Escape from Hong Kong - The Final Hours

A/B: Francis [Frank] Edwin Penny of MTB 09 (Christchurch Hants)

A/B Frank Penny

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

 

Frank was admitted to hospital suffering with malaria on arrival in Kukong and after a lengthy recuperation left Burma with felow escapee Fred Quixall and two HKRNVR officers D F Davies & D W Morley on the 4th February 1942 who had escaped with Colonal Lindsay Ride from Shamshuipo POW camp on the 9th January 1942

Franks family received a telegram simply saying "Home soonest Love Frank” On his eventual return home his daughter stated "It was a shrivelled, ill, old man who returned."

Frank's record show him at HMS Tamar [MTB 09] from 3 June 1939 – 25 December 1941 and then Victory [UK] from 26 December 1941 – 9 November 1942

Sadly Frank passed away in December 1962 of TB caught during his time in the China seas

Click here to return to the Waichow Photo

Some of the crew of MTB 09 taking a smoko in Aberdeen Channel 9th December 1941

From the left Stoker A/B Charlie Foster, Coxswain Bill Schillemore, and A/B Bob Hempenstall

Photo from the Ashby collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Crew of MTB 09 at Waichow on 30th December 1941

MTB 09 Crew at Waichow, photo from Lt Ashby's collection

Back Row: A/B; Penny, A/B; Leslie [Lofty] Gurd, Tel; Harold.P. Hill, A/B Robert Hempenstall

Middle Row: Stoker Charles Foster, L/S; Coxswain William Schillemore,"Mentioned in Despatches" St/ P.O. Ronald J.C. (Jez) Priestley, "Mentioned in Despatches"

Front Row: Sub-Lt; Tommy Brewer, Lt; Alexander Kennedy [CO] "Mentioned in Despatches"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The crew of MTB 09 in Kowloon; 21^st December 1940