The Escape of the 2nd MTB Flotilla

A/B: Leslie S Barker LR3 C/SSX21699 MTB 11 from Hucknall, Notts

1920 - 2002

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

 

After 3000 miles traveling overland through China and Burma he arrived in a deserted Rangoon. After five weeks he left onboard the SS heinrich Jessen bound for Calcutta along with Lt-Cmdr Gandy & Lt Ashby, Jix Prest, Buddy Hide, Charlie Evans, Al Rutter, John pawley, Jack Holt, Ron Priestley, Bill Schillemore, & Lofty Gurd. From Calcutta it was by train across the Indian sub-Continent to Bombay where they boarded the SS Narkunda bound for the UK via Durban at 15.30 on 26th March 1942.

In Durban they took 657 Italian POW's onboard before shaping course for Cape Town where another eleven of the flotilla crew had arrived onboard the SS Larconia including Lt Kennedy, Bill Dyer & Al Downey, who then transferred to the Narkunda. Arriving in Glasgow in the afternoon of the 22nd May there were three officers and 27 ratings of the flotilla who had escaped from Hong Kong 148 days previously.

Les kept a detailed diary during the escape which his family kindly gave me a copy as well as photos to compliment this site.

Les Barker's grandson Russell Joyce retraced the journey right up to the Burma border in the spring of 2008.

Russ posted a daily blog which can be accessed here.

 

 

Lt-Cmdr Gandy with his back to the camera, A/PO Burrows, A/B Lenny Rann,
A/B Les Barker, & PO Carr falling in to march into Kukong on the 6th January 1942

Photo from Ted Ross's collection ©

A/B Les Barker transferred from HMS Cical to MTB 11 in October 1941 just prior to the battle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MTB 11 being worked up at HMS Vernon after completion in July 1938 & laying depth charges on exercise in 1940.

 

 

 

Loading the torpedos. Each BPB MTB carried two on overhead rails in the engine room. The torpedos faced foreward and were launched through ports in the stern into the flip over gantry rails. The direction of the boat was the direction of the torpedo, so once launched the boat had to veer off to allow the torpedo free way.

 

 

 

MTB 11 patrolling with the 2nd MTB Flotilla

 

Photo from Al Downey's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MTB 11 alongside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Les Barker's Medals

 

 

The medals are, from left to right

The 1939-1945 Star.
The Pacific Star with Burma Clasp
The Italy Star
The France & Germany Star
The 1939-1945 Medal, sometimes known as the Victory Medal
The RFR Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

Photo from Les Barker's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A/B Les Barker and MTB 11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A/B Les Barker's cap tally & dress medals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Les Barker in 1995

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo from Les Barker's family collection ©

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