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special patrol in Junk Bay to deal with the possibility of Japanese crossing Junk Bay to Lyemun while British troops were evacuating at Lyemun.
I understand that a party of volunteers proceeded this night to Stonecutters to remove a dynamite lighter and bring it to buoy off the Harbour Office, and all military posts except one on the Hong- Kong side had been specially warned to hold fire. The one post opened fire and all the rest followed suit and the lighter which had been brought to the Harbour Office blew up. I infer that this may have had considerable influence on the fact that MTB's were infrequently ordered to operate at night in the Hongkong Harbour.
December 13th On Saturday, 13th December, at 0500 the Extended Defence Officer withdrew MTB's 07, 09 11 and 12 from Putoi and Hamiwan and sent them to the northwest of Lyemun to evacuate troops from a rough pier in Bay west of Devil's Peak. MTB 11 investigated pier and ran aground on rock in bay when turning away from pier, damaging propellers. MTB 12 commenced to tow MTB 11 back to Aberdeen, being later escorted and towed by 07 and 09. MTB 07 and 09 remained near pier after daylight until soldiers appeared and with unexpected lack of opposition evacuated 260 Rajputs from north Lyemun to Thracian. Military War Dept. launches had been told off for this work, but the Chinese crews had refused, so MTB's were called upon. The following message was later received from the Commodore: (Begins) Well done excellent work done in early hours today Saturday V2 for MTB's concerned (Ends)
This day all MTB's with the exception of 07 and 12 (the option being left to Commanding Officers) were changed from light grey to camouflage colours, grey brown, green, yellow. I understand "Tern" from Aberdeen Harbour shot down a Jap seaplane which crashed on Lamma.
At 1600 MTB 08 and 27 were sent from Aberdeen to Green Island Magazine to evacuate R.E. demolition personnel, but nobody found there, so MTB's returned. The same MTB's were sent out again there was some shelling off Mt. Davis and Green Island vicinity at the time to search for R.E.personnel but they were again not there and MTB 08 damaged propeller on rock when coming off from pier.
There were no night patrols this night, the following being the operational positions. MTB 12 and 27 ready as striking force; MTB 10 just off slip and squaring off; MTB 11 on slip for propeller damage; MTB 08 afloat with damaged propeller; MTB's 07 and 09 torpedo out- rigger rails damaged while evacuating troops; MTB 26 resting after previous all night patrol which had been strenuous for a Thorneycroft MTB with little crew accommodation.
The Japanese sent a flag of truce with a negotiation party across from Kowloon to Hongkong on this forenoon, but Japanese terms were refused.
December 14th. On Sunday 14th December, it was quiet at Aberdeen, but there was considerable shelling of Hongkong, the Army stores camp at Wong nei Cheong Gap receiving a full quota. I proceeded to Headquarters in lorry for challenges and orders, returning to Aberdeen at 1630 just as bombs dropped from clear sky on small power station roof and oil storage drums at Aberdeen Dock, causing super- ficial damage to power station machinery and starting a fire near oil drums, This was put out by trailer pump got going by the Flotilla Engineer Officer crew of NTB 10 and two R.N.R. Lieutenants, the Dock Police having taken cover.
For this...