A FINE 'YANGTZE INCIDENT' SECOND TO KOREAN WAR GROUP AWARDED TO PETTY OFFICER OF H.M.S. LONDON WHO DURING THE ATTEMPT TO SAVE H.M.S. AMETHYST, REPORTEDLY LOST THREE SHIRTS AS A RESULT OF THE INTENSE CHINESE SHELLING OF HIS SHIP. LEAVING THE ROYAL NAVY, A YEAR LATER HE JOINED THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY AND SERVED IN THE KOREAN WAR

1939-45 STAR; ATLANTIC STAR, AFRICA STAR, PACIFIC STAR; WAR MEDAL 1939-45, DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS 1939-45, NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE 1915-62, 1 CLASP, YANGTZE 1949 ‘C/KX 94904 J. FRETWELL, P.O.S.M. R.N.’, KOREA 1950-53, 1ST ISSUE ‘J FRETWELL NZ 13717’, U.N. KOREA 1950-54 ‘J FRETWELL NZ 13717’ With Royal New Zealand Navy Petty Officer Cap badge, shoulder board slip and rank insignia.

Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic Jack Fretwell, from Oakham, Rutland, joined the Royal Navy circa 1938, aged 18. Serving through the second War, he was serving aboard H.M.S. London as a Petty Officer, Stoker Mechanic, when his ship was involved in the famed Yangtze Incident in April 1949. On his return home, Fretwell was interviewed by the Leicester Evening Mail and reported; ‘that he had lost three shirts as a result of the shelling by Chinese Communists’ (presumably as a result of blasts) and that he was lucky to have escaped unscathed. He also reported having lost twelve friends killed and others died of their injuries on the way home. Leaving the Royal Navy in 1950 after twelve years service, he joined the Royal New Zealand Navy, serving with them during the Korean War.

The above service taken from the Leicester Evening Mail article, published on 17 September 1949. No research has been undertaken into locating his overall service and service in the Royal New Zealand Navy is only known due to the named New Zealand Korean medals and Royal New Zealand Navy Petty Officer insignia.

Condition generally VF a little contact wear. A fine and most interesting group.