Dates of birth and death taken from the notes to a photo of Jack and his brother George as children: https://hpcbristol.net/visual/Po01-066
Jack served as a Lieutenant with the HKRNVR in WW2. The Hongkong War Diary website lists him as part of the crew of the Auxiliary Patrol Vessel Minnie.
He is mentioned in a list of POWs:
| Hutton-Potts J Y | HKRNVR | Lieut. |
Ralph Goodwin shares a funny memory of Hutton Potts from when they were both POWs in Shamshuipo Camp:
|
We had a good laugh one day when a sentry took a dislike to Lt. Hutton-Potts, HKRNVR. The trouble started when he was out with a gardening party, and after they were dismissed the sentry came into camp looking for his victim. Potts was warned, and he jumped out the window of his hut as the sentry went in at the door. Then began a steeplechase, Potts going in and out through hut windows with the sentry after him. Everyone who could joined in to help Potts and delay the sentry, and the hunt was still on when he had to return to duty. When that spell was ended, back into camp he came, but he was beaten. In the meantime Potts had shaved off a big black beard that he had been cultivating, and the irate sentry looked straight at him without a spark of recognition. Source: page 31, Hongkong Escape, by R.B. Goodwin |
The IWM interviewed Jack about his wartime experiences, and it can be listened to online at https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80016051