Escape from Hong Kong - The Final Hours

Lt Thomas Maurice Parsons H.K.R.N.V.R. 2nd MTB Flotilla, Coastal Forces Hong Kong

01/12/1915 - **/10/1995

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

Born in Hong Kong Tommy Parsons, the son of a far east university professor^[37] collapsed while climbing the 2000 foot mountain on the forced march from NanAo to Waichow necessitating a sedan chair.

Last record found to date; April 1946 HMS Golden Hind (RN manning depot, Sydney, NSW)

His younger brother david (Pte. DO, V3234, HKVDC. The Recce UnitHKVDQ) was a valued member of the SOE, Dan Waters & Alison McEwan recorded in writing up of Colin McEwan's diary "David Orchard Parsons worked in Jardines. He was born in Hong Kong and educated partly in Hong Kong and partly in Britain. Aged 20, he was the youngest member of Z Force when the Japanese attacked. He was a member of the Mobile Column of the HKVDC before joining Z Force." .^[11]

"The authors have indeed been fortunate to have had the assistance of David Parsons who was, until he passed away in the summer of 2006, apparently the only surviving member of Z Force. He corresponded with the
author (Waters) and was very helpful in answering questions and providing a number of valuable, unpublished papers. To have had someone to whom one could refer, who was actually present fighting in Z Force together with
McEwan against the Japanese, was of immense value.".^[11]

Tommy Parsons and fellow officers referred to the highly tuned thoroughbred boats of the Hong Kong Coastal Forces as the "Hong Kong Costly Farce"

Some of the senior Officers with nurses at the Wao On Mission in Waichow.

Back Row: Lt Kennedy RNVR, Lt-Cmdr Henry Hsu CN, Lt-Cmdr Gandy RN (Rtrd), Lt-Cmdr Yorath RN (Rtrd), Supt Robinson Indian Police, Lt Parsons HKRNVR, Lt Ashby HKRNVR, Lt Collingwood RN,

Front Row: Sub-Lt Gee HKRNVR, Sub-Lt Brewer HKRNVR, Sub-Lt Legge HKRNVR, and nurses at Waichow.