Escape from Hong Kong - The Final Hours

 

Sub-Lt Tommy Brewer HKRNVR [MTB 09] (Scarborough) Front row right hand end in the Waichow photo.

Tommy joined 09 on the outbreak of the war in Hong Kong.

He gained an MiD for services off the coast of Burma in May 1942 serving with HDML1104,  Rangoon Dockyard, Rangoon 30/6/41. For more information Click here.

24th June 1942 Transferred to RNVR

Tommy manned a thompson machine gun from the con tower of 09 during the action on 19th December 1941.

Sub-Lt Brewer [MTB 09] arrived home via a different route, but died tragically in a road traffic accident on the A1 on Tuesday 28th July 1942 age 25 while serving with HMS Drake.

Remembered with Honour

Some of the crew of MTB 09 taking a smoko in Aberdeen Channel 9th December 1941

From the left Stoker A/B Charlie Foster, Coxswain Bill Schillemore, and A/B Bob Hempenstall

Photo from the Ashby collection ©

 

 

 

 

Back Row: Lt Kennedy RNVR, Lt-Cmdr Henry Hsu CN, Lt-Cmdr Gandy RN (Rtrd), Lt-Cmdr Yorath RN (Rtrd), Supt Robinson Indian Police, Lt Parsons HKRNVR, Lt Ashby HKRNVR, Lt Collingwood RN,

Front Row: Sub-Lt Gee HKRNVR, Sub-Lt Brewer HKRNVR, Sub-Lt Legge HKRNVR, and nurses at Waichow.

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-Lt Brewer with Tel Chris Meadowss, Cox P.O. Prest & S.P.O. Moore arriving in Shaoguan (Kukong) 6th january 1942.

 

Photo from the Ross family collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to return to the Waichow Photo

To read more on Tommy Brewer click here

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

 

 

 

MTB 09 on patrol

Photo from the C J Collingwood collection ©

The Crew of MTB 09 at Waichow on 30th December 1941

MTB 09 Crew at Waichow,

Back Row: A/B Penny, A/B Leslie [Lofty] Gurd, Tel Harold.P. Hill, A/B Robert Hempenstall

Middle Row: Stoker Charles Foster, L/S Coxswain William Schillemore,MiD; S.P.O. Ronald J.C. (Jez) Priestley, MiD;

Front Row: Sub-Lt Tommy Brewer, Lt; Alexander Kennedy [OC] MiD

Photo from Lt Ashby's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt Pittendrigh RNR, Lt-Cmdr Yorath RN, & Sub-Lt Brewer HKRNVR relaxing during the escape

 

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt Collingwood, Sub-Lt Brewer, Warrant Officer Wright, & Lt Ashby with ratings. A/B Ed Brazel MN is front row right.

 

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kweiyang 26th January 1942

Some of the Officers enjoying a day out in Kweiyang with their female hosts including Dr Lim's 15 year old daughter Effie in the tartan kilt. Sub-Lt's Gee & Legge were both brought up in Shanghai and spoke Mandarin.

The officers left to right are Sub-Lt Gee [MTB 07], Sub-Lt Brewer [MTB 09], Sub-Lt Legge [MTB 11], Lt Parsons [MTB 27], & Lt Alexander Kennedy of MTB 09, the author of the privately published book "Hong Kong Full Circle 1939-1945".

Photo from Lt Kennedy's collection ©