Chiu Yiu Nam GM (Falklands Hero)

[DeepSea]

Article from the Telegraph

On the afternoon of June 8 1982, Chiu Yiu Nam was serving as a seaman in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Sir Galahad, one of five Landing Ships Logistics (LSL) which ferried troops and stores around the islands, and were manned by British Merchant Navy officers and Hong Kong Chinese crewmen. Chiu, as one of the helicopter flight deck party, was also trained in firefighting.

In an attempt to outflank Argentine positions, Sir Galahad and her sister ship Sir Tristram had been sent to Port Pleasant, on the south coast of East Falkland, and elements of the Welsh Guards were waiting to disembark when the ships were attacked by five Skyhawk jets of the Argentine air force.

Three aircraft dropped bombs on Sir Galahad, one of which penetrated an open hatch, its explosion generating a fireball which swept through the tank deck, where many troops were and where ammunition and petrol were stowed. A second bomb exploded near the galley area, killing Chiu’s friend, the ship’s butcher, Sung Yuk Fai, and injuring many others.

As the stores on the tank deck began to ignite and explode, causing intense local fires, the master of Sir Galahad, Captain Philip Roberts, was reluctantly considering whether to give the order to abandon ship. Chiu, meanwhile, realised that there were soldiers trapped inside. Wearing a protective asbestos suit, he fought his way through the smoke and flames into the bowels of the ship, where he was confronted by scenes of confusion and devastation. After leading out one man, he went back for another. He continued to return, bringing men to safety until he realised that there was no one left alive. Only then did he obey the order to abandon ship. In all, 48 seamen and soldiers were killed and many more badly burned. Of those who survived, at least 10 owed their survival to Chiu.

Chiu was remarkably modest about what he had done: on the journey home in the tanker British Test, Capt Roberts quizzed his crew about their role during the bombing of Sir Galahad without discovering Chiu’s heroism. It was only later that the Commanding Officer 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, Lt-Col Johnny Rickett (who had disembarked the night before the air attack), interviewed his guardsmen and heard about an unknown rescuer whose identity had been hidden behind a protective hood. Further inquiries revealed that this had been Chiu.

He remained reluctant to be recognised officially for his bravery. In 1983, however, he agreed to fly from Hong Kong to London, where the Queen invested him with the George Medal .

Chiu Yiu Nam was born in 1949 in Guangdong province, mainland China, and little is known of his background. He represented one of the last generations of locally-recruited sailors (others were from places such as Goa and Malta) who had helped man the Royal Navy’s ships for hundreds of years.

He retired from the RFA in 1989 for health reasons, and lived quietly with his mother and younger brother in Hong Kong. He declined an invitation to fly to London for the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict, but was flattered to receive a handwritten letter from Margaret Thatcher at a reception organised by the local branch of the Royal British Legion. He also met the Duke of York, who visited Hong Kong in 2010, and last year the Earl of Wessex, speaking to both princes through an interpreter.

Locally-entered seamen like Chiu do not receive pensions, and when he died he was dependent on monthly financial assistance from the Hong Kong government. His cremation on February 24 was paid for by the Hong Kong and China branch of the Royal British Legion.

[Tony Wilding]

I think its shameful people such as this man get no pension, good enough to fight for the UK, but not good enough to get there rightful rewards, class and creed distinction still remain, would cost the goverment so little to ammend this situation, but the turn a blind eye, yet still give billions to corrupt nations that do nothing for us except breed terrorists. the Ghurkas are another race discriminated against, they won so many Victoria Crosses in WW2 for bravery. the world is a sad place,

[John Pruden]

no tony he will never get a pension{he never came in on the back of a wagon}john

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, He was another forgotten hero in the world that doesnt care.

[Roger Dyer]

Tony, how true!. The recorded history of the British people(s) suggests that we of British descent have much of which we can be justly proud. Few would deny that as a people we have made a significant contribution to the development and progress of the world as we know it today. Rarely, have we taken a backward step when confronted by aggression. Courage was always a human quality we admired, respected and honoured. Time was when the honour, to which I refer, was readily bestowed upon those whom, regardless of nationality, were deemed to have performed an act of bravery in the service of Britain, or a similar deed beneficial to the British people. There the happy story ends - when compared to the worth of human life, medals are cheap!

The case of Chiu Yiu Nam is just one example of how easily successive British Governments have disassociated themselves from any duty of care for those who have previously served with such distinction. The story of the Ghurka's long-standing, loyal, service to the British Crown is an endless account of phenomenal bravery and sacrifice, yet, until recently, Britain's gratitude for such loyal service only warranted a pension which has been rightly described as an insult. It took a long, well publicised campaign by British celebrity, Joanna Lumley, before the British public became aware of the ongoing ingratitude shown by successive governments acting on their behalf. Finally, acknowledging this injustice, the Government has taken steps to bring to an end this shameful state of affairs.

Sadly, the apparent indifference shown by Britain for the long-term welfare of Chiu Yiu Nam and others like him, should not surprise us - it's taken nearly 70 years, culminating in public outrage, to remind the British Government that deserving recognition for those who served on the Arctic Convoys in WWII is long overdue. Almost with reluctance the Government has agreed to an independent inquiry regarding the validity of such a claim. We now await the outcome, but will not hold our breath whilst doing so. Makes you proud to be British doesn't it ?


R.I.P. Chiu Yiu Nam - I salute you.