The Escape of the 2nd MTB Flotilla

P.O. William C Dyer P/J97667 [MTB 10] (Ryde, I.O.W.)

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Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

After 3000 miles traveling overland through China and Burma he arrived in a deserted Rangoon. There he joined Lt Kennedy along withAl Downey on the Burmese Minesweeper Somagyi. After six and a half weeks they left Akyab onboard the SS Ellenga bound for Calcutta along with eight other flotilla ratings. From Calcutta it was by train across the Indian sub-Continent to Bombay where they boarded the SS Larconia bound for the UK via Cape Town.

In Cape Town they were surprised to see the SS Narkunda arrive with Lt-Cmdr Gandy and flotilla members onboard. They then transferred to the Narkunda with Lt-Cmdr Gandy & Lt Ashby, Buddy Hide, Charlie Evans, John pawley, Al Rutter, Jack Holt, Les Barker, Ron Priestley, Bill Schillemore, & Lofty Gurd. 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.

MTB 11 patrolling with the 2nd MTB Flotilla