Lt-Commander Gandy RN; Commanding Officer 2^nd MTB Flotilla

MTB 10 was scuttled along with the remaing boats of the 2nd MTB Flotilla at Nan'ao in Mirs Bay on 26th December 1941

 

Lt-Commander G H Gandy R.N. Retd 1896-1987

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 Ashby, Jix Prest, Buddy Hide, Charlie Evans, John pawley, Al Rutter, 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 another eleven 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.

 

1908-1912 RN College, Osborne and Dartmouth

1912-1915 Midshipman HMS Thunderer

1915-1916 Acting Sub-Lt HMS Arabis (Sunk in night action 10^th February 1916)

1916-1918 Sub-Lt & Lt HMS Victory. (POW in Germany) Promoted Lt R.N. September 1917

1919 Lt HMS Renown

1919-1920 Lt (N) HMS Hearty (4^th class surveyor)

1920 Lt (N) HMS Flinders (3rd class surveyor) Retired Voluntarily as Lt RN with gratuity May 1920. Promoted Lt-Commander RN (Retd) September 1925.

193? Appointed Land Surveyor Hong Kong

1933 Joined HKRNVR as Cadet being promoted to Sub-Lt then Lt HKRNVR

1936 Ceased active training, remaining on emergancy list HKRNVR

1939 Called up for service as Lt-Commander RN in HMS Tamar 12^th September 1939 as Naval Provost Marshal Hong Kong⁴⁷

1940April, Lt-Commander HMS Tamar (Cicala) in command.

1941 May, Lt-Commander RN HMMTB 10 as Senior Officer 2^nd MTB Flotilla in Hong Kong gaining a " Mentioned in despatches" for his action while attacking the Japanese invading forces in Kowloon Harbour on the 19th December 1941.

Gandy relieved Lt-Commander Boldero who had been the flotilla CO since 1st December 1940.and had lost an arm in an accident.

[ 4448 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 13 OCTOBER, 1942 ]

Escaping as ordered after capitualation with remainder of Flotilla on 25^th December. Then scuttling in Mirs Bay and bringing MTB party of 45 across China to Rangoon.

1942 February, Served under Commodore Burma Coast until evacuation by sea on 8^th March

1942 April-May Lt-Commander in charge of Naval draft guarding 657 Italian POW's onboard HMT Narkunda on passage to UK

1942-1944 Lt-Commander RN HMS Osprey (Kingfisher) in command. Kingfisher employed in experimental work and submarine escort duties at Clyde and Western Aproaches.

1944 February, Lt-Commander RN joined combined operations HMS Copra as squadron Commander Major Landing Craft. Traing in Clyde Area under Captain MLC. Later under Rear Admiral Landing Ships and Craft, unallocated, at Troon.

1945 March, Acting Commander RN serving as Squadron Commander "L" LCT Squadron in Antwerp and Holland under Flag Officer Holland Vice Admiral Sir G C Dickens. Serving for relief of Holland and transportation of German POW's in North Holland. The Squadron peaked at 72 Major landing craft under Squadron Commander's Command.

1945 July L squadron disbanded, transfered to P squadron.

1945 6^th October Demobed

1946 8^th May promoted to Commander on the retired list

194? Returned to Hong Kong as head of the Survey department

195? retired