June - 10^th to September 1951: Aboard HMS Ladybird. A converted riverboat moored in Sasebo Harbour, Japan. Originally towed from Hong Kong, in 1950, during fine, calm weather to establish a Naval HQ in Japan. Very old, beautifully built and spotlessly clean, being well maintained by Japanese dockyard workers. Our time aboard was spent 'learning our trade’, auditing the stores of the ship and getting to know each other etc. Mr. Norris was relatively easy to work for and with.

11^th. September: We join HMS Amethyst that had just returned from Hong Kong following a refit and, the following day we sailed to the west coast of Korea. With the exception of my personal comments (in Italics), the log that follows is extracted from 'Stem to Stern'. After all, you would not expect me to remember all this in such detail would you?

13^th: 1630hrs - Entered the Han River. (See separate article)

14^th: 'B’ Gun's crew exact harassing fire at enemy troop installations.

15^th: 'A’ Gun's crew fired on enemy troops.

17^th: 'X’ Gun's crew and starboard 40mm twin Bofors opened fire at enemy targets.

18^th: 0200hrs -'X’ Gun fired at enemy targets. 1400hrs - Hands to Action Stations. Main armament fired at enemy shore battery. 'A’ Gun used for harassing fire at enemy troops.

19^th: 'A’ & 'X’ Guns' crew fired at enemy positions.

20^th: Closed up at three Watch Cruising Stations. 1045hrs - Action Stations reducing to Defence Stations at 1300hrs. Seems too quiet to be healthy. 1630hrs - Ship fired on by shore batteries. Action Stations and fire returned with both 4" & 40mm.

21^st: Engaged enemy gun positions and carried out harassing fire whilst at Action Stations. Reduced to three Watch Cruising Stations on completion.

22^nd: Quiet day & good weather. C-in-C came aboard.

23^rd: Left Han River for Kure having been relieved by HMS St. Brides Bay.

24^th: 0930hrs - arrived Kure, Japan & proceeded alongside.

25^th: Commenced ammunitioning 0830hrs finishing at 1130hrs to the tune of "Praise the Lord and pass the..”

26^th: 1515hrs - changed berth to buoy. Both watches given 48 hours leave one after the other.

30^th: Left Kure to patrol on the east coast of Korea. Ship has covered 38,334.5 miles since leaving UK.

2^nd. October: 0100hrs - 'B’ Gun fired star shell at suspected target. Dawn Action Stations reduced to three Watch Cruising Stations. Arrived east coast & refuelled from USS Sussex then diverted to west coast.

3^rd: PM Arrived west coast & anchored for night. Weather fine.

5^th: Left for Han River after disembarking wounded. PM - opened fire at enemy troop concentrations along the coast.

6^th: Entered Han River.

7^th: 'B’ Gun's Crew commenced harassing fire at enemy troops.

8^th: Sounding party away in motorboat fired on by shore batteries but no damage or casualties. Fire returned by both 'A’ & 'B’ Guns.

9^th: South Korean JML fired on from shore and hit. Slight damage. 'X’ mounting opened with covering fire. 'A’ Gun fired at enemy targets.

10^th: All 4" continued firing at enemy targets. PM - Carried out night bombardment on enemy positions.

11^th: A few more rounds fired and then proceeded down river anchoring at the entrance.

12^th: At sea. Oiled from Wave Premier then escorted her en route to Sasebo.

14^th: Arrived Sasebo & secured at typhoon berth. Typhoon passed at midnight.

15^th: Ammunitioned ship & moved up harbour.

19^th: 0630hrs - sailed for Korean coast.

22^nd: Rendezvous with HMNZS Taupo anchored in the Han River. Three Watch Cruising Stations. Guns' crews firing at enemy positions.

23^rd: Carried out night bombardment with Taupo providing the illumination.

24/25^th: 4" continued firing at enemy positions

26^th: Seamen’s Landing Party landed for exercises. Day & night bombardment of enemy targets by main armament.

29^th: Intercepted junk and took prisoners. Continued day & night bombardment.

30^th: 1450hrs - Closed up at Action Stations and proceeded up river. Carried out bombardment and returned to former anchorage.

31^st: 0630hrs - Proceeded down river and anchored at entrance. 1630hrs - Sailed for Kure. Mileage since leaving UK now 40,961.

2^nd. November: PM Arrived Kure & secured to Buoy.

3^rd/5^th: Ceremonial Guard to drill. Preparation of farewell parade for General Robertson.

6^th: Ammunitioned ship by 1400hrs. Boot & gaitered party to drill on the jetty.

8^th: Full dress rehearsal for the above & a large number of 'gulpers’ lost for the loan of boots and new cap ribbons.

10^th: Ceremonial Guard paraded at Anzac Park.

11^th: Sailed for Inchon.

13^th: Transferred stores from HMS Belfast. 1430hrs - Anchored at Inchon.

14^th: 0930hrs - left for Sasebo escorting two US troop ships.

15^th: 1400hrs - Sasebo. Secured alongside oiling jetty.

During the afternoon, the Stores Clearance Party (us) left the ship and unfinished business to re-embark aboard HMS Ladybird. Our next seagoing draft would likely be aboard HMS Comus. HMS Amethyst sailed for Hong Kong the next day, ostensibly for a self-refit and 'rest’ and would eventually return to Japan and Korean waters.