A TEIGNMOUTH born and bred naval hero who had a leading role in a famous Royal Navy incident has died.

Jack French, 84, who also lived in Ashburton, was the telegraphist on HMS Amethyst when she was trapped and shelled by the communist Chinese in the Yangtse River, sparking an international incident in 1949.

The story of how the frigate escaped with all guns blazing and under fire from shore was immortalised in the film Yangtse Incident, which became a worldwide hit.

In America it was called Battle Hell, the Escape of the Amethyst.

Jack French was portrayed in the movie by character actor Ray Jackson and the star role was played by Richard Todd.

Mr French was the only communicator left on the crippled warship. He went without sleep for six days, aided by benzedrine, until contact was made with the communist commander.

Mr French was immediately awarded a Distinguished Service Medal, and ordered to rest.

His younger brother Tony, 82 – who also served in the Royal Navy and now lives in Cornwall – said: 'He was a quiet and modest man with a nice character, and never spoke much about the siege.

'But we were all extremely proud of him, and when he returned to Ashburton he was given a hero's welcome in the North Street square with flags flying and hundreds turning out.

'A coachload of people also came over from Teignmouth.'

Mr Taylor joined the navy in 1942 aged 17, and served for 22 years in a variety of ships, leaving as a chief petty officer.

In April 1949, Amethyst was taking supplies up the Yangtse to the beleaguered British Embassy in Nanking during the Chinese civil war.

But she came under heavy fire, receiving 50 hits, and was holed below the water line. The damage was patched up with hammocks and bedding, but she went aground.

During the night, the frigate was refloated, but there was a 100-day stand-off with no fresh supplies as unsuccessful negotiations dragged on for her release.

Short of food and fuel, Lt Cdr Kerens decided to make a 104-mile dash for freedom to the sea, running the gauntlet of artillery fire, barrier nets and block ships.

Two days later she reached Hong Kong, and the drama attracted headlines around the world.

Amethyst was battered, and 22 of the crew were killed and 31 wounded.

After his naval service, Mr French utilised his skills with GCHQ, the government signal intelligence monitoring base in Cheltenham, where he lived with his family. He died there on May 4.

Mr French was born into a seafaring Teignmouth family, and lived in Teign Street with his parents, brother and sister Joan, who is now 87 and lives in Chester.

His father moved to Ashburton to work as a baker in the late 1930s, and the family lived there until 1952.

Mr French is featured in the book Teignmouth At War 2 (still available) by Teignmouth Post columnist Viv Wilson, who recalls tracking him down to Cheltenham and bringing him back to Teignmouth to lay a wreath on Remembrance Sunday in 2003.

She said:?'I gathered a handful of his old friends and we had lunch. Jack was a lovely man, and it was one of the most poignant days of my life – I am so privileged to have known him.'