Escape from Hong Kong - The Final Hours

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Waichow; 30th December 1941

Waichow

After four days and nights marching from deep behind enemy lines after escaping from Hong Kong the party arrived at Waichow, now Huizhou in Free China

Click here to view in Google Maps

 

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©;

Safety at Last

Members of the escape party at Waichow in Free China after their bold escape by MTB's from Hong Kong





The Long March through enemy lines

Run the curser over the photo of the men to see who have been identified or Click here to view in Google Maps

62 Members of the escape party with Chinese Officials at the American "Wai On hospita complex" run by the Seventh Day Eventist in Waichow on 30th December 1941: Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

Back: Christiansen [M.N],   A/B Pawley [R.N], A/P.O. Hide [R.N], Ross [M.o.I.]  P.O. Dyer [R.N], WO Wright [HKRNVR], Cox-Walker [HKRNVR], P.O. Stonell [R.N],  C.P.O.Thums [R.N],   P.O. Meadows [R.N],  Brazel [HKRNVR],   Gurd [R.N],   Arnold [R.N],   Hempenstall [R.N],  McQueen [R.N],  Foster [R.N],   Quixell [R.N]

3rd: Halliday [M.N], Marchant [M.N], Skinner [M.N],  Holmes [R.N],   Whatley [R.N],   Brogden [R.N],  A/P.O. Priestley [R.N],   Kelly [R.N],   Downey [R.N],   Holt [R.N],  Evans [R.N],  Purchase [R.N],  Rutter [R.N],  Penny [R.N],  P.O. Moore [R.N],  Thorpe [R.N], Barker [R.N],  Schillemore [R.N],  Carr [R.N],  Hill [R.N],  Charleson [R.N],  Burrows [R.N],  Rann [R.N], Deakin [R.N], Gavaghan [R.N],  Moore [R.N].

2nd: Capt Macmillan [R.A], Supt Robinson [I.P], Sq-Ldr Oxford [R.A.F], Lt Pittendrigh [R.N.R], Lt Ashby [HKRNVR], Lt Collingwood [R.N], Lt-Cmdr Gandy  [R.N],  Cmdr Montague [R.N],  Adm Chan-Chak [C.N], Lt-Gen Wong Dafu [C.A], Lt-Gen Chen Qi[C.A], Lt-Cmdr Yorath [R.N], Maj Goring [H.Q. Staff], Capt Guest [1st Mdlx], Lt Parsons [HKRNVR], Lt Kennedy [RNVR].

1st: Bruce [Dog], Sub-Lt Gee [HKRNVR], Maj-Gen Fu [C.A], Mr Au Yeung, Coxswain Yeung Chuen [C.N], Lt-Cdr Hsu Heng [C.N],  Maj-Gen Tung C.A],  Sub-Lt Legge [HKRNVR],  Sub-Lt Brewer [HKRNVR].

 

 

The 12 survivors of the Cornflower launch [V.I.P] party

Click here to view in Google Maps; Photo from Ross family collection ©

Back: Supt Bill Robinson [I.P], W. O. William M Wright [HKRNVR], Capt Peter Macmillan [R.A],Capt Reginold Guest [1st Mdsx], Coxswain Leung Chuen [C.N], Ted Ross [M.o.I.]

2nd: David MacDougall [M.o.I.], Admiral Chan Chak [C.N], Major Arthur Goring [HQ staff], Squadron Leader Max Oxford [RAF]

1st: Holgar Christiansen [M.N], Lt Cmdr Henry Heng Hsu [C.N]

 

Some of the officers and nurses at Waichow.

The escape party left Aberdeen in HMS Cornflower's launch down Aberdeen South channel where they were shot up by the Japanese from Pill Box 12 and Brick Hill. Colonel Yee Shiu Kee could not swim and stayed on the launch along with the badly wounded Captain Damgaard. Both survived after spending the night on a beach. Yee Shiu Kee escaped with the help of local fishermen to China. Damgaard who was shot through both legs was treated for his wounds in Hong Kong. Foster M.N. and D Harley [2nd Engineer SS Yatshing] were both shot and killed.

 

HMS Cornflower's ships crest

The Royal Navy escape party at Kweiyang [The Chinese Red Cross medical centre] on 24th January 1942, 1380 miles & 30 days into their 2880 mile trek from Hong Kong to Rangoon.

The Governor of Kweichow Province, General Wu is at the front centre wearing white gloves.

The officer who came to meet the British Royal Navy party was Dr Robert Lim, who spoke fluent English. Dr Lim was educated in Edinburgh [George Watson's College] & married a Scotswoman. He was an old friend & golfing partner of Admiral Chan Chak.

48 Members of the escape party with General Wu

Personnel on the Escape:

MTB 07

MTB 09

MTB 10

MTB 11

MTB 27

Service number prefix:

C = Chatham

D = Devonport

P = Portsmouth

C-410

Skiff to MTB's

Escape Launch (Cornflower II)

Force 136 (SOE)

Citations posted in The London Gazette 1942 For daring and resource in Far Eastern waters and the escape:

K.B.E. [Military] Chan Chak; Admiral CN (Only one previous Chinese national had ever gained this most prestigious award.[62]

C.B.E. Yee Shiu Kee; Colonal SS

M.B.E. McEwan Colin M; S.O.E.

O.B.E. Montague Hugh Monthermer; Cmdr R.N. (Retd) Hsu Henry Heng; Lt-Cmdr CN


D.S.C. Ashby Ronald Robert Wilson; Lt H.K.R.N.V.R. Wright William Morley; Warrant Officer H.K.R.N.V.R.

Mention in Despatches

Duckworth ,Tom Greenwood; Telegraphist R.N. P/JX202851. [Posthumous]
Montague Hugh Monthermer; Cmdr R.N. Retd.
Gandy Gerard Horace; Lt-Cmdr R.N. Retd.
Collingwood Cuthbert John; Lt R.N.
Kennedy Alexander; Lt R.N.V.R.
Pittendrigh Arthur; Lt R.N.R.
Thums Gilbert; Chief Petty Officer RN D/J.96352
Prest John William; Petty Officer R.N. P/JX128494.
Hide Stephen John; Petty Officer R.N. P/KX82873.
Priestley Ronald John Charles; Petty Officer R.N. P/KX81900.
Stonell Robert Henry; Petty Officer R.N P/KX.80217
Schillemore William Arthur; Leading Seaman R.N. P/JX142194.
Rutter Albert Edward; Able Seaman R.N. D/JX.134658
Christiansen Holgar; Midshipman M.N.

16th December 1941 IJA Bomb

MTB 08

Bush, Lewis; Sub Lieutenant

Elliot; Stoker

*Hughieson, Jack H; Telegraphist P/WRX456

*Kilbee,Laurence Dudley, Lieutenant HKRNVR

MacGinness; Stoker

Mitchel; Coxwain

19th December 1941 MTB action

MTB 07

MTB 12

MTB 26


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