Anking I

Sister of the ship Anhui II

History
Dec 1941. Taken over by the Royal Navy at Singapore and converted to a depot ship, based in Malta. Due to the bombing of Malta, the ship based depots were moved ashore, and in 1942 was transferred to Batavia, Tjilatjap, where she was used as a communications and stores vessel.

March 3rd.1942. When bound from Tjilatjap to Fremantle in a convoy escorted by H.M.S. Yarra, was sunk by Japanese warships, 200 miles East of Christmas Island.

Service
Built for the Hong Kong - Swatow - Manila - Singapore - Southeast Asia service.

Events / Stories
Anking I with 1400 people on board, was pirated in the Gulf of Tongkin, on the 26th September 1928, whilst en route Singapore-Hoihow. As was so often the case, the pirates, about 40, had come aboard the ship disguised as deck passengers - boarding at Tanjong Pagar, where Anking I had embarked nearly fifteen hundred coolie labourers.

The attack was particularly vicious and resulted in the deaths of David Clifford Jones of Newquay Wales, Chief Officer, Mr Thomson of Greenock, Chief Engineer, and the quartermaster, who were gunned down when they offered resistance. , the 3rd Officer and the Master, Cyril E Plunket-Cole, were both injured - the latter so seriously that he was later invalided out of the service. The captain and chief officer were on the bridge when suddenly the pirates rushed in, opening fire at point blank range, killing the Chief officer, David Clifford Jones, and shooting the captain through both thighs. The Chinese quartermaster on going to their assistance being immediately shot dead. At the same time the pirates rushed the engine room where a fierce fight broke out, the Chief Engineer, Mr. Thomson, after putting up strong resistance died from a fatal gunshot to the head. The 2nd engineer laid about the attacker with a club but was eventually overpowered by pirates. The 3rd. officer  was stunned by a club while resting in a deck chair. On recovering consciousness he staggered to the bridge where he was stabbed in the back. The pirates standing behind him with loaded revolvers, forced him to navigate the vessel to Honghai Bay, north of Bias Bay. On arrival at Honghai bay all the passengers were lined up with their possessions and searched. All valuables being taken. It was estimated that the value of loot from the passengers and the cargo stolen, taken ashore by the pirates exceeded 20,000 pounds sterling. The Anking I then proceeded to Hong Kong where the wounded officers were hospitalised. The dead bodies had already been thrown overboard by the pirates,

The pirates escaped ashore at Bias Bay in the ship’s lifeboat, taking several passengers with them to hold for ransom. They also took the 3rd Engineer, Mr Bird, as a temporary hostage, to ensure their safety until they reached the shore, and to return the lifeboat to Anking. Bizarrely, Ernest Charles Ogilvie Bird was paid Singapore $10 by the pirates for this service.

In 1941, Anking I was requisitioned by the Royal Navy as a depot ship at Malta, retaining her C.N.Co. officers. She was transferred to the Far East in 1942, and became Royal Navy Communications Centre, Batavia (Java), based at Tjilatjap.

Demolition charges were placed in the ship’s holds, in case it became necessary to scuttle her, if Java fell. In the event, Anking I joined a convoy escorted by H.M.A.S. Yarra, and attempted to escape to Fremantle.

Shortly after leaving Tjilatjap, the convoy was intercepted by a fleet of Japanese warships. Anking I was blown out of the water on the 3rd March 1942, about 200 miles East of Christmas Island. There were only three survivors.