Leading Seaman, Roy Tittensor, Stafford Station

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Date:October 1950

Description:Pictured arriving at Stafford Railway Station is Leading Seaman Roy Tittensor, home from service in Korean waters and being welcomed by his brother-in-law, mother, sister, Mrs Marion Goodwin and his father. Mrs Tittensor ran a cafe on Eastgate Street.

Roy, aged 21 years, of Friars Road, Stafford, was thought to be the first Stafford Serviceman to return home from action in Korea. He was away for one and a half years and during that time saw many tropical countries. When he and the 700 men of the cruiser HMS Jamaica left England in January 1949 they little thought that they would soon be in action. Roy told the Newsletter that nearly all the crew were young men on their first major cruise. Initially they were on a routine cruise around the East and West Indies and South America. By June they had made calls at Bermuda, Jamaica and Cuba.

In April 1949 (during the Chinese Civil War) there was the shelling of HMS Amethyst incident which took place on the Yangtze River by the People’s Liberation Army, of the People’s Republic of China. The Jamaica was ordered to the scene from the West Indies and it was the first taste of battle for most of the crew said Roy. After the HMS Amethyst incident was over the Jamaica continued its cruise, but was back in action again when the war broke out in Korea on 1 July. Roy said that they met a United States warship and the day after encountered five ‘E’ boats, he said we sank three and the Americans the other two. Returning to a Japanese port to refuel the Jamaica was again in action the following day, bombarding North Korean supply roads and bridges. The Jamaica came under attack from shore batteries and six men were killed and nine injured. Roy said we immediately replied with heavy fire and quickly blew up the shore battery. The action brought home that it was quite a serious war we were fighting in.

Roy was with the Jamaica off Korea for only five weeks and then he was drafted back home for leave before beginning training for a commission. Soon after he left the ship, it was machine gunned by two fighter planes, but he understood there were no serious casualties. On leaving the Jamaica he transferred to another warship which should have sailed straight home. On arrival at Hong Kong, however, it took on board men of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and the Middlesex Regiment and returned to Korea, docking at Pusan (later known as Busan) South Korea. It was then Roy made his only trip ashore on Korean territory, but he did not get chance to see much of the country and only saw very few Koreans who were poorly dressed and lived in poverty.

Roy joined the Navy in March 1947, for seven years’ service and five in reserve. He said he volunteered for the Navy just before he was due for conscription and had not regretted it, and added that he might try to settle down when his seven years were up, at least “I’ll try” he said.

This photograph was published in the Staffordshire Newsletter on Saturday 14 October 1950. Reproduced by kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.

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Creators: Staffordshire Newsletter - Creator

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Source: Staffordshire County Record Office

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