Buddy Hide The Great Escape from Hong Kong

Steve [Buddy] Hide MiD RN 1914 - 1977

In Hong Kong

Acting Stoker Petty Officer Steve [Buddy] Hide was " Mentioned in despatches" for his action while attacking the Japanese invading forces in Kowloon Harbour on the 19th December 1941.

[ 4448 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 13 OCTOBER, 1942 ]

Photo from the Ted Ross collection ©

Click here for Buddy Hide's account of the escape

Click here for the letter that no mother wants to receive

Buddy married his long suffering girlfriend Dorothy in Lewes UK, just eleven days after getting back home.

He went on to serve a total of 22 years in the Royal Navy before emigrating to Mwadui in Tanganyika East Africa in 1955.

The crew of MTB 07 in Kowloon 1941

Lt: R.R.W. Ashby DSC

Sub-Lt: McGill

P.O. Coxswain: John.W. Prest P/JX.128494 [Mentioned in Dispatches]

Telegraphist: T.G. Duckworth [killed 19th Dec 41] "Mentioned in Despatches (Posthumous)"

Acting P.O. Stoker: S.J. Hide [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 ©

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©;

A/L Stoker Buddy Hide joins MTB 07 in Kowloon, 21st March1940.

Promoted to Leading Stoker 19th August 1940

Promoted to Acting Stoker petty officer 7th April 1941

Promoted to Stoker Petty Officer 7th April 1942

Promoted to Stoker Chief Petty Officer 7th May 1945

Promoted to Chief Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic 1st May 1947

Retired from Royal Navy 28th May 1955

Lt Ron Ashby and crew of MTB 07

Ron Ashby and crew on patrol with MTB 07
Run the curser over to indentify individuals.

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

The forward Lewis guns onboard MTB 07 in Mirs Bay

MTB 07.

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection © Petty Officer Buddy Hide.

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

Photo from Buddy Hide's & Ron Ashby's collections ©

MTB 07 on patrol with the 2nd MTB Flotilla in Tathong Channel, Hong Kong, later scuttled in Mirs Bay

Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

Buddy Hides medals Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©

The medals are, from left to right

The 1939-1945 Star.
The Atlantic Star
The Pacific Star with Burma clasp
The 1939-1945 Medal, sometimes known as the Victory Medal, with Oak Leaf Clasp for mention in dispatches in Hong Kong, 1941.
General Service medal Minesweeping 1945-1951. 180 days afloat on active clearance in Home, Atlantic or Mediterranean waters 4 Sep 1945 to 30 Sep 1951
Long sevice and good conduct medal

A 1/24 scale model of MTB 07 takes to the water in 2009 in memory of Ron Ashby & the crew. MTB 07 on patrol in Hong Kong

2009 1/24 scale model of MTB 07 MTB 07 on patrol in Hong Kong

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

MTB 07

Photo from Lt C J Collingwoods collection

Hiding in Telegraph Bay on Christmas Day 1941 prior to the escape that evening

MTBs 07 & 09 hiding in Telegraph Bay by day prior to the escape on Christmas Day 1941.

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

MTB 07 alongside the stone pier with 09 covered in straw and branches hiding from enemy aircraft in Telegraph Bay on the day of the escape, Christmas day 1941. 07 still has a full complement of depth charges on deck.

Shiukwan [Kukong] 6th Jan 1942

Albert Rutter, Chinese Guerilla Leader Liang Yung Yuan with Stoker Petty Officer Buddy Hide at Kukong on 6th January 1942 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.

Lt Collingwood RN and hid dog arriving in Kukong 6th Jan 1942
Run the curser over individuals to identify

Photo from Admiral Chan Chak's collection © Photo from Admiral Chan Chak's collection ©

A/P.O. Al Burrows, A/B Lenny Rann, P.O. Charly Moore, & Lt Collingwood & his dog Bruce, P.O. Buddy Hide is in the background with the escape party at Kukong

The Warrant for Mention in Despatches