The Escape of the 2nd MTB Flotilla

 

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.

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

24th June 1942 Transferred to RNVR

Sub-Lt Brewer [MTB 09] arrived home via a different sea route, but died tragically in a road traffic accident on the A1 on Tuesday 28th July 1942 age 25 while serving with HMS Drake.
Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Naval Reservation, grave 1447]

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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, photo by Lt Ashby

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,"Mentioned in Despatches" St/ P.O. Ronald J.C. (Jez) Priestley, "Mentioned in Despatches"

Front Row: Sub-Lt; Tommy Brewer, Lt; Alexander Kennedy [CO] "Mentioned in Despatches"

 

Photo from Ron 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 Alick Kennedy's collection ©