John Kerans

Commander John Kerans DSO
Kerans in 1969 by Godfrey Argent
Member of Parliament for The Hartlepools
In office 8 October 1959 – 25 September 1964
Preceded by	D. T. Jones
Succeeded by	Ted Leadbitter
Personal details
Born	John Simon Kerans (1915-06-30)30 June 1915 Parsonstown (Birr), County Offaly, Ireland
Died	11 September 1985(1985-09-11) (aged 70) Oxted, Surrey, England
Resting place	St Peter Churchyard, Tandridge, Surrey
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Stephanie Campbell Shires ​ ​ (m. 1946)​
Children	2
Alma mater	Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	Royal Navy
Rank	Commander
Unit	Naval Intelligence, Far East HMS Icarus (D03) Naval Intelligence, Hong Kong Royal Malaysia Police
Commands	Assistant naval attaché, Nanking HMS Amethyst Naval Intelligence, London Naval attaché, Bangkok
Battles/wars	World War II Amethyst Incident
Awards	Distinguished Service Order

Commander John Simon Kerans DSO (30 June 1915 – 12 September 1985) was an officer in the Royal Navy and later a Conservative Party politician. He is also the author of the 1964 book The World's Greatest Sea Adventures, Publisher: Odhams Books Ltd.

The Yangtze Incident

As Assistant British Naval Attaché in then Nanking, China in 1949, Lieutenant-Commander Kerans took command of HMS Amethyst when the ship came under fire on the Yangtze River during the final stages of the Chinese Civil War after the captain and 16 others were killed in the shelling. The ship was detained for ten weeks during negotiations for its release, until Kerans led a night-time escape. Kerans was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. The Amethyst incident was later the subject of a film entitled Yangtse Incident: The Story of HMS Amethyst (1957), in which Kerans was portrayed by the British actor Richard Todd.

Politics

At the 1959 general election he was elected as Conservative Member of Parliament for The Hartlepools. He served only one term in the House of Commons, and did not contest the 1964 general election. He advocated the representation of Communist China in the United Nations.

Kerans was the last Conservative to serve as MP for the constituency (now called Hartlepool) until Jill Mortimer was elected following the 2021 Hartlepool by-election.

Grave

The gravestone of Commander John Kerens DSO at St Peter's Churchyard, Tandridge

His remains are interred in the churchyard of St Peters, Tandridge and the grave can be found in the eastern side near the boundary wall. The photo right was on the 75th anniversary memorial service 2024 with wreaths laid by The Royal Naval Association Reigate, The Oxted Branch Royal British Legion and Sea Cadets. A reception was held afterwards at the Oxted Branch Royal British Legion.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by John Kerans
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs