Escape Maps

The overland route followed by the escape party after scuttling the 2nd MTB Flotilla at NanAo to Waichow 26th - 29th December 1941 as recorded in the Ship's log of MTB 07 and Commander Montague RN Retd official report.

The escape party were guided by local Chinese Guerrilla's through the bandit infested country and Japanese lines into Free China.

25th Dec PM Aberdeen Island, Hong Kong - Nan Ao via Ping Chau Island

26th Dec AM Nan Ao - Kau Tit 3-4 miles inland

26th Dec PM Kau Tit - Nan Ao - Wongmu marching following coatal path 14 miles

27th Dec AM Wongmu - Sishui 31milesmarching keeping west of Tamshui

28th Dec AM See Hui - ChunLung16 miles marching

29th Dec AM ChunLung - Waichow 16 miles marching

31st Dec - 4th Jan Waichow - Lung Chun 140 miles by river

5th Jan - 6th Jan Lung Chun - Kukong [Shaoguan] 200 miles by road

16th Jan - 17th Jan Kukong - Kweilin 450 miles by train

17th Jan - 20th Jan Kweilin - Liuchow - railhead 150 miles by train

21st jan - 23rd Jan Railhead - Kweiyang 200 miles by road

26th Jan 29th Jan Kweiyang - Kunming 400 miles by road

1st Feb - 7th Feb Kunming - Wantung [Burma border] - Lashio700 miles by Burma Road

12th Feb - 13th Feb Lashio - Maymyo by rail

13th Feb 14th Feb Maymyo - Mandalay - Rangoon 700 miles by rail & road

14th Feb - 8th March Rangoon on Naval duties

8th March - 11th March Rangoon - Calcutta onboard Heinrich Jessen

11th March - 24th March Calcutta

24th March - 26th March Calcutta - Bombay by rail

26th March 12th April Bombay - Durban - Cape Town onboard SS Narcunda [later HMIS Barracuda]

28th April - 8th May Cape Town - Freetown onboard SS Narcunda

9th May - 22nd May Freetown - Glasgow onboard SS Narcunda

Escape Route

The five MTB's made a dash from Hong Kong to the South-East. After much heated discssion the officers decided to head North into Mirs Bay where they hoped to find a sympathetic Customs post at Nan Ao who they could trust for discretion with the enemy. After rendezvousing at the crescent shaped Island of [Tung]Ping Chau where they all tied up alongside "10" to get information, they y then shaped course for Nan Ao on the mainland and scuttled the flotilla along with the tug C410 and faced a 3180 mile overland journey to Rangoon in Burma.

From here it was by foot to the first stop at Waichow which was about eighty miles through bandit ridden very rough terrain and the Japanese lines.

Map of Hong Kong Territory

The MTB's headed South from Aberdeen then East and North to Ping Chau Island In North East Mirs Bay to Rendezvous with others before scuttling the boats and going overland.

Map of Aberdeen South Channel with Pill Box 12 covering the route

The Cornflower launch left Aberdeen heading East/South past Bennets Hill and came under attack from the Japanese battery at the South West point of Brick Hill.