H.M.S. Consort, a "C" class destroyer built on the river Clyde, and belonging to the British Royal Navy, was guard ship to and for the British Embassy at Nanking on the Yangtze River she had been there for some time and her relief was long over due and her stores were depleted. The relief ship was H.M.A.S. Shoalhaven, which was at Shanghai and should have relieved the Consort on 16th April 1949 the relief did not take place.
Consort was ordered to the rescue of Amethyst, H.M.S. Consort stationed at Nanking was stationed there as guard ship to the British Embassy and nationals out there, there were no other warships at Nanking therefore by ordering Consort to the assistance of Amethyst the british Embassy, Ambassador his staff and British nationals were left unprotected.

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