Photo Gallery - The Ethel Moller Incident
By Alan Quartermaine
While on patrol off AMOY on Friday 12th May 1950, COSSACK sighted in the early morning light, a merchant vessel in the vicinity of Chapel Islands. The ship closed to identify the vessel and found that she was the S.S. ETHEL MOLLER (564 tons) that had been captured by the Chinese Nationalists three months previous. Painted on her side were the Chinese characters meaning ‘To live again on Resurrection Day’
HMS COSSACK (D57)
22 August 1945 to 9 Dec 1959
The boarding party was piped away and within a few minutes fourteen men, who had been specially drilled for the occasion, were crammed in the whaler hurriedly adjusting their equipment and all more excited than nervous. The boarding officers gave their instructions as to where each man should go on boarding Ethel Moller. Control of two positions, the Bridge and Engine Room, had to be taken immediately
Lining the rails of Ethel Moller, many well armed Nationalist soldiers stood watching while the boarding party clambered up the ship’s side. There was no resistance, probably due to the fact that Cossack was close by with all guns trained, and in less than a minute everything was under control. In fact, Captain Waites, the Master and his crew were very pleased to see the boarding party, as they had had a pretty rough time during the three months the ship was in Nationalists hands. The whaler returned to Cossack.
Having searched the Ethel Moller, it was established that there were 150 soldiers, 2 Generals, 12 Chinese women and 4 children on board. Disarmament of the soldiers was soon under-way and all rifles, bayonets, hand grenades and revolvers were locked away in an after compartment under guard. Three boxes of silver bullion were also found during the search and these were placed on the bridge for safe keeping.
As the boarding took place, signals were flashing between the Ethel Moller and Cossack. The whaler returned to the Moller with Cossack’s Medical Officer - Surgeon Lieutenant R Morgan, Lieutenant Commander H J Bartlett, the steaming party and provisions including a jar of rum. Four of the men on Ethel Moller had been wounded earlier when the Moller left Tungsang Harbour under Communist fire. Having inspected the compartment forward where the wounded lay, Surgeon Lieutenant Morgan very soon found better accommodation for them in the compartments occupied by the Generals and their wives who reluctantly transferred themselves elsewhere. With their wounds dressed all were left comfortable except one with serious head injuries.
Lieutenant Commander Bartlett and the steaming party took charge and Ethel Moller got under weigh heading south for Hong Kong and escorted by Cossack. During the late afternoon HMS WHITSAND BAY took over escort and Cossack returned to her patrol.
The Chinese crewmembers were particularly pleased as they had got their bunks back from the soldiers. The Chef was so pleased to get his galley back, in his enthusiasm, he set fire to the galley funnel twice when he turned up the oil. Another happy member was the Chinese Chief Steward who calculated that his wife in Hong Kong would be having a baby any time.
The steaming party had settled down into two watches. Rum was issued in the correct fashion and at the proper time. The meals were as good as could be expected.
It was decided that the women and children would sleep in No.1 hold over night and all soldiers, except the Generals, bedded down on the rice sacks on top of No.2 hold. In order to keep the soldiers under supervision from the Bridge, a loading light was left on. Arrangements were also made for a quick ‘black out’ should there be retaliation from Nationalist planes.
At approximately 2000 hrs a plane was heard circling over head and the ship was darkened. This happened twice before information was received from Whitsand Bay that the aircraft was from Kai Tak exercising with Belfast.
The night passed uneventfully and the following morning, preparations were made for entering Hong Kong. Having had an early dinner, the steaming party, with bayonets fixed, was stationed at vantage points all over the ship. At 1210 hrs Saturday 13th May, the Ethell Moller steamed into her home port.
Press launches were the first to greet her, taking pictures as she headed for the quarantine anchorage in Kowloon Bay. The Police and Health Authorities boarded and took over responsibility.
At 1315 hrs, the Navy (with half a jar of rum) left the Ethell Moller in a police launch to board HMS ALACRITY; Lieutenant Commander Bartlett was left behind to attend the Inquiry. Almost immediately, Alacrity sailed and the following day the steaming party was transferred back to Cossack ending an interesting, sometimes exciting and much publicised episode.
All members of the boarding and steaming parties did a good job and carried out their duties cheerfully and promptly.
On the 1 May 1951, Cossack intercepted the S.S NANCY MOLLER carrying a cargo of rubber - her Master - Captain WAITES.
Personnel in the Boarding and Steaming Parties:
Boarding Party:
Lt Cdr TG Ridgeway RN
Surgn Lt R Morgan RN
SM Baker AL
POSM Fahey J
Elect Harrop F
L/Sea Kingsland F
ERA Knights H
EM Kermeen J
PO Orchard C
SM Reid D
SBA Sharp E
AB Smith LG
L/Sea Stevens D
L/Sig Wakefield N
Steaming Party:
Lt Cdr HJ Bartlett DSC RN
SM Baker A
Mech 3 Bristow C
Elect Harrop F
AB Haywood B
AB Luke AC
CPO SM Marsh W
AB Mc Dowall R
Ord Sea McGuffie J
PO Orchard C
SM Reid
AB Smith LG
Tel. Sawyer E
Ord Sea Todd A
Ord Sea Warrener