The Escape of the 2nd MTB Flotilla

Sub-Lt David Pauncefoote-Legge H.K.R.N.V.R. [MTB 11]

Sub-Lt Legge acted as interpreter during the escape as he had lived and worked in China for some time. He left the escape party at Kunming and was told to report to the British Embassy in Chungking so flew there with Sub-Lt Gee. "Then I found what a mistake I had made. The Embassy grabbed me without so much as a by your leave and shoved me into their cypher office. There was of course no Naval authority to whom I could complain. I was stuck there for two months before I made such a nuisance of myself that they let me out".

He was commissioned into the Imperial R.N.V.R. in 1943 and joined the Naval Intelligence Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 1943-1946.

Photos from Buddy Hide's and Davo's collections ©

 

To read more on David click here.

Davo was born in Hayes, Kent, England in 1916, and passed away aged 90 on the 19 March 2007 in Auburn, California. Davo was a California resident for over 50 years. After long careers with British-American Tobacco and B.O.A.C. (British Airways), he was widowed (no children) and remarried at age 62. Davo was an active boater and traveler, and a docent at California Academy of Sciences in S.F. He became a US citizen at age 64.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-Lt David Legge with the ships dog Brucey.

Davo back in China May 2006

Photo from David Pauncefoote-Legge's collection ©

Click here for Sub-Lt D P Legge Obituary







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 David Pauncefoote Legge in the centre lived in Shanghai and spoke the language, and so was the interpreter.

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 ©