08 Dec 1941, Lt. L D KILBEE HKRNVR WAR DIARY Dec 1941

The enemy attacked at dawn. I was awakened by the sharp ringing  of the telephone, and on answering heard the familiar voice of the duty officer, telling me to report to base at earliest opportunity.

After a hurried breakfast I kissed Evelyn and our darling Dorothy goodbye and left the house as if nothing unusual had taken place. I thought it was the best way. Walking from the lower tram station to Blake Pier, the quiet of early morning was rudely shattered by the screech of the air raid sirens fol1owed shortly by the drone of enemy planes and the crump of bombs as they exploded somewhere on the Kowloon side.                 

The roar of the planes continued as they dived on Kai Tak Aerodrome.

The staccato "rat-a-tat" of their machine guns and cannon echoed and re-echoed in the surrounding hills. Away to the north I saw several planes, finally losing sight of them as they disappeared over in the direction of Tai Mo Shan. (I heard later the enemy had 'shot up' the aerodrome, destroying the few obsolete planes we had there).

Al1 harbour craft had stopped and there was no cutter to take me across the harbour, however, after much haggling I succeeded in persuading

a walla-walla to take me to our base.

Reported to the C.O. and given orders to proceed to the new base   at Aberdeen when ready.

My crew were in good form and worked like Trojans all morning.

Had tiffin in the boat.

As Flotilla Navigation Officer I collected all charts, instruments, and A.F.O.'s Notices to Mariners and took them with me to Aberdeen, arriving there at 1530 hours after an uneventful trip. (These were deposited in the M.T.B. office in the Aberdeen Industrial School being subsequently destroyed together with certain confidential books on receipt of orders at a later date).

Aberdeen was an amazing sight, not the usual picturesque scene   of native fishing craft - instead a bedlam of auxiliary war craft from Gunboats down to Naval launches and cutters, all packed like sardines.

A perfect target for enemy aircraft!

Hardly had these thoughts left my mind when the air raid warning sounded. At once cast off and made straight for a snug berth on the north shore of Lamma.

Spotted three enemy aircraft bearing Red 45, distance 2 miles height 3000 feet. Ordered crew to action stations. One plane detached  from the formation and dived on us. At 1500 feet gave the order to "fire" and for a few seconds let him have all we had. At 800 feet he banked sharply and pulling out of his dive disappeared into  a cloud. It was all over in a matter of seconds.

We had five Lewis guns, blazing away and if we didn't wing him, we probably put a few holes into the blighter. Returned to base When the “all clear" came through by W/T. No damage at Aberdeen.

Spent the evening looking around the base and checking up our various berths, fueling places etc.

At sunset moved out to sea with No. 10, leader of our Sub-division, and took up position as striking force. Set deck and W/T watches for the night. no alarms during the night and returned to base at dawn.