CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943 — Page 151

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The Coxswain, Leading Seaman William Schilliem re P/JX142194 I recommend for mention in dispatches and for immediate promotion to Acting Petty Officer for good handling of the boat and crew under his Commanding Officer both during this attack and on other occasions.

Acting Stoker P.0. R. J.C. Priestley F/KX81900 I recommend for mention in dispatches and for immediate promotion to Stoker B. O. for good handling of engines during this attack.

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At 0915 MTB's 11 and 12 proceeded at full speed to repeat the same sort of attack on Japanese landing craft as had been

carried out by 07 and 09. This was a more hazardous operation than before as the Japanese were now warned of MTB Tactics. The report by the subdivisional leader Commanding Officer of MTB 11 and also second in command of the Flotilla, Lieutenant Cuthbert John Collingwood. R. N., is forwarded.

M.T..11 and 12 passed in to Hongkong Herbour when MTB's 07 and 09 were coming out and proceeded to Kowloon Bay to shoot at any Japanese landing craft seen but finding the landing attempt abandoned owing to the previous MTB attack, 11 and 12 made to return being subjected to heavy fire which was answered from MTB's and also plane attack, the enemy being by now much on the alert. MTB 12 was hit and stopped and is thought to have blown up, no signs being seen of her. I understand from secondhand information from Queen Mary Hospital that the Commanding Officer of MTB 12 Lieutenant John Baxter Colls, Hongkong R. N. V. R. gave the order to abandon when boat was helpless and Able Seaman A. Bartlett QR3., 0.0. official number J98569 was able to swim ashore and was sent to Queen Mary Hospital: suffering from immersion and shock. I had no means of verifying this information at the time. The Coxswain of MTB 11, Acting Petty Officer Robert Spirit JX 131484, was wounded in the throat, there being no other casualties in MTB 11, and Stoker Petty Officer Robert H. Stonell P/KX80217 thereupón took over the wheel and carried out the duties or Coxswain in addition to those of Stoker P. 0. in MTB 11.1

MTB's 11 and 12. I recommend the Cominanding Officers of MTB:11 and MTR 12, Lieutenant Cuthbert John Collingwood, R. N, and Lieutenant John Baxter Colls, H. K. R. N. V. R.. (believed killed) for a decoration for devotion to duty, in entering .K. herber after one, previous attack by MTB's and in face of heavy Tire (and plune attack, in order to disperse any attempt by Jrp: landing craft to ross to Hongkong in daylight.

I recommend Stoker Petty Officer Robert H. Stonell F/KX80217 for accelerated promotion and mention in dispatches for presence of mind and general efficiency in being able to take over the wheel of MTB 11 on this occasion when the Coxswain was wounded.

I also recommend Acting Petty Officer Robert Spirit JX131484 (wounded) for. accelerated promotion for stendiness in carrying out his duties as Coxswain of MTB 11 until wounded when he continued to stay at the throttles.

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Able Seaman Bartlett QR3, 0.0. J.98569 had always been an examplary AB and 0.0. of the Flotilla and for his previous work in the Flotilla I consider his name worthy of mention in dispatches, although on this occasion I cannot definitely confirm. his feat of endurance in swimming ashore after abandonment of MTB 12.

/At about..

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