Lt Alexander Kennedy VRD R.N.V.R. 2nd MTB Flotilla, Coastal Forces Hong Kong
02/09/1917 - 12/06/1999
Lt Alexander Kennedy RNVR at Waichow 30th Dec 1941
Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©
Alex was a keen athlete, having been the school record holder for 440 yards, hockey player, rugby player, boxing, shooting as well as a pipe major.Educated at Kelvinside Academy; Loretto School, Musselburgh and Pembroke College, Cambridge
Company director (Bowie-Castlebank Ltd. and subsidiary companies). President, Scottish Federation of Junior Chambers of Commerce 1957. Deacon of Incorporation of Bonnet makers and Dyers, Glasgow 1960. Trustee of Loretto School.
Obituary
MTB 09 with Lt Kennedy in command was in the leading sub division attacking the Japanese invading forces in Kowloon Harbour on the 19th December 1941.
Some of the crew of MTB 09 taking a smoko in Aberdeen Channel 9th December 1941
From the left Stoker A/B Charlie Foster, Coxswain Bill Schillemore, and A/B Bob Hempenstall
Photo from the Ashby collection ©
After 3000 miles travelling overland through China and Burma he arrived in a deserted Rangoon. Rear Admiral Cosmo Moray Graham was flown in from the Persian Gulf to take over as Commodore Burma Coast Command and had Lt's Collingwood & Kennedy as his staff officers. Kennedy then took command of the the Burmese Minesweeper Somagyi with A/B Al Downey & Bill Dyer among his crew. After six and a half weeks he left Akyab (Sittwe) onboard the five thousand ton British India Steam Navigation Company's " SS Ellenga" bound for Calcutta along with forteen other ratings, and over two thousand refugees crammed on deck.9 From Calcutta it was a thirty six hour train journey across the Indian sub-Continent to Bombay where they boarded the Cunarder armed Merchant Cruiser " RMS Laconia" bound for the UK via Cape Town.
In Cape Town Lt Kennedy wrote "The 'Laconia' was followed into harbour by another troopship, the 'Narkunda', and to our surprise Gandy and the other half of the M.T.B. party were on board. The 'Laconia' party received a warm welcome, perhaps not so much as old ship-mates but as extra hands to share duties of guarding the six hundred Italian prisoners-of war being taken to England in the ship". On board the 'Narkunda' the MTB party was almost complete." [9] We set sail again on the 19th April, but had to return due to engine trouble. This time we anchored in Table Bay with no ships boats for a run ashore. We finally got under way on the 28th with a ten-day passage to Freetown.
After leaving Freetown they had to sleep fully dressed as they negotiated the U-boat packs in the north Atlantic continuously zigzagging enroute for the UK. Gandy, Ashby, & Kennedy along with 27 ratings finally arrived in the King George V dock, Sheildhall, Glasgow late afternoon on Friday 22nd May 1942 onboard the "Narkunda".[15]
Alex Kennedy and fellow officers referred to the highly tuned thoroughbred boats of the Hong Kong Coastal Forces as the "Hong Kong Costly Farce"
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.
In Cape Town they were surprised to see the Armed Merchant Cruiser, P&O-RMS " Narkunda" arrive with Lt-Cmdr Gandy & Lt Ashby, Buddy Hide, Charlie Evans, John Pawley, Al Rutter, Jack Holt, Les Barker, Ron Priestley, Jixer Prest, & others onboard. They then transferred to the Narkunda, arriving in the King George V dock, Glasgow via Freetown on the afternoon of the 22nd May, there were three officers and 27 ratings. [15]
Midshipman. 26.08.1937 Joined RNVR (Clyde Division)
6th October1939 Arrived in Hong Kong aboard the eleven thousand ton P&O Troop-ship Ettrick, the only purpose built troop-ship of the line to join HMS Tamar (RN base, Hong Kong) as Acting Sub-Lt on MTB 10 under Lt-Cmdr D G (Knobby) Clark RN the senior officer of the Flotilla followed briefly by Lt-Cmdr Boldero before taking command of MTB 09 early in 1940 from Lt K A Watson RN. Lt Kennedy gained a Mentioned in Despatches for his action in Kowloon Harbour on the 19th December 1941.
On his return to the UK he spent two years as an instructor at HMS Christopher, the Coastal Forces training base at Fort William.54
Kennedy wrote Hong Kong Full Circle 1939 - 1945 in 1949 but could not get it published so he had 500 copies printed privately in 1969. Due to eyesight problems Kennedy remained shore based for the duration of the war. He spent two years at the MTB training base at Fort William before enrolling on a Staff training course at Greenwich. On completion he joined the staff of Rear-Admiral Rivett-Carnac at the Admiralty working on the plans to form as advance base for the British Pacific Fleet. He was back in Hong Kong aboard HMS Pioneer in 1945 and went ashore for the unconditional surrender by the Japanese on 16th September signed by Major-General Okada & Vice-Admiral Fujita for the Japanese and Admiral Harcourt for the British. In attendance at the table representing the Allies were Major-General Pan Kwa-huo for the Chinese, an American Colonel, and Captain Greery from HMCS Prince Robert. Also in attendance was Brigadier Colonial Secretary David M MacDougall.
MTB 09 was scuttled along with the remaining 2nd MTB Flotilla off Nan'ao, Mirs Bay, China 26th December 1941
The Crew of MTB 09 at Waichow on 30th December 1941
Photo from Lt Ashby's collection ©
MTB 09 Crew at Waichow,
Back Row: A/B Penny, A/B Leslie [Lofty] Gurd, L/Tel Harold.P. Hill, A/B Robert Hempenstall
Middle Row: Stoker A/B Charles Foster, L/S Coxswain William Schillemore,MiD; S.P.O. Ronald J.C. (Jez) Priestley, MiD;
Front Row: Sub-Lt Tommy Brewer, Lt; Alexander Kennedy [OC] MiD
Photo from Lt Collingwood's collection ©
MTB 09 was scuttled along with the remaining 2nd MTB Flotilla behind enemy lines off Nan'ao, Mirs Bay, China 26th December 1941.
Hiding in Telegraph Bay
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.
Photo from Lt Kennedy's collection ©
Lt Alexander Kennedy RNVR with L/Tel Hill ?? on the bridge of MTB 09.
Kukong 6th-16th January 1942
Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©
Lt Kennedy at the Sea Palace in Kukong
The Sea Palace was a floating brothel moored with the hundreds of houseboats. Lt_Col Owen Hughes arranged with the owner to have it had cleared out and rented to accomodate the escape party while at Shaoguan [Kukong].
The SOE agents also staye here after the escape party moved on.
The Sea Palace was also used later by the BAAG after it was formed by Lindsay Ride at the Methodist Mission in Kukong for a short while.
Kweiyang 26th January 1942
Photo from Lt Alex Kennedy's collection ©
Some of the Officers enjoying a day out in Kweiyang with their female hosts including Dr Lim's 15 year old daughter Effie in the tartan kilt. Sub-Lt's Gee & Legge were both brought up in Shanghai and spoke Mandarin.
The officers left to right are Sub-Lt Gee [MTB 07], Sub-Lt Brewer [MTB 09], Sub-Lt Legge [MTB 11], Lt Parsons [MTB 27], & Lt Alexander Kennedy of MTB 09, the author of the privately published book "Hong Kong Full Circle 1939-1945".
Kennedy bribed a rating to carry the bronze crest of MTB 09 all the way across China and back to the UK after his 1st Officer Brewer had removed it but then decided it was too heavy to carry.
Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©
Caudae Spiculum Cave
(Beware the sting in the tail)
Hong Kong Full Circle 1939-1945". Privately published by the author with 500 copies printed by Harrison & Sons Ltd. London 1969
For more information on Alexander Kennedy click here.
Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence
