Korean War 1950-1951
By
Boy Seaman 1/c A.M .Berry
C/JX 839412
Tony Berry Boy Seaman 1 949 |
1949
| On
the 13th July, Kenya, a Fiji class light cruiser, was brought forward
for a major refit that would enable her to relieve
HMS London on the Far East Station.
Kenya commissioned under the command of Captain P. W. Brock RN. for service with the 5th Cruiser Squadron Far East Fleet, and on the 18th of October left Chatham Dockyard for Portland and degaussing trials. After a brief work up and test , Kenya dry docked in Portsmouth for final inspection, and on the 25th October sailed for Plymouth and on the 26th to the Mediterranean. On passage, in the Bay of Biscay on the 27th Kenya answered a salvage call from the Belgian ship Suzon and stood by her until a tug arrived from Brest to tow her in. |
Capt PW Brock,Cmdr W.J |
 |
During November and early December ,Kenya worked up in the Mediterranean whilst based at Malta. Christmas 1949 was spent in Malta , after which Kenya sailed for Suez with Mr. Ernest Bevin aboard, who was taking passage to Colombo, Ceylon to open a conference, which was known as the Colombo Conference. On the 30th she left Suez en route to the Far East. |
Boys
Division 1949
1950
| Kenya started the 1950s at sea on passage to the Far East , and on the 3rd January called into Aden to refuel, and then onto Colombo. On the 3rd of February the cruiser Kenya sailed from Colombo for Rangoon in Burma carrying onboard sacred Buddha relics including the 'Sacred Tooth of Kandy'. Burma was in turmoil with Communist troubles and it was hoped that these relics and the presence of Kenya at Rangoon would have a steadying effect. |
As we were 51 years ago Boy Seaman!1 |
HMS Cockade |
She arrived in Subic Bay on the 3rd March and commenced exercises with the US Pacific Fleet , and HM ships the cruisers Belfast, and Jamaica, the aircraft carrier Triumph, and a destroyer flotilla , made up mostly of the 'C' class. On conclusion, the ships assembled in Subic Bay for a period of rest and recreation. In June 1950 Kenya was due to start a trip to Japan on a flag showing cruise, but the start of the war in Korea sent Kenya speeding to Sasebo, to join up with Belfast and Jamaica to join the Commonwealth Task Force. |
| The 2nd of July saw the United Nations start operations in Korea and for Kenya this meant a series of endless patrols in the Yellow Sea operating off the west coast of Korea, patrolling an area from the southern tip of South Korea up to 100 miles off Antung Airfield in China. Kenya became increasingly involved in the Korean Conflict and on the 5th August with Belfast and the destroyers Charity, and Cossack, and with air cover from Triumph. | 
|
The
Cruisers Kenya and Belfast carried out a two hour bombardment
of oil storage tanks and North Korean Army units at Inchon,
then withdrawing at speed up Flying Fish Channel without casualties.
On the 18/19th August, Kenya’s Royal Marines landed on
two islands in the approaches to Inchon, and both were
captured.
USS DeHAVEN D727 retiring at speed to escape being grounded by the tides at Inchon after the bombardment. |
The invasion of Inchon took place on the 15th September with Kenya and Jamaica giving gunfire support with elements of the US Navy, Toledo, Rochester, and 6 US destroyers. Swenson was hit and had casualties. After two days of using her 6-inch guns with great effect Kenya withdrew from the anchorage to replenish her ammunition and whilst doing this Jamaica was attacked by a YAK aircraft which she also shot down, but unfortunately there were casualties. Boy Seaman Godsall was killed and was buried at sea from the quarterdeck of Kenya with a moving service .The landings were carried out by the USMC by elements of the US 10th Corps. |
 |
 |
 |
| The
landing was a American affair , but the British cruisers
Kenya and Jamaica operated with gunfire support and Kenya briefly
came under fire from Wolmi Do, the water spouts coming ever closer
till silenced by a broadside from
Kenya. She carried out bombardments,
offshore patrols and maintained the blockade.
On the 20th September Kenya and Jamaica took part in a short range bombardment of Inchon. During the whole operation Kenya fired 1,242 rounds of 6-inch, and 205 rounds of 4-inch, and she had been fired upon by shore batteries. Captain Brock was awarded the American Bronze Star for his part in the operation. The remainder of the year was spent on patrols , and on the 7th December she supported the Allied ground evacuation of Chinampo. |
Wolmi Do NK HQ Damage |
1951
|
When the Chinese offensive started on 31st December , the United Nations Forces where pulled south in the face of heavy enemy action in the Inchon area. Kenya with Ceylon and other units formed a gunfire support group, providing interdiction for the army, who reported Inchon as completely evacuated by the 5th January 1951. |
| A total of 68,913 personnel, 1,404 vehicles, and 62,144 tons of cargo were lifted from Inchon, to Taechon, and Pusan. On the 8th March Kenya attacked coastal targets southwest of Pyongyang. Captain T. E. Podger RN, was appointed in command for next commission, on 20th May, and Kenya flew the flag of Rear Admiral Scott-Moncrieff, and covered HMS Ceylon, which had landed a raiding party on the west coast of Korea behind enemy lines . | 
|
In
August, Kenya left the Korean War Zone and arrived at
Singapore for refitting and re-commissioning. She had to her credit,
on completion of 12 months service logged 63,000 mile four times
her normal peacetime steaming, and up to the 16th July, she had steamed
on her main engines for 365 days. Since she left Chatham in
October 1949, she had fired at the enemy 3,000 6-inch shells, 2,242 4-inch
shells and 14,240- 40mm shells, nearly all with observed fire.
Kenya
was officially credited with having killed many hundreds of
enemy troops, destroying many shore batteries, barracks, war factories,
ammunition and supply dumps, pillboxes and entrenched positions. She left
with the following signal:
| Kenya
(R) C in C FES
F.O2.i/c.FES RESTRICTED
ROUTINE
A Godspeed and Farewell to an ‘’Old Timer’’ who did over a year’s outstanding service, .participated in the actions at Inchon and in many other missions . Under trying conditions you reflected by your high moral endurance, seamanship and gunnery to the credit of your command , the British Navy and United Nations Fleet of which you where so long an active part . Well Done and a Happy Cruise Home. Vice Admiral Harold M Martin, Commander 7th Fleet . USN 27 0534z. |
HMS Kenya did have one casualty who was killed at the Chosin, Petty Officer Tate. He was our instructor in the Boys' Division that transferred by Jackstay to a destroyer and served with the Royal Marine Commando.
We shall not forget him.
Tony Berry 2002
51 years later at a reunion in Derby Ships wheel of Kenya and myself |
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2002 James Paul & Martin Spirit. All rights reserved.
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