Escape of the Amethyst, C.E. Lucas Phillips
Escape of the Amethyst, C.E. Lucas Phillips
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
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Escape of the Amethyst

Author: C.E. Lucas Phillips

Narrator: Dennis Kleinman

Unabridged: 7 hr 39 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 05/31/2022


Synopsis

The astounding true story of the ordeal and escape of the British frigate Amethyst from Chinese Communist batteries in the Yangtze River in April 1949.

In the early morning of 20th April 1949, HMS Amethyst was fulfilling orders to travel to Nanking to stand guard for the British Embassy during the height of the Chinese Civil War when she was fired upon by guns from the riverbank.

Shells pounded into the ship, killing the commanding officer and destroyed the bridge before the ship grounded on the bank.

How did the Amethyst escape the battering of Chinese Communist guns?

C. E. Lucas Phillips's Escape of the Amethyst was written with the full assistance of Commander J. S. Kerans, DSO RN, who took over control of the Amethyst, and utilizes a wealth of Admiralty records, much of which was previously classified as Secret, to provide a vivid account of this extraordinary moment in the history of the Royal Navy.

About C.E. Lucas Phillips

Born St Vincent, West Indies in 1897, C. E. Lucas Phillips was educated at St Lawrence College and King's College London. During World War I he served with the Royal Artillery in France and Flanders. He was promoted to Major before he was twenty-one and was awarded MC and Croix De Guerre. During World War II he served with Montgomery in the Western Desert, and in Italy. He was promoted to Brigadier and awarded an OBE and bar.

He wrote several war books including Cockleshell Heroes, Escape of the Amethyst, Alamein, The Greatest Raid of All and Springboard to Victory. He was a passionate gardener and has also written books on gardening including the much acclaimed The Small Garden and Roses for the Small Garden.

He met his wife Barbara at a dance in 1921, they married in 1924 and subsequently had four daughters. He died in 1984.


Reviews

Goodreads review by William on November 23, 2021

Amethyst and the great escape ! This is a spectacular remembrance of the crew and the suffering they experienced at the hands of the Chinese .......more

Goodreads review by Simon on February 15, 2023

An intriguing story told in a dispassionate way that robs it of much of its potential for drama, suspense and claustrophobic peril. The author embraces whole-heartedly the stiff upper lip cliches attributed at the time to the British officer class. The consequence of this is the all the characters we......more

Goodreads review by Sam on November 21, 2021

A true and fascinating story of war on the Yangtze River in 1949 A neutral British ship of war is brought under devastating Communist Chinese artillery and small arms fire as she peacefully sails under traditions of neutrality between Communist And Nationalist Chinese lines. Heavy casualties and dama......more

Goodreads review by Sandy Craig on March 08, 2022

Anyone Who Thinks that they can deal in good faith with the Chinese communists should read this book This book is about more than the outstanding bravery and fortitude of the ships company, other British & Nationalist Chinese sailors, airmen, soldiers, and commanders. It also reveals the despicable w......more

Goodreads review by Ron on November 05, 2021

A truly great book about an incident I had never heard about. What the sailors had to endure and go through was eye-opening and that they never lost faith or gave up was truly inspirational. A great read. Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.......more