The 2nd MTB Flotilla escapes from Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941

 

HongKong Escape Re-enactment Organisation

H.E.R.O.

香港突圍羣英協會 (二戰中英聯軍)

The Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence has agreed to stage an exhibition covering this daring escape from Hong Kong and through the Japanese lines in mainland China. We are at this moment in time collecting artifacts from the escape for the display. A re-enactment of the escape from Aberdeen in Hong Kong is to coincide with the official opening of the exhibition. We will leave Aberdeen by boat(s) and head out to Ping Chau in Mirs Bay for lunch. From Ping Chau it is only a short journey to the fishing village of Nanao on mainland China where the escape party landed.

The official opening ceremony of the museum exhibition is scheduled for 15.00 on 24th December 2009. On Christmas Day in the evening we are to have dinner on the floating Jumbo Restaurant in Aberdeen Channel, which is situated almost exactly where the most dramatic part of the ecape took place. On Boxing Day we will embark for Nanao in Mirs Bay stopping off at the crescent shaped Island of Tung Ping Chao. Nanao is a pretty fishing village where we will stay for several nights while exploring the route of the escape party through the mountains by day. We then travel to Waichow where we spend a couple of nights and re-enact the famous "Waichow group photo" with the 2nd & 3rd generation descendents. Please contact me for details.

24th December: 15.00 Opening of escape exhibition in the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence.

25th December: 20.00 Official dinner at the Jumbo Floating Restaurant in Aberdeen Channel.

26th December: Travel [by boat following original couse] to nanAo in Mirs Bay stopping off at Ping Chau Island for lunch.

26-28th December: NanAo exploring escape trail. Dinner hosted by Chinese Geurrilla descendants.

28-30th December: Waichow exploring escape trail, official dinner hosted by the Governor, group photo to comererate group photo of the original escapees 68 years ago.

 

Participants so far interested:

Donald & Duncan Chan [sons of Admiral Chan Chak]

Paula Wu, Diana Chiu, Anita Li, & husbands [daughters of Admiral Chan Chak]

Graham & Carol Joyce, daughter of [Les Barker MTB 11]

Russell Joyce [grandson of [Les Barker MTB 11] followed the route from Hong Kong to Wantung at the China/Burma border at the end of April 2007. Russell has said he is very keen to be part of the re-enactment.

Alison McEwan & Tim Luard [daughter of SOE agent Collin McEwan].

Tony & Sheena Recaldin, Ann Partridge Janie [nee MacDougall] & Christopher Barkley [daughters of David MacDougall]

David, Jamie, and Lucy Barkley, grandchildren of David MacDougall

Tom Recaldin, grandson of David MacDougall

Leung Wing Yuen's Son [Guerilla leader on the escape] along with the President of the East River Resistance Association.

Vaughan Ashby, son of Lt Ashby of MTB 07 and his daughter Helen have contacted me to pencil them in for this event.

Alick Kennedy, son of Lt Kennedy of MTB 09

Warwick Ross & family, son of Ted Ross of the Ministry of Information

Emma Oxford & Mike Elliot & family [Daughter of Sq-Ldr Max Oxford].

David, Peter, & Richard Hide [sons of Buddy Hide of MTB 07] will be in attendance along with stephen , David's son.

Ted Moore [son of Albert (Pony) Moore MTB 27]

David Macmillan, Grandson of Capt Peter Macmillan R.A.

It is hoped that some of the late Henry Heng Hsu's family will attend.

The Hong Kong Flotilla Association, members are very interested.

The escape party at Waichow Admiral Chan-Chak of the Chinese liason party to Hong Kong Commander Hugh M Montague [S.N.O. Aberdeen & on the escape] Lt-Commander G H Gandy of MTB 10 & C.O of the 2nd MTB Flotilla Flag Lt-Commander Henry Heng Hsu of the Chinese liason party to Hong Kong Acting P.O. Stoker Buddy Hide of MTB 07 Ted Ross of the Ministry of Information Coxswain Leading Seaman: William Schillemore [MTB 09] Gome ?? A/B: Francis [Frank] Edwin Penny of MTB 09 P.O. Stoker: Robert. H. Stonell [MTB 11] C.P.O.: Gilbert Thums [HMS Cicila & acting No 2 of MTB 10] A/B Stoker: John Holt [MTB 27] A/B: Leslie [Lofty] Gurd [MTB 09] A/B: Stoker George [Bones] Arnold [MTB 07] A/B: Robert Hempenstall [MTB 09] Lt Alexander Kennedy of MTB 09 Lt HKRNVR ? Sub-Lt Tommy Brewer [MTB 09] Sub-Lt David Pauncefoote Legge [MTB 11] Acting P.O.Stoker: Ronald J C (Jez) Priestley [MTB 09] A/B: Leslie S Barker [MTB 11] A/B: Stoker Jack Thorpe [MTB 11] Tel Harold P Hill of MTB 09 Coxswain Yeung Chuen was at Admiral Chan Chak's side at all times as his body guard. A/B Stoker; Alfred Leonard Downey [MTB 11] Captain Peter MacMillan of the R.A. & HQ Staff A/B Charles S Deakin MTB 27 Acting P.O. Alfred Burrows MTB 11 A/B Leonard A Rann MTB 27 Merchant Marine: A Marchant Merchant Marine: Norman Halliday Capt Peter Macmillan R.A. Supt Bill Robinson, Indian Police Inteligence Midshipman Holger Christiansen A/B W Porton P.O. William C Dyer Warrent Oficer William M Wright Merchant Marine E Cox-Walker A/B Edmund H Brazell Tel Arthur McQueen MTB 11 A/B Mechanic Charles Foster MTB 09 A/B Stoker Fred Quixell MTB 10 A/B Stoker Ken Holmes MTB 11 A/B Lewis R Whatley MTB 10 ?? Tel Raymond Brogden MTB 10 A/B Alexander Kelly MTB 11 A/B Stoker John Holt MTB 27 L/Stoker Charles Evans MTB 07 Tel A/B Eric Purchase MTB 07 A/B Albert Rutter MTB 07 P.O. Charles Moore MTB 27 A/B Ed Charleson GN. Chom ?? P.O. Stoker Sam Carr MTB 10 Squadron Leader Max Oxford Lt ? Lt A Pittendrigh RNR Lt R R W Ashby HKRNVR; MTB 07 Lt Cuthbert J Collingwood RN MTB 11 General Chen Lt-General Chen Lt Cdr John Yorath RN Major Goring HQ staff Capt Guest R.A. Sub Lt Gee Major-General Yu Ow Young Major-General Tong

The epic escape journey from Hong Kong to Rangoon was 2880 miles and took 51 days. The marching part of the China trip was through the jungle, and over mountainous Country 7000 feet above sea level, with no roadways. On the whole, the morale, spirit, and courage of the party were magnificent. The thought of beating the Japanese to get home after three years, four in some cases kept us going.