CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943 — Page 161

From:

Date.

Subject:

To:

-20-

The Commanding Officer MTB 11 and 7th Subdivision.

Friday December 19th, 1941.

Attack on Japanese landing craft in Kowloon Bay.

Commanding Officer 2nd TB Flotilla.

189

At 0830 all M.T.B's had been ordered alongside "Robin" and ammunition was topped up. We were given orders to stand by to go round into Kowloon Bay and break up an attempted landing and return when all ammunition was expended.

At 0845 07 and 09 left. V2 was standing by the telephone and at about 0900 he sent for me and told me 10 and 27 were now proceeding as far as Green Island and I was to remain by the phone for further orders from XDO.

.

We have no

The first order I received from XDO was to tell 10 and 27 not to wait at. Green Island for orders but carry

About ten minutes latur I straight on into the harbour. was told that 11 and 12 should now proceed and wait off Green Island. LO however had just left "Robin" so that 11 and 12 passed 10 and 27 almost off Maga ine Island, and V2 told

I therefore us to take his place as he had engine trouble. proceeded straight round Mt. Davis past the R.N. Dockyard and so into Kowloon Bay, speed 30 knots. information that the Japs were on the Island and were therefore somewhat surprised when a heavy and accurate fire was opened

This consisted of on me from the shore by North Point.

I started to zig-zag machine gun fire, howitzer or mortar.

NO violently and kept well in the middle of the Bay. landing craft were now crossing the harbour, in fact none were

I.. visible. I looked around and saw 12 was still following. decided that we could do nothing useful so altered course to. withdraw.

Shortly after the Japs had opened fire on me we were hit several times and my Coxswain was wounded in the neck. The S.P.0 Stoker Petty Officer Stonell took over the wheel.

Wheel was put hard to port and not reducing speed and I made a large turning circle in the centre of Lowloon Bay.

I made for It was now

When I next had a chance to turn round I could see. no sign of 12. Fire was opened on us from Kowloon Peninsula as I passed being now rather close to that shore, the R. N. Dockyard and then inside the boat boom. that I was attacked by aircraft. I kept up a constant sig-

Later, on asking my ratings zag however, and was not hit.

if they had seen what happened to 12 they said she stopped and clouds of white smoke were issuing from her. On reaching the south side of Mt. Davis I called Mt. Davis on the lamp "Passing to XDO no landing craft lost 12". While doing this however, at slow speed (10.knots) I was again attacked by aircraft which dive bombed me. I had just time to, accelerate and the bomb was a very near miss astern. 27 and 26 were then just off Mt. Davis awaiting orders.

MTB 11 returned to Aberdeen, Coxswain went ashore walking himself up to sick bay.

(signed)

C.J. Collingwood,

Lieutenant, R.N.