first signs of the war’s end became apparent when a smuggled radio gave the first real indication of the end of the war. This was finally confirmed with the arrival of Allied personnel and food being parachuted in.





















Release of Allied Prisoners in 1945.


The British POWs were able to run up the Union Jack before being transferred to an airfield from where they flew to Tokyo. Next stop was Manila where he ran into a friend whose captivity had taken him elsewhere, but the bond between POWs was for life.

Jim Mariner travelled back to England via San Francisco and New York, arriving back in November 1945.

None of the survivors from the 22 man crew were decorated by their country and they believed it was because an American ship in similar circumstances gave up without a fight.

Jim Mariner said: "The navy refused to give us any decorations because it would be embarrassing for America."


























Lord Mountbatten.


When  Admiral Of The Fleet Lord Mountbatten, who was uncle of  Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh   (the husband of Queen Elizabeth II)  later found out about the action, he invited Jim Mariner as his personal guest to the Queen's review of the fleet in the 1960s.

Jim Mariner left the navy and spent 28 years with the police as a motorcycle officer and he played football and cricket for the police officer's team.


























Jim Mariner in 1966.


In 1969, Lord Mountbatten recognised Jim Mariner while on a visit to the town hall and asked the mayor:  “Do I have to come down here to tell you who your war heroes are?”


























Lord Louis Mountbatten.


Jim Mariner died early on Saturday, October 3, 2009,  at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.   At that time Jim was 90 years old and living in HanKinson Road, Charminster.






















Jim Mariner at home with his wife Muriel in 1995.


Jim and his beloved wife Muriel were married for over 63 years. The Mariner's had previously lived in Tedder Road, Kinson, and had three children, seven grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.

A service was held for Jim Mariner at Bournemouth Crematorium at 10.30am, and a reception afterwards from noon at the Boscombe’s Royal British Legion. 

*****

























HMS PETEREL - Peterel-class River Gunboat

Replacement River Gunboat ordered from Yarrow Ltd with HMS GANNET and launched on 18th July 1927 as the 5th RN ship to carry the name. It was introduced in 1777 for a Survey  Sloop (Ex   DUCHESS OF MANCHESTER) and was last used for a destroyer built in 1899 which was sold in 1919. After completion in 1928 the ship was disassembled and shipped to Hong Kong for re-assembly before being  deployed in the with the Yangtse Flotilla at Shanghai to provide a British  presence for the protection of British flagged shipping and British nationals.

*****

 William (Bill) Gamble Tipping

William Gamble Tipping was born in Castledawson on June 14th 1914, son of the late David and Minnie
Tipping of main street, Castledawson, Northern Ireland.




















Castledawson.


Bill Tipping joined the Navy in 1937-38 and went to sea to do his bit for King and Country unaware of the horrific events that he and his comrades were to witness first hand during the years of the second world war.



























William (Bill) Gamble Tipping.


It was during the Japanese intervention in the war that Able Seaman Bill Tipping was captured when his ship the HMS Petrel was sunk during a battle in Shanghai harbour, on December 7, 1941.

Reports were to filter back home to Castledawson that William G. Tipping was reported missing and was presumed dead, thus causing great sorrow to his family and friends in the district.

A Memorial service was held in Castledawson Presbyterian Church by the late Rev. W. Gaston, at which many attended and paid tributes to the brave young man.



















Castledawson Presbyterian Church.


For one year after this service, his aunt Margaret Jane Tipping, who was a school teacher in Castledawson, received confirmation through the Red Cross that Bill Tipping was alive and now held as a prisoner of war by the Japanese.

Able Seaman William Gamble Tipping had survived the sinking of the HMS Peterel and was incarcerated as a POW by the Japanese for the remainder of the war.

It was to be four years  during which Bill Tipping witnessed many atrocities on many of his comrades and was badly treated himself,  before the Castledawson man was set free.

Bill Tipping's release came after the Americans took the drastic step of dropping the atomic bomb on Japan, a sight which Bill witnessed, albeit from a considerable distance.

On his release from the camp, Bill Tipping returned to Castledawson a mere shadow of his former self. years of neglect and ill treatment had taken a heavy toll on his now skeletal like body, the full horrors of what occurred revealed for the first time to the local people.

Bill told tales of how they had to sleep pn Tents with their heads at the centre of their accommodation for fear of the Japanese bayoneting them during the night.

For the next 10 1/2 months he stayed in Castledawson before moving to America and eventually to Canada to his sister Bessie Dionne. Elizabeth (Bessie) Tipping had married a Dionne. She was the daughter of David and Minnie Tipping. Emigrated to Canada in the 1920's

He married Ida Tipping and in his latter years settled in Brampton, Ontario.


















Brampton, Ontario.


It was in Rexdale, that William Gamble Tipping was to lose a long battle against cancer on Christmas eve 1990.

Service was conducted at Ward Funeral Home, "Weston Chapel" on Thursday, 28th of December, conducted by Rev, Andrew Duncan, interment taking place at Brampton Cemetery, Ontario.





















Brampton Cemetery, Ontario. 


Bill Tipping leaves a widow Ida Tipping, a sister Bessie Dionne. and other relatives in this country and still in his home town of Castledawson, Ireland.

The Canadian Legion 210 held a special service for Bill Tipping, who for many years played down his role in the war and the treatment Bill, and many others, were subject to during captivity.

Castledawson mourned Bill Tipping's premature "passing" some 40-odd years ago. Many do so now in a time of great sadness for a young man who overcame so much in the most tortuous conditions possible, and to come home again to his loved ones in peaceful surroundings of picturesque South Derry.

When the news of the death of William (Bill) Tipping, in Canada, reached the South Derry town of Castledawson, many town folk in the district recalled Bill's harrowing experiences as a Japanese prisoner of war.

*****

























The IJN Idzumo in Shanghai.


Very early in the action at Shanghai., a shell from the Japanese destroyer lying only 200 yards away parted the forward mooring cable and the HMS Peterel swung across the river leaving one side comparatively safe from enemy fire.

Lieutenant Polkinghorn, with Leading Seaman W. Munn and Leading Stoker A. Smith, made their way to B gun deck to try to start the demolition fuses, but they failed to do so because the electrical power supply had failed.  Then flames from a fire below caught the fuses and Lieutenant Stephen  Polkinghorn made his way to the signals office to ensure the confidential books had been destroyed.

Emergency lighting could not be switched on because Stoker Usher, whose task this was, was severely wounded by a direct hit as he made his way from the junior ratings' mess.  The same hit also injured Telegraphist Honywill who had stopped momentarily to pick glass splinters from his feet.

With the confidential books burnt, Lt. Polkinghorn ordered "abandon ship" and A.B. J. Mariner jumped into the ship's motorized sampan while Leading Stoker A. Smith returned to the messdeck to see if anybody remained there.  In the darkness he stumbled over several bodies and thought E.R.A. Gibbons was among them. As he searched for any signs of life, a tremendous explosion caused the ship to list. Returning to the upper deck, Leading Stoker A. Smith found A.B. J. Mariner and two other A.B.s, R. Gander and Harry G. Shepherd, trying to start the sampan's engine.

"Those bloody sailors are fooling around. Get in there and get that engine started!" Lt. Polkinghorn ordered.

As Leading Stoker A. Smith clambered on board, Harry Shepherd cried out:  "They've got me" and slumped into the bottom of the boat.

But the boat's engine refused to start and so the men in it jumped into the water. L/Seaman H. Holman, who had received a severe head wound, tried to pull a table over the side to give him some support in the water but the effort was too much for him and instead he climbed out on to the after mooring buoy which was surrounded by oil fuel burning on the water.

A stream of tracer bullets came in his direction and realising he was silhouetted against the flames.  L/Seaman  Holman called to the sampan, but at that moment it was hit and went up in a sheet of flame.  Then L/Seaman  Holman saw a lifebelt,  visible from its calcium flare,  grabbed it and began to swim ashore.

P.O. W. Munn, left with Chief E.R.A. Arthur G. Allen  and P.O. Stoker William M. Hornsey  trying to get demolition fuses started, was suddenly lifted off his feet by an explosion and was blown through a deck awning into the water. Arthur Allen and William Hornsey vanished.

On the upper deck Chief Stoker. A. Prince saw a stream of tracer bullets spray across the athwartships passage and several drums of diesel fuel caught fire with a terrific explosion. With clothing burning furiously, he jumped over the side.  In the water he saw Supply P.O. Robert Hayne and Lead Stoker Usher,  who had a hole in his back the size of a soup plate, swimming towards him.

Lead Stoker Usher had managed to crawl forward, avoiding with difficulty, the  shell holes in the deck. The ship's white paint and varnished woodwork had been turned into blackened charcoal.. He saw that the barrel of A gun was bent U-shaped and one of the Lewis guns was trained skywards. There seemed to be a lull in the firing, so Usher plunged into the cold dark water.















Being on fire and burning fiercely, having received immense damage from enemy guns, the HMS Peterel listed to starboard and then sank by the bows as she drifted away from her mooring.  The entire action had lasted only about 10 minutes. 

The Japanese proceeded to machine gun the Royal Navy sailors in the water and it was because Chinese rescuers in row boats pulled them out of the water, even while they too were under fire, that the majority of the crew survived.  Of the crew of 22 men, 18 of them  were on board the HMS Peterel  and 12 of them survived the attack.

(Note: a Conflicting record shows that the crew of HMS Peterel consisted of 21, not 22).

HMS PETEREL CREW - as of December 8, 1941
Lieutenant Stephen Polkinghorn (CO)
P.O. K. Wainscott
P.O. W. Munn
Supply P.O. Robert Hayne
L/Sea H. Holman
L/Sea C. Williams (Caradoc Williams?)
A.B. R. Gander
A.B. William (Bill) Gamble Tipping
A.B. J. Mariner
Tel. W. Liddington
Tel. J. Honeywell
Chief Sto. A. Prince
L/Sto A. Smith
L/Sto H. Usher

Escaped
P.O. Telegraphist Jim Cuming

Fatalities Resulting From Attack
P.O. Charles E. Linkhorn
A.B. Harry G. Shepherd
P.O. Sto William M. Hornsey
Sto James Dunbar
C.E.R.A. Arthur G. Allen
E.R.A. Thomas Gibbons

Fatalities Resulting From Prison Camp
Tel. Ronald Oliver


Several of the survivors were picked up by a tanker, the SS Marizion, which had Norwegians officers. In violation of international law, the Japanese boarded the SS Marizion and took the survivors of the HMS Peterel as prisoners.

Within 24 hours of the HMS Peterel's loss, the surviving crew had been captured. That began nearly four years' captivity as prisoners of war.

Two of the crew that were ashore gave themselves up to the Japanese after helping to destroy confidential files at the British Consulate, but the third, P.O. Telegraphist Jim Cuming, with the help of false papers obtained by friends, remained at large.  Throughout the war Jim Cuming worked as an intelligence agent for an American-Chinese spy ring and despite many threats, including some from members of the British community, he was never caught .During the war,  Jim Cuming had many narrow escapes.

















Many years later, Lt. Commander Stephen Polkinghorn wrote: "The behaviour of the crew under the existing circumstances was excellent and I would especially recommend the Engine Room Department, under Chief Engine room officer Allen, who carried out their particular job thoroughly. Petty Officer Linkhorn particularly was instrumental in engaging the enemy with his Lewis gun and doing some damage, also L/Seaman Munn and Stores Petty Officer Hayne, both these men did as directed, also Telegraphist Liddington, whose smile during the burning of the wireless office and papers gave me courage".






















The last trace of the HMS Peterel that was found on the water following her sinking.


Of the three HMS Peterel crew members onshore during the attack, two were captured,  but the third,  P.O. Telegraphist James Cuming, remained at large in Shanghai for the duration of the war. Hearing the news of the HMS Peterel,  he quickly changed into civilian clothes, assumed a neutral nationality, and gave the Japanese a false name whenever they came around.  The Japanese sentries kept stoping him. but he always persuaded them to release him by means of his glib answers and false papers.

Petty-Officer James Cuming, who was from Sheffield, ran a one-man resistance movement in Shanghai during the Japanese occupation.  He moved, freely in the city for three and a half years. He  held a job, kept radio contact with Chungking, and provided a private news service for prison camp internees.

The Japanese put a price on the head of the unknown saboteur, of whom they had heard much about, but one whom they could never identify.  Every night,  James Cuming passed the latest news that he had picked up, by radio from London and San FrancLso, into the internment camp. Even more important,  Petty-Officer James Cuming transmitted to Chungking a steady stream of information on the Japanese movements and possible intentions in the Shanghai area.

"The Lonely Battle", is an account of Petty-Officer  James Cuming's harrowing tale. It was written by Desmond Wettern in 1960.


In 1945, Lieutenant Stephen Polkinghorn was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

A short work, "Lieutenant Stephen Polkinghorn", was written by Peter Oldham in 1984, regarding the experiences of Lieutenant Stephen Polkinghorn during the sinking and his internment. At the time the book was written, Lieutenant Polkinghorn was 97 years of age and Peter Oldham was able to discuss the period with him.




*****


The USS Wake





















The Withdrawal of the Yangtze River Patrol in 1941


On November 7, 1941,  President Franklin Delano Roosevelt orders all river gunboats and the 4th United States Marines to leave China, except those Marines assigned to protect diplomatic posts.




















November 18, 1941: In response to deteriorating political conditions in China, Admiral (later Senator) Thomas C. Hart, CINC, U. S. Asiatic Fleet orders Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) William A. Glassford, CO of the Yangtze River Patrol (ComYangPat), to return to Manila with five of his larger gunboats.

November 24, 1941: The United States Navy permanently closed its warehouse at Hankow, giving about 80 tons of supplies to the Americans who were still living in that city. Once that mission was completed, Lt. Commander Andrew E. Harris, of the USS WAKE departs Hankow, ignoring Japanese demands to stay, and begins a 600-mile voyage down the Yangtze to Shanghai.

















November 28, 1941: The USS WAKE (PR-3) arrives at Shanghai. Lt. Commander Andrew Harris and his crew, except for 14 men, are transferred to the larger gunboats USS OAHU (PR-6) and LUZON (PR-7) that preceded the USS WAKE down river. It was stripped of its guns and all but small arms ammunition. A skeleton crew of 14 reservists, under a Shanghai commercial harbor pilot, Lt. Comander Columbus D. Smith, USNR, remains on board. He was an old China hand, and Yangtze River pilot. When Admiral William Glassford, Commander of the Yangtze River Patrol, offered him the USS Wake assignment he accepted.

This was a courageous decision, since the possibility of death or capture was one hundred per cent. Eight members of the skeleton crew were radio operators.





















By late November, 1941, it was obvious that it was only a matter of time before war would break out between the United States and Japan.

December 4, 1941: Only two United States Navy vessels remain in Chinese waters, both not seaworthy enough undertake a crossing of the Formosa Straits in foul weather. the USS WAKE is at Shanghai to maintain communications until a radio station is established at the Consulate General and the USS TUTUILA (PR-4) is at Chungking to furnish essential services to the United States Embassy.



















The USS Tutuila (PR-4) standing watch at Chungking, China.



It had been decided that the Yangtze River Patrol would withdraw to the Philippines, but that the USS Wake would stay behind as a communications-station ship for the United States Consul General in Shanghai.
















Like the HMS Peterel, the USS Wake was the last remaining warship of the United States present at Shanghai on December 8, 1941.  Her crew consisted of fourteen (eight of whom were radio operators) and the ship had been rigged with demolition charges.  At 4:00 am she was approached by a large body of Japanese marines.

























Unaware of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that had occurred two hours earlier, the men on the USS Wake was not prepared for the sudden onslaught. The USS Wake was boarded and seized by Japanese Special Naval Landing Force troops. A Japanese officer easily jumped aboard (there was only two feet of freeboard) and stuck a pistol in the ribs of the crew member who had been on watch.













Surprised and overwhelmed, the ship was taken quickly. The USS Wake's crew is taken as prisoners of war before they can scuttle the ship. 


The USS Wake's commanding officer, Lt. Commander Columbus Darwin Smith, was at his private apartment onshore. Within minutes of boarding the USS Wake the Japanese forces had taken control as the crew was caught entirely by surprise. Not a shot was fired,  The USS Wake suffered the ignominious distinction of being the only United States Naval vessel captured during World War II without presenting any resistance.

Lt. Commander Columbus Smith  received a phone call about 4:30 AM. The message was grim — Pearl harbor had been attacked. We were at war with the Japanese. Commander Smith threw on his uniform and took a taxi to the Shanghai Bund waterfront. The streets were swarming with Japanese soldiers, but somehow Lt. Commander Smith managed to reach the waterfront.

Lt. Commander Smith could speak fluent mandarin Chinese, and a little Japanese.  He met about twenty armed Japanese soldiers, but they made no move to arrest him and take him prisoner.  The commander tried to get past them, saying he wanted to board his ship anchored midstream. They refused, but again made no attempt to arrest him.  Frustrated, Lt. Commander Smith took the cab back to the American Consulate on Foochow Road.  Here was a fully uniformed American naval officer arguing with 20 Japanese soldiers, and they then watch placidly while he drove away in a taxi!  Sometime later,  Lt. Commander Smith and some of his crew who had been on shore were taken as POWs.



















December 15, 1941: The USS WAKE is renamed the IJN TATARA and was attached to the Sasebo Naval District. The IJN Tatara is assigned to the China Area Fleet in the Shanghai Base Force.  Lt Yasumura Taiichi is appointed Commander. Undergoes refit at the Kiangnan Engineering and Dock Works, later at No. 1 Repair Facility in Shanghai. Two 3-inch AA guns are installed.


In 1946, after Japan’s defeat, the ship was turned over to the Chinese government and was called the Tai Yuan.  After the Communists took over China in 1949 presumably she went into their service, but the details are unknown

"Officially Dead - The Story of Commander C. D. Smith", by Quentin Reynolds, briefly recounts the taking of the USS Wake.

The USS Wake's crew was quickly interned and suffered a similar fate of the crew of HMS Peterel.

Later (in 1944) Lt. Comander Columbus Smith made a daring and successful escape from a Japanese prison.

A list of some of the USS Wake's crew who survived the war can be found below. The Source - USMC History Center, Washington DC. Special thanks to Prof. Eric Niderost of Chabot College, California.

                                                 Seial                 Place of
Name,                        Rank,    No,  Service,    Rescue,  Notes

Columbus Darwin Smith,  Lt Cmdr, 56415,USNR, escaped,  CO
Howard Thomas Washburn,  PhM1c, 1630190, USN, Hakodate
Allred Carter Sanders,     CQM, 6256894, USN, Hakodate #2,  Ret
Juan Balajadia,                 SC1c, 1102703, USN, Hakodate #2
Wilbur Earl Ballard,         WT1c, 2429483, USN, Kawasaki Osaka #5
Steward Gordon Barbour RM2c, 6256894 USN, Kawasaki Osaka #5
Daniel Colilla,                  MM1c, 2133033, USN, Fukuoka #1
Claude Nathan Conaway, GM1c, 1222129, USN Hakodate #3,  FR
Edgar Elwood Fuller,       RM2c, 3757397, USN, Kawasaki Osaka #5
William Benjamin  Ganci   CRM,   2147388, USN, Osaka area
Christian William Hein       MM1c 2426774, USN, Fukuoka #1
Albert Priest Henry,           MM1c, 1718438, USN, Hakodate #3, FR
Alfred Joseph Herbert,   BM1c, 2010544, USN, Hakodate #3, Hubert?
John Marcus Leftwich,   RM1c, 2655539, USN, Kawasaki Osaka #5
William D. Loughner,     EM1c, 2503488, USN, Fukuoka #1
Frederick J. Niles,         WT1c, 3948262, USN, Kawasaki Osaka #5
William Joseph Phillips   SC1c,  2613094, USN, Hakodate #3
Barney Daniel Prine,      CMM,  1539297, USN, Fukuoka #1
Ernest Ivan Reece,         BM1c, 3412396, USN, Hakodate #2, FR
Frederick Bernard Sharp CWT, 3830567, USN, Hakodate #2, FR
Gustie John Tardosky,    RM1c, 2432142, USN, Osaka area
David Gerard Tierney,    RM1c, 2121732, USN, Kawasaki Osaka #5
John D. Tobin,                SK1c, 1043098, USN, Hakodate #2
Ralph YaleWilliams,      MM2c, 2500494, USN, Hakodate #2
Charles Winterle,           CBM,  1647601, USN, Hakodate #3


The men on the ships of the HMS Peterel and the USS Wake were abandoned by their countries as being expendable. They knew that they faced a certain death or imprisonment.  They were not going to be rescued by anyone.  Each one of these men are REAL HEROES and deserve the thanks and admiration of both countries.