The Escape of the 2nd MTB Flotilla

Prest was "Mentioned in Despatches" for his action in Kowloon Harbour on the 19th December 1941.

4448 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 13 OCTOBER, 1942

Jix Prest onboard the 'Narcunda' homeward bound in April 1942

Photo from Ron Ashby'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, 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 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.

Sub-Lt Brewer with Tel Chris Meaddows, P.O. Prest & S.P.O. Moore arriving in Shaoguan (Kukong) 6th january 1942.

C.P.O. Thums, S.P.O. Moore, A/B Downey, & Cox P.O. Jixer Prest in Kukong.

The crew of MTB 07 in Kowloon 1940

• Lt: R.R.W. Ashby DSC
• Sub-Lt: ???
• P.O. Coxswain: John.W. Prest P/JX.128494 [Mentioned in Dispatches]
• Telegraphist: T.G. Duckworth [killed 19th Dec 41 Mentioned in Dispatches]
• A/P.O. Stoker: S.J. Hide P/KX.82873 [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 ©

Coxswain Petty Officer John W Prest was too ill to attend the Waichow group photo. These photos were taken by his Skipper Lt Ashby on the way back to the UK from Bombay onboard the SS Narkunda which sailed from Bombay on the 26th March 1942 at 15:30 hrs along with survivors from HMS Repulse and Prince of Wales. After stopping at Durban, we took onboard over 500 Italian POWs before shaping course for Cape Town, arriving on Sunday 12th April. The Laconia was just ahead of us and to our surprise the other half of the 2nd MTB Flotilla crews were aboard her. They then joined us on the Narcunda and we set sail again on the 19th April, but had to return due to engine trouble. This time we anchored in Table Bay with no ships boats for a run ashore. We finally got under way on the 28th with a ten-day passage to Freetown. Of the 68 who escaped, 3 officers & 28 ratings finally arrived in Glasgow late afternoon on Friday 22nd May 1942.

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

A/B Al Downey, Cox P.O. Jixer Prest, & ?? arrive in Shaoguan (Kukong) 6th January 1942

Coxswain P.O. Prest with Tel A/B Purchase onboard MTB 07

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

Jix Prest with the crew of MTB 07

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©