Papers concerning the "Amethyst Incident" [or "Yangtze Incident"] and papers of Rear Admiral Sir David Scott

Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0014/DKNS

Scope and Contents

This collection mainly consists of naval signal logs from H.M.S. Amethyst while under attack by Communist forces on the Yangtze River. This was also known as the "Yangtze Incident" and took place 20 April - 31 July 1949. There are also other papers relating to the incident such as reminiscences of those involved, articles and correspondence. The Rear Admiral Sir David Scott material includes reminiscences of events from his boyhood; through to his retirement and also includes material detailing his career: certificates; a Midshipman's journal; photograph albums and correspondence, along with David Scott's family material such as his brother Minden Scott's diaries.

Dates

Creation: 1949 - 1980

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers wishing to publish excerpts from the papers must obtain prior permission from the copyright holders and should seek advice from Archives Centre staff.

Biographical / Historical

During the “Amethyst Incident” Captain Peter Gerald Charles Dickens (1917 -1987) was Staff Officer (Operations) to the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Station, a post which he held from 1949-1951. Later he was promoted to Captain, became a Staff Officer for NATO based at Izmir (Turkey), and served as naval aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II. His father was Admiral Sir Gerald Charles Dickens and his grandfather was the novelist Charles Dickens.

During the "Amethyst Incident" Rear Admiral Sir David Scott, KBE, CB (born 5 April 1921) was Flag-Lieutenant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Station, Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, KCB, CBE. Scott was later Chief of Staff to Flag Officer Submarines and Chief of the British Navy Staff in Washington D.C. He then held the post of Deputy Controller (Polaris) 1973 - 1976 and from 1976 until his retirement in 1980 he was Chief Polaris Executive KBE, CB. He died in January 2006.

Extent

14 archive box(es)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The files were arranged into three sub-fonds due to their apparent creation and who they were created by. DKNS I all relate to the "Amethyst Incident", DKNS II were all written by David Scott and DKNS III are all about David Scott's career, his family and ancestors.

Other Finding Aids

The collection has been catalogued and copies of the catalogue are available at Churchill Archives Centre and on the Archive Search website: https://archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk/repositories/9/resources/1524

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was deposited at Churchill Archives Centre by Rear Admiral Sir David Scott in July 1992, September 2002, and June 2003 and by Sir David Scott's son Richard Scott in March 2015.

General

This collection (fonds) level description and catalogue was prepared by Louise King of Churchill Archives Centre in September 2003. Additional information was obtained from the papers themselves.