Some of the Officers enjoying a day out in Guiyang with their female hosts who were from Shanghai

Sub-Lt Gee, Sub-Lt Brewer, Sub-Lt Legge, Lt parsons, Lt Kennedy. . Sub-Lt David Legge in the centre had lived in Shanghai and spoke the language, and so was the interpreter. Sophie Lim, and the Chen sisters.

On the right is Lt Alexander Kennedy of MTB 09, the author of the self published book “Hong Kong Full Circle”

www.hongkongescape.org/Escape_09-9.htm

Guiyang -Huachi Park, Jan-1942 ‘Escape from Hong Kong’

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23rd January 1942 (Fri)

Officers enjoying a social outing during their stay in Kweiyang 26th Jan 42 ;
Dr Lim’s daughter Effie is wearing a kilt and spoke her native tongue with a Glasgow accent.
Click here to enlarge ;

Photo from Alex Kennedy’s collection © L/S Les Barker: “Dawn start, on the way to Kwei-Ang. The road is very treacherous, covered with a layer of mud and all the time we are climbing. Raining very fine rain so it doesn’t give the road a chance to dry up. Plenty of traffic on the roads, and we also see Shetland ponies with bells on their heads. Sometimes these ponies were 40 or 50 in a line, led by one or two men.
We were skidding a lot this morning on this murderous road. 1015 – And our lorry failed to negotiate an ‘S’ bend and, before we knew what was happening, we toppled over, taking a complete turn and a half. Luckily we only had four injured, but if we had gone over once more there was a drop of 100 feet and we should have all been killed.
After, the lorry was hauled back to the right way up and, after treating the wounded and getting them away in another lorry, we piled back into the same lorry and proceeded again to Kweiyang, very much shaken by our experience and leaving the road littered with eggs and oranges.
Driving more carefully after that, we finally arrived at Kweiyang and were met by a party of Chinese Red Cross who had everything prepared, clothing, cigarettes, hot baths, etc. Very much appreciated by all hands.” [24]

MTB 07’s Fair Log: “On again at 7 am. Truck with Lt Collingwood overturned some 90km from Kweiyang. Three or four casualties—not serious, one with fractured collarbone. Last truck left Thulsaban? At 6.45 am. Maclongping At noon; sick man put in ambulance. Left at 2pm, arrived Kweiyang 7 pm.” [5]

L/S Les Barker “The road was treacherous and inches deep in mud. Just before the end of the journey, the lorry in which I and 13 companions were travelling failed to negotiate an “S” bend and turned a double somersault.” [24]

Lt Collingwood RN: “One truck skidded and turned and five men were hurt but it was put back on the road and we continued.” [8]

Sub-Lt Legge HKRNVR: “My truck, which was second in the convoy had about fifteen men inside with me in the back between two fifty gallon gasoline drums looking out backwards. My Captain (Collingwood) was in front with the driver. Going round a steep corner, we started to skid. On the off side was a drop of several hundred feet. Luckily we hit a large stone at the outside of the road, turned around across the road and turned over.
I didn’t realise what was happening until I found myself sitting in the mud in the road with the truck on top of me. The truck had only iron hoops and a canvas cover and we would all have been squashed had it not been for the fact that one of the gasoline drums fell on end with the end of the truck sitting on top of it.
We were in a pretty pickle, 80 kilometers from the nearest telephone, sitting in the rain and mud and no way of getting immediate help. Then as I was attending to one of the men who had a deep cut above the eye, he pointed out that blood was pouring down my face.
There were two other men fairly badly hurt, but except for extensive abrasions we couldn’t find out what was the matter. Then luckily the next truck came along. We transferred the wounded into that and with myself in the front set off 80 km. to Kweiyang where there was the nearest hospital. It was a terrible ride as not only was the road very bad with all the rain that was coming down, but the wounded men were in rather bad shape.
We had morphine with us but didn’t like to give it in case they had to have an immediate operation on arrival and couldn’t be given any more anesthetics.” [18]

L/S Les Barker: “Luckily only four were injured – but if the vehicle turned over once more it would have fallen 100 feet and the whole party would certainly have been killed. The Chinese driver wept. From then on he drove more carefully.” [24]

A/B Lenny Rann: “The road was full of hairpin bends and the truck in which I was riding capsized and several of the occupants were injured.” [66]

Dr Lim & Lt C J Collingwood R. N. with others in Guiyang
Photo from the Ashby collection ©
They eventually arrive at the Chinese International Red Cross headquarters in Guiyang, four thousand feet up in the mountains, which is the medical centre for the Chinese Army. Dr Robert Lim known by all as Bobby, a physiologist met them on arrival, he was educated at the “George Watson College” in Edinburgh and had married a Scots woman. He had served on the Western Front with British forces in the Great War of 1914-18. He set up the Chinese Red Cross after the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1937. He was also a former golfing partner of Admiral Chan Chak. Lt Ron Ashby arrived later by ambulance. There they attended to the party’s injuries to the best of their abilities and Lt-Cmdr Gandy procured funds which enabled the party to do some essential shopping. They were billeted within the hospital complex.

PO Buddy Hide: “On the way a lorry overturned and three men suffered with broken bones. Guiyang is the medical centre for the Chinese Army. There they attended to our injuries to the best of their abilities and supplied us with Red Cross ambulances to take us to Lashio, in Burma.” [21]

Sub-Lt Legge HKRNVR: “The Chinese Red Cross has a wonderful hospital at Kweiyang, all mat sheds but very well run. They were prepared for us as we had arranged in advance to stay with them for a day or two. We found that two chaps had broken shoulder blades among other minor things. I had to have seven stitches put in the top of my head, which was not so pleasant as it was about five hours after the accident.” [18]

L/S Les Barker: “At Kuel-Ang, the Chinese Red Cross had everything prepared – food, beds, hot baths, clothing and cigarettes.” [24]

Lt Kennedy RNVR: “Accommodation for the whole party had been prepared in the hospital camp lying in a fold of the hills called Tuyunkwan, where Dr Lim took us himself and showed us around the huts. The meaning of Tuyunkwan we were told was cloud-earth-pass.” [9]

Eddie Brazel (HKRNVR): “Here we stayed at the headquarters of the Chinese International Red Cross, who had a wonderful place. During our stay of three days in Kweiyang we had a marvelous time, being entertained by Governor Wu amongst others, in addition we played the training school at football.” [49]

John Grindlay

Photo from Prof Al Lathrop, University of Minnisota collection ©There was also a visiting American Army surgeon with the American Military Mission to China (AMMISCA), 1st-Lt Dr. John Grindlay, of the U.S. Army Reserve.

US Army 1st-Lt Dr Grindlay: “About 2 p.m. great excitement — the 40 refugee sailors & Officers who escaped Xmas day from Hong Kong arrived — 32 in the first bunch. Rain & mud on road & one truck had skidded off & turned on side — resulting in several injuries — lacerations. Nearly all bearded.
The overturned truck came on a little later than first 2 & it was evening before Gandy & several officers & a sick man [Ashby] with] suspected typhoid came on. Altogether 16 officers, rest “ratings” Brewer, Legge, Collingwood, Kennedy, Gee, & Parsons were younger officers.
First men all slipped & skidded through mud to new barracks. These cleaned up & fires in gas drum stoves going. I am sure the arrangements pleased the men, also sure they didn’t know at what effort that had been arranged, & the cost of things procured — as the entire Chungking gin supply of Bobby’s (Dr Lim) they drank — Dr T F Chang — They drank 16 catties (1 1/3 pints) of mine.
Gandy, a retired Lt-Cmdr on active duty, very thoughtless and demanding type & not liked by the men.”
He had a long talk with Parsons who stated “Battle of Hong Kong a huge Brit disaster.” [37]

The party were given the freedom of the City after a speech by General Wu at the City hall and each was given a card showing the primitive life of the Chinese tribes, sealed with the Governor’s private seal and signature.

A/B Lenny Rann: “On January 23rd we arrived at the Chinese International Red Cross premises at Guiyang, where we were again well looked after and were given the freedom of the city by the governor.” [66]

At 4 p.m. they had a cinema show put on by the Red Cross followed by a few sketches put on by the navy party which brought hoots of laughter. Dr Lim offered the use of his Red Cross Ambulances to transport the party to Kunming, the Chinese end of the Burma Road as they were driving there empty to pick up medical supplies.

Gandy giving a speech in Goiyang accompanied by Pittendrigh & Brewer ©

Lt-Cmdr Gandy RN accompanied by Lieut Pintendrigh RNR, and Sub-Lieut Brewer HKRNVR giving a speech in Guiyang.

24th January 1942 (Sat)

MTB 07’s Fair Log: “Visit to Governor in the morning. Conducted tour of centre in the afternoon, followed by a tea, & movies after dinner.” [5]

Lieutenant Commander Gandy R. N. (Rtrd) “Each member was given a memento of the visit.” [15]

Lt Collingwood RN: “Luckily my sub-lieutenant spoke Chinese so we were normally in the van for the feeding and sleeping arrangements.” [8]

Sub-Lt Legge HKRNVR: “We all bunked in a large dormitory, which had big stoves in the center, heaven to us after the places we had been sleeping. Also we had our first decent liquor. They were very good to us and we were looked after like kings. There were one or two pretty ex-Shanghai girls there, with whom I spent most of my time the next few days, rather, I think, to the jealousy of other less fortunate officers.” [18]

Major Goring had now recovered from his malaria attack at Kukong and proceeded by train to Kweilin and from there by air to Chungking. Lt-Col Harry Owen-Hughes and Dr Moore took him to the station.

Maj Goring BHQ: “After tea I said goodbye to the gallant little Admiral, whom I was very sorry to leave. I had liked him well in Hong Kong, and grown to love him during our journey, for he had shown himself not only a man of infinite pluck and resource, but also extremely thoughtful for others.” [17]

25th January 1942 (Sun)

Visit to Local Park at Huachi followed by soccer match in the afternoon, losing 6-1 against the Red Cross training school. Also in the afternoon a visit to the British run “Friends Ambulance Brigade” that was passing through Guiyang on their way into China. Kennedy soon spotted a A day out in Huachi park
Photo from the Hide family collection ©fellow Scot, Andy Braid, who it turned out had his pipes with him. As it was Burns night they took turns on the pipes.

MTB 07’s Fair Log: “Visit to park (Huachi) in the morning. Soccer match in afternoon, we lost 6-1. Dinner in the evening given by Governor.” [5]

Lt Kennedy RNVR: “I met a Scotsman in the wilds at the back of beyond. He used to go out into a rice field and play his bagpipes, to the great amazement of the local children and hordes of mongrel dogs which joined in the chorus.
The hut we were in was a small one and very soon indignant protests from the other members of the party forced us outside. It was getting dark as we played in turn along the edge of a paddy-field, some of the old marches from school-days, Barren Rocks, Pibroch of Donald Dhu, and the poignant notes of Loch Duich. We were totally absorbed and only when we stopped realised that a large crowd of children were watching us with aw from a safe distance with all the dogs in the neighborhood howling in the background.” [9]

In the evening they were all invited to a farewell dinner laid on by the Governor, who unfortunately was unable to attend. The evening passed with Dr Lim reciting “Ode to a Haggis” much to everyone’s surprise.[9] A very enjoyable evening was had by all with much local rice wine being consumed to the many shouts of “Kan-Pi.”

Lt Kennedy RNVR: “Many decided to leave the party before the national anthems were sung, but one resolute member, formerly the Coxswain of MTB 10 (CPO Thums) who had stayed too long was seen to stiffen like a ramrod during ‘The King,’ although he was lying flat on his face on the floor. The instant the singing stopped he shot to his feet as if revived and made for the door.” [9]

26th January 1942 (Mon)

Brucy the ships dog

Photo from the Collingwood family collection © Dr Lim’s daughter Effie who “wore the kilt and spoke her native tongue with a Glasgow accent” [9] Effie accepted Bruce the ships dog as a pet.
Luckily for most it was a late start for Kunming, leaving at noon, with Kelly & Deakin in hospital recovering from the lorry crash.
The convoy of five Red Cross ambulances were boarded. Now with Ashby fit enough to travel they made their way down the hill towards the city of Guiyang, picking up the main Chungking to Kunming highway, The Burma Road. The road across the plateau was extremely bumpy passing through many fortified village wall-gates, with the ever present choking dust in the open ended trucks.

MTB 07’s Fair Log: “Left for Kunming about noon. Reached ANHSUN late afternoon.” [5]

Eddie Brazel (HKRNVR): “We left Kweiyang on the 26th for Kunming, via Anshan, Annan, Penghu, Kut Sing, and arrived in Kunming on the 29th.” [49]

The drivers were much better than the party had experienced in the past, stopping hourly to keep the convoy together and refreshments.

(from www.hongkongescape.org/Legge.htm )

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