The Escape of the 2nd MTB Flotilla

 

Leading Stoker Charles Evans D/KX86622 [MTB 07] (Gorton, Manchester)

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

 

After 3000 miles traveling overland through China and Burma he arrived in a deserted Rangoon. After five weeks he left onboard the SS heinrich Jessen bound for Calcutta along with Lt-Cmdr Gandy & Lt Ashby, Jix Prest, Buddy Hide, Al Rutter, John pawley, Jack Holt, Les Barker, Ron Priestley, Bill Schillemore, & Lofty Gurd. From Calcutta it was by train across the Indian sub-Continent to Bombay where they boarded the SS Narkunda bound for the UK via Durban at 15.30 on 26th March 1942.

In Durban they took 657 Italian POW's onboard before shaping course for Cape Town where more of the flotilla crew had arrived onboard the SS Larconia including Lt Kennedy, Bill Dyer & Al Downey, who then transferred to the Narkunda. 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.

 

 

The crew of MTB 07 in Kowloon 1940

• Lt: R.R.W. Ashby DSC
• Sub-Lt: Gee
• P.O. Coxswain: John.W. Prest P/JX.128494 [Mentioned in Dispatches]
• Telegraphist: T.G. Duckworth [killed 19th Dec 41] "Mentioned in Despatches (Posthumous)"
• Acting P.O. Stoker: S.J. Hide [Mentioned in Dispatches] Joined MTB 07 on 1st January 1940
• Leading Stoker: R. Barker [Killed 19th Dec 41]
• A/B: Albert E Rutter
• A/B: Pawley
• A/B Stoker: G. [Bones]Arnold [C/JX.154986]

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt Ron Ashby and crew

 

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MTB 07 in Mirs Bay

 

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

 

 

 

Hiding in Telegraph Bay

 

 

MTB 07 alongside the stone pier with 09 covered in straw and branches hiding from enemy aircraft in Telegraph Bay on the day of the escape, Christmas day 1941. 07 still has a full complement of depth charges on deck.

 

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MTBs 07 & 09 hiding at the dairy farm pier in Telegraph Bay on Christmas Day prior to the escape that evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MTB 07 crew out on a jolly

 

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out on a jolly, Buddy Hide & Bones Arnold both seated

 

 

 

MTB 07 crew out on a jolly

 

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bones Arnold leading the intrepid party ashore

 

 

 

MTB 07 on patrol in Tathong Channel

 

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SA/B Bones Arnold, Gen Au Yeung, & L/St Charlie Evans at Kukong 6th Jan 1942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shiukwan [Kukong] 6th January 1942

A/B Stoker George [Bones] Arnold MTB 07, Mr Ow Young, & L/Stoker Charlie Evans arriving in Kukong.

The padded jackets were obtained by Colonel Owen-Hughes at Lung Chun. Owen-Hughes was the British Liaison officer to the Chinese army. The party later swapped the jackets with an incoming detachment of British Marines.