Lt Gandy / Cmdr Hugh Montague / Sq-Ldr Max Oxford / Capt Guest / Escape Re-enactment 2009 /Hong Kong 2008 /
Lt Alexander Kennedy VRD R.N.V.R. 2nd MTB Flotilla Hong Kong
1939 - 1941
Lt Alexander Kennedy RNVR at Waichow 30th Dec 1941
Photo from Buddy Hide's collection ©
Midsh. 26.08.1937 Joined RNVR (Clyde Division)
6th October1939 Arrived in Hong Kong aboard the P & O Liner Ettrick to join HMS Tamar (RN base, Hong Kong) as Acting Sub-Lt on MTB 10 under Lt-Cmdr D G (Nobby) 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.
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 remaing 2nd MTB Flotilla off Nan'ao, Mirs Bay, China 26th December 1941
The Crew of MTB 09 at Waichow on 30th December 1941
MTB 09 Crew at Waichow, photo by Lt Ashby
Back Row: A/B; Penny, A/B; Leslie [Lofty] Gurd, Tel; Harold.P. Hill, A/B Robert Hempenstall
Middle Row: Stoker Charles Foster, L/S; Coxswain William Schillemore,Mentioned in Despatches" St/ P.O. Ronald J.C. (Jez) Priestley, Mentioned in Despatches"
Front Row: Sub-Lt; Tommy Brewer, Lt; Alexander Kennedy [CO] Mentioned in Despatches
Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©
MTB 09 was scuttled along with the remaing 2nd MTB Flotilla off Nan'ao, Mirs Bay, China 26th December 1941.
Photo from Alick Kennedy's collection ©
Hiding in Telegraph Bay
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 Ron Ashby's collection ©
Lt Alexander Kennedy RNVR with Tel Hill on the conning tower of MTB 09.
Photo from Alick Kennedy's collection ©
Kukong 6th-16th January 1942
Lt Kennedy at the Sea Palace in Kukong
The Sea Palace was a floating brothel which 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 by the BAAG after it was conceived by Lindsay Ride at the Methodist Mission in Kukong for a short while.
Photo from Ron Ashby's collection ©
Kweiyang 26th January 1942
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".
Photo from Alick Kennedy's collection ©
Kennedy carried 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.
Photo from the Hide family collection ©
Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence
