Escape from Hong Kong - The Final Hours

Lt Cuthbert John Collingwood DSO R.N. MiD [MTB 11]

C J was C/O of MTB 27 from 21st October 1939 until he took over as C/O of MTB 11 which was scuttled along with the remaining boats of the 2nd MTB flotilla deep behind enemy lines at Nan'ao on the Dapeng Peninsula in Mirs Bay on 26th December 1941

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Collingwood was Mentioned in Despatches for distinguished services during the defence of Hong Kong.

MTB 11 on Flotilla patrol in formation

For more information on Cuthbert Collingwood click here.

C.J. on the Lewis guns & MTB 11 on patrol; Photos from C.J. Collingwood's & Al Downey's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back Row: Lt Kennedy RNVR, Lt-Cmdr Henry Hsu CN, Lt-Cmdr Gandy RN (Rtrd), Lt-Cmdr Yorath RN (Rtrd), Supt Robinson Indian Police, Lt Parsons HKRNVR, Lt Ashby HKRNVR, Lt Collingwood RN,

Front Row: Sub-Lt Gee HKRNVR, Sub-Lt Brewer HKRNVR, Sub-Lt Legge HKRNVR, and nurses at Waichow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt C J Collingwood RN with the uniformed Dr Lim who ran the hospital in Kweiyang now Guiyang in January 1942. Dr Lim was educated at the "George Watson College" in Edingburgh and an Edinburgh trained physiologist married a Scots woman. He had served on the Western Front with British forces in the Great War of 1914-18. He set up the Chinese Red Cross after the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1937. He was also a former golfing partner of Admiral Chan Chak.

Photo from the Ashby collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MTB 11 hit by friendly fire

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt C J Collingwood and crew in 1940

Photo from Lt Collingwood's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loading the torpedoes. Each BPB MTB carried two on overhead rails in the engine room. The torpedoes faced forward and were launched through ports in the stern into the flip over gantry rails. The direction of the boat was the direction of the torpedo, so once launched the boat had to veer off to allow the torpedo free way.

Photos from Lt Collingwood's collection ©

 

 

 

MTB 11 and 09 at speed

 

 

 

 

MTB 27, Thornycroft 55 foot ex Kuamintong CMB Kuai 20 completed 10th September 1938 loaded with depth charges and torpedos getting an XDO inspection in February 1940 with Lt Kilbeee as her C/O after Lt Collingwood took over MTB 11. .

 

 

 

 

Photo from C J Collingwood collection ©

 

 

 

Lt Collingwood RN, Sub-Lt Brewer, Warrant Officer Wright, Lt Ashby, and Lt-Cmdr Yorath RN with ratings. A/B Jack Holt is 3rd from left with A/B Ed Brazel front row right.

 

Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©

 

 

CJ kept an account of the escape and is survived by his widow Kay, son Nigel, & three daughters.