Sent in by email from Eric Carman, Canada

I was the only gunner rating on MFV 1103. We were on patrol in the same area of the Pearl River as ML 1323. The alarm came though on the ships radio from ML 1323 they were under attack from a larger Chinese ship (which we found out later that it was using 4 inch guns) our boat was equipped with one 40mm gun (my gun). Our skipper ordered the Cox to change course to assist ML 1323. In the mean time the reports were coming in fast on the action, reporting the dead and wounded. On board our boat we were preparing for a fight, as gunner I was standing fast on my 40mm not knowing that the communist ship had 4 inch guns. Reports came in that a Destroyer from Hong Kong was speeding to the area, also heard that the RAE were also responding. With the action over we headed back to our berth in Tamar, on our way in we passed ML 1323 limping back. I took one picture of ML 1323 on the open water, the other picture I took was of the ML along side the jetty in Tamar (I was a keen amateur photographer and belonged to the Hong Kong Photographic Society).

My deepest condolences to Gordon Cheater’s wife, it was sad to hear that Gordon had passed away. Although I am not a member of the Hong Kong Flotilla Association, I did know some of the members as they were also in "Mess 72" HMS Tamar.