The Escape of the 2nd MTB Flotilla

Coxswain Leading Seaman: William Schillemore M.i.D. from Dunfirmline

Coxswain Leading Seaman: William Schillemore [MTB 09](Dunfirmline) was recommended for promotion to Petty Officer with immediate effect for his actions in Kowloon Harbour on the 19th December 1941]

Below is an extract from Lt-Commander Gerard. H.Gandy R.N. Rtrd MTB 10 (S/O  2nd MTB Flotilla) report

The Coxswain Leading Seaman William Schilliemore P/JX142194 I recommend for mention in dispatches, and for immediate promotion to Acting Petty Officer for good handling of the boat and crew under his Commanding Officer both during this attack and on other occasions.

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

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, Jix Prest, Buddy Hide, Charlie Evans, John pawley, Al Rutter, Jack Holt, Les Barker, Ron Priestley, & 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.

 

 

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

MTB 09 Crew at Waichow, photo by Lt Ashby

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shiukwan

Albert Rutter, Chinese Guerilla Leader Liang Yung Yuan with StokerPetty Officer Buddy Hide, & Bones Arnold. Hanging out the truck are Les [Lofty] Gurd, Bill Schillemore, & John Pawley during the epic journey across China.

The padded jackets were obtained by Colonel Owen-Hughes at Lung Chun. Owen-Hughes was the British Liaison officer to the Chinese army. The party later swapped the jackets with an incoming detachment of British Marines.