Shanghai Diary (Part 1)

 

In October 1937, the young American sailor Earl Jackson Clanton arrived in Shanghai on board the troops transport USS Henderson. He was part of a group reinforcing the crew on board USS Augusta, which was keeping a vigil in the port while Chinese and Japanese troops were engulfed in vicious fighting over the fate of the city. Clanton completed a fascinating journal, providing a day-by-day account of the dramatic events, brought to you here courtesy of Clanton’s grandson, Adam Clanton. The photo above, showing the Augusta with Shanghai burning in the background, is also kindly provided by Adam Clanton.

Oct 20, 1937:

Departed Manila for Shanghai and passed the world’s supplier of turpentine – the island of Formosa, a Japanese possession. It looked very lonely and very beautiful as we steamed past.

Oct 24, 1937:

USS Henderson

Arrived in the mouth of the Yangtze River (so wide one can’t see across it) and proceeded up and into the Yangpoo river and up its winding course passing many Japanese men of war. On passing the Jap ships they weren’t very curious and never bothered to train their guns over us. We were right in the line of fire all the time if the Chinese should have decided to start firing. We could hear the big guns firing in the distance and some not too distant. We could see the Japanese supply corps ammunition details and reinforcements passing in large trucks along the river. Many large Japanese bomber planes and many pursuit planes overhead. A steady stream of tanks were going towards the front – and before dark would be in the midst of the battle. After proceeding about five miles up the river the USS Henderson anchored and transferred Augusta draft unto the Admiral’s Yacht and we proceeded the remainder 10 miles up the river to the Augusta which was anchored between two fires across from the world famous Shanghai Bund. We were transferred the same day onto the Augusta. That night we got our first taste of what real war was and is.

Oct 25, 1937:

On USS Augusta (4th div) and spending most of my time watching dog fights between Chinese planes and Japs. Izumo*) shelling a point about one hundred yards from us. Jap planes bombing Pootung and the area all around Shanghai in general, and a little of every form of fighting. At about dusk one Japanese river boat came up river and anchored just off our bow and commenced to fire into Pootung Point just about 100 yards from our bow. We, of course, were ordered below decks, but go below and miss out on the fun – I should say not!

*) Japanese cruiser providing tactical support to Japanese forces fighting in and around Shanghai.

(To be continued.)

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