€The 2nd MTB Flotilla

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 until it was scuttled along with the remainig boats of the 2nd MTB flotilla at Nan'ao on the Dapeng Pensinsula in Mirs Bay on 26th December 1941

Lt Collingwood was 2nd in command of the 2nd MTB Flotilla under Lt-Cmdr Gandy of MTB 10

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

[ 3390 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 2 JULY, 1946 ]

MTB 11 on Flotilla patrol in formation

Fore more information on Cuthbert Collingwood click here.

CJ was a cadet at the Ingress Abbey estate [HMS Worcester] at Greenhithe in Kent 1929-31. From here he joined the Merchant service with P & O before going over to RNR then into the RN as war looked inevitable. He was a keen sailor and partnered Ron Ashby sailing "Evening Flight" at the RHKYC .He later suffered eyesight damage and re-trained as an electrical officer and fially retired from the R.N. after 27 years service. He then joined Siemens Engineering untill they were taken over by Marconi. He then formed his own company specialising in the installation of electronic equipment on ships.

In retirement he acted as an advisor on bridge equipment for the "Mercy' ships which provide medical care for third world countries, and he served as a volunteer for FEBA, the Far Eastern Broadcasting Association, a Christian Fellowship based in the Seychelles."

He was a member of the OW [Old Worcester Association up untill his death in 2002.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lt C J Collingwood RN in 1940

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 torpedos. Each BPB MTB carried two on overhead rails in the engine room. The torpedos faced foreward 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 ©

 

 

 

Lt Collingwood, Sub-Lt Brewer, Warrant Officer Wright, & Lt Ashby with ratings. A/B Ed Brazel MN is 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.

 

Lt C J Collingwood was a descendent of Admiral Lord Cuthbert Collingwood, Lord Nelson's right hand man in the Battle of Trafalgar

Cuthbert Collingwood joined the Navy in 1761 when he was just 12-years-old. He sailed out of the Tyne on board the Shannon, a frigate on which he was to learn the rudiments of seamanship. Under the guidance of his uncle he served as a midshipman.

By 1772, Collingwood was an experienced seaman, and he was sent to Jamaica where he met another midshipman by the name of Horatio Nelson. Both were to rise through the ranks together serving their country in foreign seas. It was the start of a life-long friendship between the two men. Despite their ambitions there was never any jealousy between them. This state of mutual admiration continued until the Battle of Trafalgar, when Nelson was given the command over the more experienced Collingwood.

The Battle of Trafalgar has become inextricably linked with the name of Lord Nelson, but Collingwood's involvement was huge. The battle remains one of the most famous and crucial in British naval history.

On October 21, 1805 the combined forces of France and Spain were annihilated by the English fleet following a bloody battle. There were many heroes that day, not least Nelson, who was mortally injured in the fighting. As Nelson lay dying, Collingwood took control amongst the thunderous battle that raged all around him.

In routing the French and Spanish enemy forces from his ship, the Royal Sovereign, Collingwood defeated the foreign forces. Had the Royal Navy lost the battle, Napoleon with his 115,000 troops based at Boulogne, would have swept across the channel and invaded England. With Collingwood's help the British Navy did not lose a single ship at Trafalgar, and the country was saved from invasion.

After his famous victory, Collingwood received a pension of £2,000 per annum and was made Baron Collingwood. He died at sea off Minorca on the Ville De Paris in 1810 and was buried in St Paul's Cathedral in London.