John Storey

Biography
'''August 15th. 1933.''' Joined C.N.Co, not on Agreement in Shanghai, with his 1st. Mate's Certificate of Competency No. 326631, issued in Leith on June 17th. 1932. His father T.J.Storey was then being employed by the New Engineering Works, Yangtszepoo, Shanghai.

Sailed as 2nd. Mate on the Newchwang II, Ninghai I, Tsinan II, Luchow, and Shengking II.

March 28th.1936 On short leave in Hong Kong and obtained his Master's Certificate No. 4986 on April 28th 1936. having passed the exam on April 25th. Returned to duty as 2nd. Mate on the Anhui II, and Szechuen II, then as 1st Mate on the Luchow, Shuntien II, Szechuen II, Anhui II as 2nd. Mate, prior to going on Home Leave on August 10th. 1938. While on Leave promoted to 1st Mate.

'''April 26th. 1939 Returned from leave, appointed as 1st Mate to the Fatshan II, and Tsinan II'''.

''John Storey relates that on his return from leave the company had asked him if he would accept an appointment on the Upper Yangtse River - which meant proceeding to Haiphong by sea - thence by rail to Kunming and by road to Chungking. The Japanese occupied all the Yangtse River below Ichang - hence the need to go via Indo-China. "There were three of us on this trip and it was quite an experience. The train journey through and Indo China and into China going along the banks of rivers and innumerable tunnels. We travelled in day time only through most beautiful country. In Kunming we had to wait a few days until we could obtain rides on trucks to Chungking. The three of us finally joined a convoy of six trucks. At that time the road was quite new and for the most part unmetalled. We travelled through mountain passes, on roads cut out mountain sides with drops of hundreds of feet at the edge of these single track rock roads. We went along roads over which flooded rivers were flowing. We stayed at wayside inns where ever possible or slept in the trucks. I recall one "New Inn" where we were given bunks about 5'6" long with mosquito nets to cover the top half of our bodies; another where the tables for food were black with flies. It was to the end of our journey when going through a small town we were surprised to see a European man walking down the middle of the road amongst crowds of Chinese - he had a little blonde boy on each side holding his hands. We stopped and spent the night at their home. He was a missionary and the only European family for miles around with his wife and young twins. When we left the next morning we gave them all the spare food we could afford. Petrol would often be stolen from the gas tanks when the drivers were asleep. This happened to one of our trucks and when going up a rather steep gradient it ran out of petrol and started to go backwards. The brakes would not hold so it went over the edge of the road about 20/30 feet down into a rice field. Fortunately it stayed upright and no one was hurt. Many trucks never reached their destination. Out of our six only three made it back to Chungking with all springs broken. We arrived in the middle of a Japanese air raid but managed to find the B & S Manager's home where we were housed. We were about fourteen days on the road from Kunming to Chungking.''

'''July 14th. 1939. Eventually arrived Ichang and appointed as Master of the Siangtan'''.

'''September 3rd. 1939. Joined the Wanhsien''' as 1st. Mate, and on board when the Japanese air attack occurred. Also sailed as 1st. mate on the Yunnan III, Nanchang I, Hupeh II, and Yingchow - ( Pennant F-102 ).

From November 1942 until December 1944 Appointed to the Hupeh II, Shengking II, 1st Mate or 2nd Mate as required, or in reserve, the vessels being based out of Bombay.

'''December 10th. 1944 to May 4th 1945 on Home leave, traveling by the Strathmore'''. During the voyage to the U.K. from Bombay through the Mediterranean to the U.K. he was appointed "officer - in - charge" of the lifeboats.

'''May 4th. 1945.. Returned from leave by ship and appointed to the Hupeh II and Tsinan II'''.

'''November 20th. 1945.''' Travelled to Australia to be 1st. Mate of the Poyang II, which had been taken over by the Australian Navy at the outbreak of the war, Initially to convert the ship back to her peace time condition. Due to the numerous strikes which took place the conversion which should have taken about a month, it was March 1st. 1946 before articles were signed.

'''November 18th. 1946''', appointed as 1st. Mate to the following vessels as required.Chungking II, then Anking II, Wusueh, Shengking II, Ninghai I, and Shantung II.

'''November 20th. 1945.'''. Travelled to Sydney, Australia, as 1st. Mate to give instructions for the conversion of the Poyang II back to her peace time condition. The vessel had been taken over by the Australian navy at the outbreak of the war. However due to the frequent strikes which took place on the Australian water front, the conversion which would normally take about a month took in fact nearly nine months. Eventually he signed articles as 1st. Mate of the Poyang II on August 1st 1946.

'''September 17th. 1948'''. Transferred to Shanghai to join C.N.Co. as Godowns Passenger and Shipping operations, during the difficult times when the Communist took over control of China.

'''April 21st. 1950.''' Proceeded on Home leave.

'''January 19th. 1951.''' Returning from leave appointed as 1st. Mate to the Fatshan II, Tsinan II, Kweiyang II as Master, Szechuen II and Yunnan III (1st. Mate),, Poyang II as Master, then 1st. Mate and relieving Master on the Yunnan III, and 1st. Mate on the Yochow II, Shengking II, Wusueh. and Master on the Fukien. Promoted Master on August 25th. 1954.

January 14th 1955. Proceeded on Home Leave, returning on October 8th 1955. Whilst on Leave attended the Merchant Navy Defence Course and Radar Observers Course. Sailed as Master on the Fengning.

'''September 13th. 1956.''' Resigned to take a shore based position with Everetts.

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