Leslie S Barker MTB 11 of the 2nd MTB Flotilla, Coastal Forces Hong Kong

Leslie S Barker MTB 11 of the 2nd MTB Flotilla, Hong Kong Coastal Forces

Leading Seaman Leslie S Barker [LR3 C/SSX21699] MTB 11 from Hucknall, Notts

1920 - 2002

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

After 3000 miles travelling overland through China and Burma he arrived in a deserted Rangoon. After five weeks he left onboard the Armed Merchant Cruiser "Heinrich" Jessen bound for Calcutta along with Lt-Cmdr Gandy, Lt Collingwood, Lt Ashby & Jix Prest, Buddy Hide, Charlie Evans, Al Rutter, John pawley, Jack Holt, Les Barker, Ron Priestley, and others. From Calcutta it was a thirty six hour train journey across the Indian sub-continent to Bombay where they boarded the armed merchant cruiser "Narkunda" bound for Durban where they took onboard 657 Italian POW's before shaping course for Cape Town.

Lt Kennedy onboard the 'Larconia' in Cape Town wrote, "The 'Laconia' was followed into harbour by another troopship, the 'Narkunda', and to our surprise Gandy and the other half of the M.T.B. party were on board. The 'Laconia' party received a warm welcome, perhaps not so much as old ship-mates but as extra hands to share duties of guarding the six hundred Italian prisoners-of war being taken to England in the ship". On board the 'Narkunda' the MTB party was almost complete." ^[9] We set sail again on the 19th April, but had to return due to engine trouble. This time we anchored in Table Bay with no ships boats for a run ashore. We finally got under way on the 28th with a ten-day passage to Freetown.

After leaving Freetown they had to sleep fully dressed as they negotiated the U-boat packs in the north Atlantic continuously zigzagging enroute for the UK. Gandy, Ashby, & Kennedy along with 27 ratings finally arrived in the King George V dock, Sheildhall, Glasgow late afternoon on Friday 22^nd May 1942 onboard the "Narkunda".^[15]

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.

Kukong 6th Jan 1942

Photo from the Ross family collection ©

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

Photo from Ross family collection ©

L/S Les Barker transferred from HMS Cicala to MTB 11 in October 1941 just prior to the battle for Hong Kong.

MTB 11 hit by friendly fire

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

MTB 11 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.

Photo from Lt C J Collingwood's collection ©