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For this and for his very efficient general engineering super- vision of the boats under difficulties I consider Tempy.Lieut. (E) Herbert George Thompson R.N.R. should receive suitable recognition.
This night 07 and 09 were on patrol off Putoi being ordered on one investigating cruise to the Ninepins; 11 (just off slip) and 12 did patrol off Hamiwan where they observed THRACIAN also on patrol, THRACIAN later ran ashore on Un Kok and crushed her bow in but got off and continued on her mission to fire at 2 Japanese ammunition A 6" shell fell ships in Hongkong Harbour, one of which blew up. off MTB workshops at Aberdeen Industrial School at about 2230, broke windows but did little real damage.
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December 15th. On Monday, 15th December, the sky was clear and weather exceptionally fine and conducive to accurate bombing which
APV INDIRA, was took place during the forenoon in Aberdeen harbour.
hit and sunk alongside Aberdeen Dock. HMS ROBIN having been with- drawn from her station in Salwan Bay near Tathong Boom was now moór- ed off T head pier in Aberdeen harbour with telephone line to ROBIN from Headquarters. MTB 10 now lay alongside her for convenience in communicating with the Extended Defence Officer, the line to Aberdeen Dook being inco venient and unreliable. Thorneycroft MTB 26- and 27 also lay alongside her (except when bombing became too close)
At in order to get sleeping and messing accommodation in ROBIN. 1300 a signal was received from Commodore to V2 ordering APV INDIRA S pom-pom barrel to be salved and despatched to Hongkong. Using the crew of MTB 08 (08 on slip) and with the assistance of the Flotilla Engineer officer and some of his maintenance staff, this was done; pompom being just out, of water; and lorry with it despatched to Ho gkong at 1630; fortunately no bombs dropped very near INDIRA after she had been sunk.
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At 1800 THRACTAN dry docked at Aberdeen. Some shells fell on Aberdeen bund near Industrial School. These were thought to have` been fired from ships. So about 1830, I received orders from the Extended Defence officer to use MTB's. to search for enemy ships and to proceed sweeping S.W. of Lantau, then as far north as Tai-Q. attack anything seen bar junks and if nothing seen sweep back, search, attack, return. The night was clear and starry and attack organisød by sub-divisions 10 and 27 together and 11 and 12 together, proceed- ing from Aberdeen to approximately 1010 and 1850 respectively with orders to rendezvous at South West Point of Lantau at 2100 then by sub-divisions to Tai-o then towards Chung Chau Si, thence via Linating to rendezvous Hamiwan. The rendezvous at 2100 was made and. TB 10 and 27 proceeded to Taile lying off there and observing, MTB 11 and 12 did not wait off T11-0 but turned south earlier. When MTB 10 alu 27 had turned to a S.. course towards Chung Chau Si 11 and 12 making off southerly towards west of Lafsami Island, were observed on my port bow, illuminated by searchlight and engaged by gunfire. 12 had fired a torpedo but depth was inadequate for initial diye and 11 quite rightly had not fired. MTB 10 steering S.W. was just to the west side of searchlight beam and continued to approach bow on to searchlight reducing speed to 12 knots to avoid being seen, but owing to beam it was impossible to make out course or type of enemy which appeared on same, bearing as Chung Chau Si Island. 27, as arranged, proceeded independently to attack wide to the west of 10, then seeing two enemy craft steering east, 27 came well to the east of MTB 10 and prepared to attack. MTB: 10 was then suddenly well illu ined by searchlight which was very blinding and possibly quite close but owing to shallow water and unknown type and course oftenoray, an attack by 10 then would have been guesswork. MTB 10 accordingly turned souther ly zig-zagging at full speed, making for east side of Larsami Island, shots falling quite well for line but short or over.. MTB 27 had
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unseen fired...