Escape from Hong Kong - The Final Hours

A/B Edmund Hamilton Brazel T516 from Wolverhampton

 

Eddie Brazel was employed by Jardine Matheson & Company when he joined the HKRNVR where he served on HMS Cornflower and escaped in C-410 from Aberdeen on Christmas Day with Commander Montague R.N. and joined up with Admiral Chan Chak's escape party at NanAo, deep behind enemy lines in China.

Eddie had been assigned to C-410 as 2nd Engineer after scuttling HMS Cornflower. The 1st engineer declined to join the escape bid, and went ashore to await his fate leaving Eddie to master the engine alone. Eddie while being familier with the "National" diesal engine as Jardines were the agents was not that familier with the engine in C-410.

Photo from the Brazel collection ©

On arrival in Kunming he re-joined Jardines along with Eric Cox-Walker, Holgar Christiansen, and Allen Marchant.

Eddie wrote a very detailed account of the escape in C-410 and the trip through China in a letter to his brother Bill.

 

Lt Collingwood, Sub-Lt Brewer, Warrant Officer Wright, Lt Ashby & Lt-Cmdr Yorath RN. with ratings. A/B John (Jack) Holt 3rd from the front row left & A/B Eddie Brazel is front row right.

 

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Hide the son of SPO Buddy Hide & Donald Chan the son of Admiral Chan Chak at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the spiritual home of the HKRNVR in December 2009 admiring the ships crest of HMS Cornflower on which Eddie Brazel served. The ships launch was used by the escape party when they were shot up in Aberdeen channel on Christmas day 1941.