Escape from Hong Kong - The Final Hours

 

Stoker A/B Jack Thorpe D/JX.171933 Suffolk

**/**/1919 - 25/02/1944

Jack was initially drafted to MTB 08 before transferring to 11. After his eventual return to the UK Jack served on the Arctic convoys with the destroyer HMS Mahratta which was attacked by U-boat while escorting convoy JW-057 the largest convoy ever sent to Russia and sunk on 25.02.44 with the loss of 220 souls, including Jack Thorpe aged 25. There were just 17 survivors picked up, of whom one died shortly after.

Remembered with Honour

MTB 11 hit by friendly fire

 

Shaoguan [Kukong] 6th January 1942

 

A/B Thorpe ?? & S.P.O. Charlie Moore 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 Australian/British Marines of the 204 military Mission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stoker A/B Jack Thorpe

Photo from the Thorpe family collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MTB 11 being worked up at HMS Vernon after completion in July 1938 & laying depth charges on exercise in 1940

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The crew of MTB 8 or 11 !!

Back row: A/B Jack Thorpe, PO Rob Stonell ?, A/B Alf Burrows ?, A/B Alex Kelly ?.

Front row: A/B Lew Whatley ?, A/B Ken Holmes ?, A/B ? ?

Photo from the Thorpe family collection ©