Welcome to Hong Kong War Diary - a project that documents the 1941 defence of Hong Kong, the defenders, their families, and the fates of all until liberation.
This page is updated monthly with a record of research and related activities. Pages on the left cover the books that have spun off from this project, and a listing of each and every member of the Garrison. Comments, questions, and information are always welcome. Tony Banham, Hong Kong: tony@hongkongwardiary.com
Image:
July
Images
The
Peak (courtesy Elizabeth Ride), Bob Newton letter (courtesy Anne Ammundsen),
Newton’s MiD (courtesy Anne Ammundsen)
Yvonne Charter (via Bill Lake), Itenson POW list (NARA), O’Connell’s
painting (courtesy Ken Daly)
Christmas Menu (courtesy Alex Itenson), Pat Hennessy (courtesy Peter Hennessy),
Globe & Mail (courtesy Peter Hennessy)
July News
I am now officially enrolled as a PhD Candidate at the Australian Defence Force Academy! This is something I have been considering for years. Having worked closely with the Canadians for so long, I thought it would be good to focus on another part of the Commonwealth and as an obvious topic for a thesis was the 1940 evacuation of British women and children from Hong Kong to Australia, the details quickly fell into place. 30 Jeremiah O’Connell’s (RA, Lisbon Maru) great nephew got in touch, sending a photo (illustrated) taken at 20c Studio, 4 Johnston Road, Wanchai. He also included photos of two paintings sent back by ‘Miah’ to his mother. Interestingly, as O’Connell was lost in the Lisbon Maru, they are both of boats weathering bad seas. O’Connell was in the poorly documented 965th Defence Battery, which makes his photo even more valuable. 25 Joe Yip notes: “My new hiking book is issued, now you can to looking at the Hong Kong Book Fairs (Wan Chai). Date: 21-27 July 2010. Please first to my blog http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/liu1898630” 25 Richard Brown’s (Middlesex) granddaughter got in touch. 24 George Winch’s (3 Coy HKVDC) son got in touch. He noted that my short history of the Company for the RAS is on the web here: sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4402805.pdf 24 Ernest Wakeham’s (civilian, Lisbon Maru) grandson got in touch. There were only a handful of civilians on the Lisbon Maru, and each had a different story (though it seems they were all captured on the front line and were thus regarded as combatants). Wakeham is listed as a ‘Clerk’ in the Shamshuipo list, and his address from the CWGC is in Greece. His family notes: “Albeit that his family were from Liverpool, UK, he was born in Sydney, Western Australia, on the 4th October 1879.He joined the Royal Navy at Chatham on the 1st May 1901 as a 3rd Writer and served for 22 years, rising to become a Chief Writer… He was ultimately posted to HMS Egmont the Royal Navy base in Malta, for secondment to the British Naval Mission to Greece, a posting that saw him through to the end of his Royal Navy career on the 30th April 1923.Such was his connection(s) with Greece that he married and lived locally. We’ve managed to find my Mother’s baptismal record dated 24th July 1924, in which he states that he was employed as a Clerk at the British Consulate in Athens.At the moment, I don’t even know if he was then an employee of the UK Foreign Office or possibly an employee of the Admiralty or the War office if (and I emphasise if) he somehow carried on working for or with the British Naval Mission to Greece, based at the Consulate.From that last known fact in 1924, I don’t know any further specific facts about his life, until he appears in the online Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorial in respect of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru.” 23 Alex Itenson (son of Vladimir Alexander Itenson of the HKVDC) notes: “I've just come across the ‘menu’ for a 1944 New Year's Eve party at ‘Hotel Robinsonia' in an old box of photos which belonged to my mother. ‘Robinsonia’ is most likely a take on Robinson Road. Mom may have illustrated the menu - she was quite artistic, but I don't recognize the red handwriting on the menu as being hers. As you'll see, the items on the wartime menu were extremely imaginative. Mom's signature, Marian Honoria Itenson is at the bottom center of the page. There are also the signatures of her three sisters, one of them, Winnifred Kew, married my Uncle Joey immediately after the war. He was Joe Horowitz, another HKVDC POW listed in your book and a good friend of my father's. Aunt Winnie and Uncle Joey ended up in Brazil after the war, but when they divorced, Aunt Winnie and her daughter Carole ended back in Australia where my grandfather, my mother's father, was born. Carole presently lives in Australia with her husband. A few of the other names sound familiar in that I've heard them, but then again I'd just turned 4 in 1944… The F Sanchez at the bottom left of the page was most likely my cousin Victoria's father, married later to my aunt Helen, whose signature is immediately above.” Going through some files from NARA recently, I found Vladimir Itsenson’s Narumi entry under ‘Russian’. 21 With a great deal of help from Elizabeth Ride I am annotating a pre-war photo of The Peak to include all the buildings of wartime interest. 20 Peter Strange, who was interned at Stanley with his mother and father (Eileen and Sydney) and uncles Charles, Ernest, Peter and Harry, made contact. 16 Peter Hennessy sent an interesting extract from the Toronto Globe and Mail of December 26, 1941. He also included this quote from ‘Wait For The Wagon, The Story of The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps’ by Arnold Warren, 1961 (published as part of the 60th Anniversary of the CASC-1901-RCASC-1961. Pg 171-173): "December 20, 1941, is a date the RCASC remembers with sadness and with pride. On this date Colonel Pat Hennessy received his last orders. On that date this splendid soldier who had come from England in 1912 to instruct the Army Service Corps in Canada- who had served with the CASC in the Great War of 1914-1918 with such distinction that he was awarded both the DSO and MC- who had been responsible, perhaps more than any other man, for the rebuilding of his Corps between the wars- took his last posting.” 14 Anne Ammundsen, Captain Robert Newton’s niece (5/7th Rajputs) sent a very interesting couple of letters about her uncle’s death. One mentioned his missing sword, and the other was from his CO, Cadogan-Rawlinson. She also included one of the pages from the London Gazette of 1946 with the decorations of the Hong Kong lot. Many well known names there! 12 Today, at 04.55 a.m. on holiday on the North Norfolk coast in the UK, I walked to Gun Hill. This remote spot was used to train pretty much everyone (AA gunners, tank gunners, infantry, air-to-ground fighter bombers, etc.) during the war, and I was here to take reference photos of various types of shrapnel to aid in identifying modern finds in Hong Kong.The first item I turned up was a long thin bullet that I had often found there as a boy. I brought it back to HK and confirmed that it was a Japanese Arisaka 6.5mm. I wonder who was firing such things in Norfolk in 1944, and why? 11 Don Ady sent this interesting link about OSS in China and other theatres: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USG/JCS/OSS/OSS-Functions/index.html 10 Geoff Emerson notes: “Ed Rhoads, whose American father Howard G Rhoads was in Stanley till repatriated on 29 June 1942, has asked me where his father lived in Camp.” Unfortunately the camp lists that we generally rely on were created in the second half of 1942, in other words after the US crew were repatriated. Does anyone have a list of who was where in the American Quarters? 9 Bill Lake sent me a sketch of Yvonne Charter, drawn by her husband John Charter in Stanley Camp on the day they found out the Americans would accept the Japanese surrender.It was given to him by their son Anthony Charter and is the last entry in the diary that he is working on transcribing. 9 Had a very nice email from Charles King: “Just a quick line to tell you how much I appreciated your book the Lisbon Maru, it gave me a better insight into my adoptive bro’s (PSM Riches, MX) death. Much better than the short letters from the W O. and only being 11years old at the time, I only knew I had lost a mentor... who would have changed my life had he returned when he was meant to... having left in 1936 telling to remember to clean the back of my shoes as well as the front.” 9 Charles Harloe’s (civilian internee) son got in touch noting that he is “trying to work out something in my father’s huge diary over 600 pages that I am still working on. Each page converts to over a page in Word & takes a few hours interpreting. The writing is so small, he used his own abbreviations & sometimes the ink has run & again age has not helped - I have had to scan in some part 2 over 120 pages & will have to do the same for the remaining parts. I am at 11th May, 1943.” Such is the case in all these diaries! He continues: “I see you are also Researching those who were evacuated from HK in 1940 ‘kicking & screaming if necessary’ as my mother said in her life story. My mother was Eveline Harloe (1907 – 2000) & was accompanied on the trip by my sister Carola Harloe & brother Charles DN Harloe. I was nearly born on the journey when they were sent on a hair-raising bus trip in dead of night to Baguio in the Philippines. However, I waited & was born in NSW Australia in November 1940.” 8 Peter Hennessy reminded me that he was Colonel Hennessy’s grandson, not son! He also sent a photo of his grandfather on board ship heading to Hong Kong in 1941, noting from his military history: “Among the leaders who built the Royal Canadian Service Corps, no one made a greater contribution over a longer period of time than Colonel Pat Hennessy. He was born in Cork, Ireland on April 1, 1885. On October 10, 1900 (aged 15) he enlisted in Cork in the Royal Army Service Corps. In 1912 Sgt. Pat Hennessy was one of five British instructors posted for two years to assist in training of the CASC (Canadian Army service Corps). While not discharged from the British Army, ‘Pat Hennessy’ enlisted in the CASC in September 1914 with the appointment of RSM. He sailed to England on 3 October 1914 and on 4th December 1914 was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant. He was promoted to Captain in January 1916. In February 1918 he was promoted to Major. For services in the Great War he received the MC in 1916 and DSO in 1918. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1919 and La Medaille de la Reconnaissance Francaise ‘en bronze’ in 1921 by the President of the French Republic. He was appointed to the (Canadian) Permanent Force in 1920 with the rank of Major. During the post-war years the greatest need was to convert the Corps to mechanical transport and to establish an instructional cadre who would train not only the permanent force but also the militia. This was started in 1924 by sending Major Hennessy to England to the RASC for one year and on his return as Chief Instructor of the School of Instruction in Winnipeg. The cadre was set up with QMS or Sgt Instructors. Regarding these years Major-General Brennan wrote: ‘The ordinary fellow in the ranks hadn't thought a great deal about what we would do in a war, or anything else, until he (Major Hennessy) took over and started to bring instruction into the Corps… He was always delving for information and he kept in very, very close touch with the British Army Service Corps. He very soon brought to our attention anything that developed in the RASC and it wasn't only brought to our attention- it was made part of our instruction… As a result, in 1939 the (Canadian) Army Service Corps was in a position to go to war with a great deal of knowledge which it most certainly would not have had except for the policy…’ In the spring of 1938 the schools at London and Calgary were closed and on May 1, 1938 the RCASC Training Centre was opened in Camp Borden with Lieutenant-Colonel Pat Hennessy as its first Commandant. Following the outbreak of war in 1939, he was posted to Ottawa where in 1941 he was Director of Organization at Army Headquarters. In June 1940 he was attached to a special force then being constituted which, as C Force, became the Canadian contingent which was sent to Hong Kong in November, 1941. Pat Hennessy, now a Colonel, was the next senior officer of the Force and the Administrative Officer.” He also attached an interesting report, dated 26-12-1941 from the Toronto Globe and Mail. Cynics who sold books by creating an atmosphere of ‘Brits v. Canadians’ should note that Lawson, Hennessy, Osborn, and many other Canadians of C Force were born in the British Isles and migrated as adults. 8 I mentioned the document ‘Australian Prisoners of War with Hong Kong and Malaya Forces 1939-45’ to Henry Ching, and in his usual professional way he not only got hold of a copy but did an interesting analysis of the names therein. 6 In response to last month’s requests for Rolls of Honour, TK notes: “an old accounting hong in Hong Kong, LOWE BINGHAM, has a roll of honour on paper in its history book. Five employees died: John McCormick-KIA, Douglas Hardwick, S A Reed, E Hyndman-DOW and W J Woolley died as POW.” 6 Mike Salter was kind enough to get in touch. He was a Hong Kong evacuee, whilst his father Alfred was a Stanley internee and his brother Cedric was a POW in Japan. 6 The Chorley Family History Society (a section of the Lancashire Family History & Heraldry Society) have been asked if they would help in a project called ‘Chorley Remembers’ to collate the names of service men & women born in Chorley, Lancashire who lost their lives in conflicts from 1914 to the present day. The final outcome will be to have their names engraved on their War Memorial. They have asked for information regarding Lance Corporal 2324460 RC of S Owen Griffith (see last August). 5 Fuyuko Nishisato of the POW Research Network of Japan is looking for ex-POWs to interview in the UK at the start of August. I have given her at least one lead. 2 Dennis Morley notes: “Ref you note on the captain of HMS Eagle alongside HMS Tamar in August 1939. The Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots beat Retreat on the flight deck of HMS Eagle. It was said at the time that it was the first time that this had happened in history! I was in the military band at that time and was present on that historic occasion. I wonder if the SCMP would have a photo and an article of that occasion?” 2 Today I was very pleased to hear from Soban Ahmad, whose grandfather Subadar Rahmat Ali and cousin’s grandfather Havildar Ata Jilani were in the 5/7th Rajputs in Hong Kong during the war, both being lost.2 The Ient family were in touch in 2007. Today Bill Lake noted finding this very interesting site: http://ient.org.uk/history/document.php?sd=15&d=7&h=4 2 Mike Souza thinks he may have solved the mystery of the identity of the Naura Maru – the sixth and last ship that took HK POWs to Japan. He believes it may have been the Inaura Maru. The Enoura Maru (later sunk in Taiwan) is another possibility.
1 A holiday in Hong Kong – the thirteenth anniversary of Hong Kong being handed over to the Chinese Government.
Image:
June Images Ernest Fishlock's wedding (courtesy Francis Rose Ireland Nee Fishlock), Brenda Morgan and friends (courtesy Jo Price), CBS Staff (courtesy Ian McNay) Ellen Field (courtesy Henry Ching), Finds (anonymous), Demise of Big Bertha (Gibson, via Martin Heyes) Golden Peaches cover (courtesy Elizabeth Doery), MacLeod's ID (courtesy Jo Price), Arisaka muzzle cover (courtesy Troy Sullivan)
Hong Kong War Diary
June News
Memorials have been in the news a lot lately, so I have started an unofficial census of Hong Kong’s existing memorials and rolls of honour. To make it interesting, I have included the more obvious of the missing ones (you will see what I mean in the text below). There are at least 4,000 regular readers on this site, so let me know what you think. Which of the existing ones am I missing, and which others should be added?
30 Michael Palmer (grandson of George Palmer, Royal Rifles) notes: “[Dark Side of the Sun] has been selected for inclusion and I have been invited to the 15th Annual International Writers Festival in Banff, Canada (Oct 12-17... www.wordfest.com) along with about 80 other published authors from different countries.” Wow! That’s genuinely impressive and I am more than a little jealous!
29 Peter Hennessy sent a very interesting official account of his father’s death.
29 Jacky Kingsley was kind enough to send some nine pages from CO 980/62 covering the infamous sham trial in Stanley after which Sinton, Rees, Waterton, Scott, etc. were executed. I had not seen this account before and it is very helpful.
27 On the never-ending story of the Stanley tiger, Bill Lakes notes that in the Stanley diary that he is currently transcribing, the tiger is mentioned – as is its mate and their two cubs. Interestingly, this is exactly the same in the Searle diary. If they were really a family, then the theory that the tiger was part of Tait’s Carnival may be flawed.
27 On the Stanley group, Barbara Anslow mentioned Yvonne de Jong’s (nee Blackmore) new book: 'An Extraordinary Youth' subtitled 'Growing Up in British Hong Kong.' It covers her time in Stanley camp.
27 On the subject of Barman’s book ‘Resist to the End’, Henry Ching notes: “An interesting name also is that of Sgt Harry Smith of the Royal Naval Dockyard Police, who died in Japan. He was, I think, the father of Sgm N.L. Smith, HKVDC, who was a batman in Argyle Street. Barman in his Resist to the End gives against Sgm Smith's name on page 273 a note which reads ‘5 Village Road Happy Valley... Colonial Secretary Hong Kong Govt’. In fact there were two N.L. Smiths. The Colonial Secretary of this name left HK before the attack and was replaced by Gimson who arrived on 7th December. In any case he is unlikely to have been a private and a batman. The second N.L. Smith who, I think, is the one referred to, lived with his parents at 5 Fung Fai Terrace, which is located at the northern end of Village Road. His mother and sister were not interned as they claimed to be Irish. They remained in Fung Fai Terrace and were assisted by the International Red Cross Rep. When Rosary Hill was opened, they refused to move there, but eventually the mother fell ill with cancer and they moved into the French Hospital where the mother died. The daughter, who had two infant boys, was the wife of a HK Policeman named Cameron who was interned in Stanley. After the war he was transferred to take command of the District Watch Force in what was then the Chinese Affairs Department.” I believe Henry is correct (in my experience, he normally is!), but I have to take the blame for the mistake as I wrote the footnotes to that book.
26 Returned from a business trip to find that Elizabeth Doery had kindly sent a copy of her new book, ‘Golden Peaches, Long Life’. Elizabeth is of course the daughter of Jean and William Gittins. Jean (Ho-Tung’s daughter) wrote ‘Stanley: Behind Barbed Wire’ and William died right at the end of the war of pneumonia in Narumi. Elizabeth and her brother were evacuated to Australia, and this is her life story. It is very well written, and the coverage of the evacuation, the wartime period, and the readjustment to life afterwards is actually very moving.
26 Also waiting for me was a fascinating letter from Leslie Stanton, about his father’s (John Stanton, RA) life and times. Among many other items he notes: “The strain and stress of the war years took its toll on my mother’s health [she was left in the UK looking after Leslie and his twin sister] and in the mid 1950s she needed a lung operation; she was referred to our local St Charles hospital, Ladbroke Grove to see the consultant. On entering the room with my father, there sitting behind the desk was Mr Jackson – the Hong Kong MO. Needless to say, mother got the best possible attention.” As usual, no one has anything but the best to say about the revered Mr Jackson! But Leslie would be interested to know if anyone has information on the recuperation that many Far Eastern POWs – including his father - took in Australia, immediately after they were liberated.
26 Lastly – it’s amazing what being away for a week can do – there was another letter, this time from Stanley internee Doris Beck. Dee Dee was one of the people who helped a great deal in the writing of ‘We Shall Suffer There’, and her copy had finally arrived. She was kind enough to send a present for our children.
26 Ernest Fishlock’s (RE, Lisbon Maru) son-in-law got in touch, sending a fine 1938 wedding photo.
25 Professor Suzannah Linton contacted me from HKU. She is an international lawyer at the Department of Law, and has been awarded a research grant by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council to conduct specialized legal research into Hong Kong’s War Crimes Trials. She notes that she is: “setting up a database with copies of the case files from the National Archives in Kew. The database will be at the University of Hong Kong libraries, and will be accessible from any of the universities in Hong Kong (copyright restriction imposed by the National Archives).” If anyone can help, she is looking for materials in relation to those trials, especially documents from those who directly participated, i.e. judges, prosecutors, defence, accused and witnesses. Observer notes, for example, by media who attended, would also be greatly appreciated.
25 For those who recall National Service in Hong Kong, Stephen Sin has placed some interesting photos of Perowne Barracks as they are today, here: http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/hkoutlander/article?mid=32015 25 Bill Lake tells me that Bruce Macnamara has presented the HKESA with a genuine Arisaka Type 30 bayonet.
24 Roger Mansell kindly forwarded an inquiry from the family of Marven Benwell, Royal Rifles, who perished in the infamous Niigata camp.
22 Craig Mitchell reports finding a Japanese 13mm bullet on Jardine’s Lookout. This is only the second I have heard of. I found one around ten years ago on Mount Nicholson.
21 Arthur Robson’s (Royal Rifles) son got in touch.
21 Martin Heyes sent a number of sketches from the files of L/Cpl Gibson, HKVDC.
21 Elizabeth Ride sent a number of further articles for her ‘Hong Kong Volunteers at War’ book which we are currently proposing.
20 Troy Sullivan sent a fascinating photograph of a Japanese rifle’s muzzle cover that he found while: “ambling along the catchwater near the Jardine’s Lookout pillboxes when I spotted a two inch piece of pipe sticking out of the mud”. It looked instantly familiar to me. I wonder if I had found one once, played with it for a while, and then discarded it, thinking it could have no importance?
20 Henry Ching sent a very interesting email about Henry Leslie Fox of the HKDDC: “I have no documentary proof, but I believe that he was a DBS Old Boy and that his name appears on the school's memorial plaque. If I am right about the two being the same man, I am surprised that his next-of-kin could not be found. He was a member of a well-known Eurasian family. He was married, not to a Chinese woman, but to a Eurasian named Constance Hamson. They had two children. Constance remained in HK during the occupation, and was not interned. Constance was the daughter of a Eurasian from Australia. Her brother Arthur married Edith Wood whose mother was half German and half Japanese - Arthur and Edith were in Stanley Internment Camp, and their story is told in detail by their granddaughter Allana Corbin in ‘Prisoners of the East’. Henry Leslie Fox had a nephew, Leslie Alfred Fox. Leslie Fox was in 9 Platoon, No 3 Company of the HKVDC, and later with the Hong Kong Volunteer Company in Burma.” I am now in touch with Allana.
19 Roger Mansell (whose invaluable website www.mansell.com still gets more hits in a day than this one does in a month) was kind enough to forward an enquiry from the family of Norman Whitmore, RA.
17 The KCC were kind enough to give me a file on their Roll of Honour.
16 Henry Ching sent me a fascinating newspaper photo of Ellen Field, who has been mentioned on this site many times. He adds: “Her husband was Frank Lee (Armoured Car Platoon), brother I think of ‘Tinker’ Lee (5th Battery) and ‘Robbie’ Lee (Field Company Engineers). ‘Robbie’ is shown in HKVDC records as DR82 L/Cpl R.E. Lee, and I believe his correct name was Richard, but he was always known as ‘Robbie’, probably because he had the same initials as General Robert E. Lee.”
16 Jo Price sent me her father’s (Forbes MacLeod, HKRNVR) ID card. She notes: “[It was the Viceroy of India that my Gran Joan Whiteley] and Brenda Morgan travelled on and that he shared a flat with Mickey Holliday (fiancée to Brenda Morgan, I am assuming that they met on the ship)… I have also attached a picture obviously taken in happier times (my Gran is 2nd on the left) I think Brenda is in the middle. It was taken outside the sisters’ mess at Bowen Road. I don't know who the others are in the picture and wondered whether anyone could identify them?” Brenda was of course killed by shellfire at St Albert’s, and this is the first photo I have seen of her.
16 Here’s my tally of existing rolls of honour in Hong Kong:
DBS, Hong Kong Club (on paper only), KCC, Hong Kong Football Club, Hong Kong University (on paper, quoted in Dispersal and Renewal), HKVDC, KGV (Central British School, as it was pre-war), St John’s Ambulance, Stanley Prison Staff. But I must be missing many such as the older businesses and Hongs, and some of the other schools and clubs. Over to you.
15 Jim Walker sent this very interesting clip (one of several) of the fighting in Manila at the end of the war: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeuSrHiHLFU&feature=related 15 Robin Bridge got in contact. While not directly related to Hong Kong during the war, his father was captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle. Looking at the photo of the harbour in the Lisbon Maru book, we can see that the carrier there is Eagle, and by using her sailing records we can show that the photo was taken between August 1 and 12, 1939.
14 Hollis Gale’s (US internee at Stanley) granddaughter got in contact. She mentions that he was working for the CIA in Hong Kong.
13 This interesting link appeared in the FEPOW group, listing convoys to the Middle and Far East from August 1940 onwards: http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ws/index.html
12 Edwin Breese’s (RN, Lisbon Maru) grandson got in touch.
12 Still going through all the Australian newspapers for interesting war time articles, it was satisfying to send this clip: “Sydney Morning Herald, 15 May 1941
School Holidays. Mrs. R. Ross Stewart, of Rose Bay, will take her small daughter, Christian, to Bowral, where she has taken a house for the school holidays. They will have as their guests Mrs. Evan Stewart, of Double Bay, wife of Major Stewart, of the Volunteer Force, Hong Kong, and her small son, Michael, and Mrs. Burns Glen, of Wiston, Darling Point. They will all return to town at the end of the month”, to the ‘small son’ mentioned!
12 Interesting find reported from the hills today: “3x .303 rounds, not used but broken. 2 x Canadian HS: DAQ 1940 VII and 1 x R^L 32 VII; 2 x 7.7mm Japanese Slugs, and a British 2 inch Mortar HE safety cap.”
9 Fred Booker’s (HKPF) grandson got in touch. The Booker girls – minus the father, who was in 12/45, were in Bungalow B at St Stephen’s. All three women were HKVDC nurses. Of the two sons, one (Noel) worked for Jardine and volunteered for RAF service before the invasion, and the other (Neville) served with the HKVDC and was a POW at Narumi.
7 Jonathan Searle was kind enough to send me his father’s (Lance Searle, HKPF) wartime diary. A very interesting read. He notes: “my two uncles who were out there and also had interesting war stories. The third one died in a tank crash at the beginning of the war but the other two managed to work their way over to the Far East after the fall of Germany so they could be on hand for their brother Lance. One of them a Major was one of the last to leave Dunkirk where he was desperately trying to arrange the logistics of evacuation such as they were and spent a lot of his time in Africa. The other was a doctor, a Colonel in the Ghurkas, who ended up in the immediate aftermath of the war in charge of a British POW for Japanese at Victoria Point, Burma. On his arrival there a delegation of Japanese prisoners begged him to do something about the high death rate of Japanese prisoners. He immediately begged, borrowed and stole more medical supplies and the death rate halved almost immediately. One of the prisoners, Tsutsumi, an established artist, painted him a picture of the mountains behind Kyoto with an apprentice geisha in the foreground as a thank you for saving his life. The painting is on a hospital sheet and still has his blood stains on it.” Can anyone help with more details of that hospital? Presumably it held British POWs before the Japanese used it.
7 More finds reported from the hills today. A bunch of spent 6.5mm, a few live .303, grenade and mortar fragments, a shell fuse (No 106 MK II AD) and .303 ‘crimped-top’ blanks that may possibly be from rifle grenades (though are not standard issue for them).
6 John Baptiste Harvey’s (Middlesex) family got in touch.
6 Bill Groves was kind enough to send a digitally repaired version of the torn photo of George Stone from the March update.
4 Tonbridge School in the UK made contact, describing a book about the institution during WWII, and noting: “The ones who were at Tonbridge and who were killed in the siege or as POWs are: Captain Peter Witney, RAMC (that is the spelling in the School Register) - murdered at St. Stephen’s Hospital. I do have some references for him from Tim Carew's book. Pte G H Kerbey, Butterfield & Swire, HKVDC, No. 2 Scottish Company - Killed 24 Dec. WO J E Jupp, HK Bank, HKRNVR - died as POW in Japan 1942. H G Eales, ARP (47 years old) - Killed 25 Dec.
Those who survived and were interned:
Mr and Mrs H F Hills, Jardine Matheson; Paul Reveley, Government Wireless Engineer; Major H G G Robertson, RAMC; Isaac Newton, Medical officer and surgeon; S Maughan, HK Bank; Roland Alderton; Medical missionary at Nethersole Hospital. There is also John Yorath, a retired naval officer who escaped into free China after the fall of Hong Kong and made his way to Burma.” After our correspondence, he added: “Mr and Mrs H S Hills: I helped their son write a book about his war experiences 'By Tank Into Normandy'. They left him at school in 1939 and did not see him until 1946 by which time he had landed on D Day, fought through the whole campaign and won an MC. The family lived at 29 the Peak. Herbert had fought through WW1 with the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry (the same regiment as his son joined). Edith nursed at Gallipoli and then in the HK siege at [Rosary] Hill and St Theresa's Hospitals. She continued nursing outside Stanley for six months after the surrender. When she went into Stanley she secreted her rings in her hair and the senior Jardines rep gave her an IOU for £1,000 for them to buy food on the black market for the internees. Jardines honoured this IOU after the war! Herbert came out of Stanley very ill and died in 1947 but Edith survived a long time.” I find it fascinating that one UK school could have so many connections with the Hong Kong of the period.
4 Ian Mcnay reports from Australia on the annual HKVDC and ex-POW Lunch: “This lunch was held yesterday about 20 attended, smaller than normal. Some interesting people were there Henry Ching referred to your KGV Roll of Honour request. He could not place the two names and am sorry I could not either. Presumably they were at CBS not KGV. Dates of death between 1941 and 1944 put them in their twenties or thirties. My guess is that they may have been from Service families and not long term HK families. Mention was made of the death of Norman Broadbridge, marvelous memory that man had. Margaret and I were seated next to John and Sue Penn. John had the list of occupants of Hut 3 at Argyle Street Camp. Would it be possible for you to extract the occupants of Hut 12? This was a Naval hut. My father's name should be there along with Alec Allan Royal Naval Dockyard Police, Lieutenant W Fogg RN, Lieut Cdr F G Solway RN. John and I have embarked on an email exchange and we have been examining a website suggested by Faye Powell, Trove (short for Treasure trove] newspaper articles of the 1940s dealing with the evacuation. Sue was an evacuee. But you may already know these facts. On my right was the widow of Norman Osborne who died about 6 years ago Norman was in Stanley as a boy with father, mother and four siblings. The CWGC listing does not mention specifically N Osborne but I am sure that is the family. Osborne's widow was from the Russian community who got out of China when the civil war started
Henry gave an address on the value of tradition, the original 99 Volunteers and their memory, the need for the loyal toast, and the battle honours. He felt that without tradition what is the Association but an excuse for a lunch party. Our next lunch is to celebrate Liberation Day in August.”
3 Robert Bluestone’s (HKVDC) niece got in touch from the Yacht Club. She also notes: “As an aside and given what today is, I see ‘Yourieff, Eugene G. Gunner 4192 BRH (52)’ who is listed under 1st Battery. Gene was a long term member of RHKYC as was his wife Tina and today the Club flag is at half-mast in honour of Tina who passed away last week and today is her funeral service in Phuket.”
3 Bill Lake sent this link to another blog covering the Godwin walk on ANZAC day: http://asia-ecopreneur.blogspot.com/2010/04/anzac-day.html
1 Elizabeth Ride sent me the very interesting account of how Private Carvalho drove an ambulance through Japanese lines to take wounded Indian soldiers to the Indian General Hospital (now the Tung Wah Eastern Hospital). Whilst returning the ambulance was shot up by a Japanese machine gun, and came to a halt outside the Po Leung Kuk with the driver, Brother Peter, dead. This action took place just outside my office, so I went down this morning and took a photo of the gate were the ambulance ended up (illustrated).
1 Ron Abbott sent a copy of a very interesting article from ‘Piping World’ magazine which included a mention of this site and Pipe Major Mackie of 2 Coy HKVDC.
1 Ian McNay sent three fascinating photographs of the staff of KCV (Central British School), the prefects, and the 1st Football eleven all as at 1947. He gives the captions as:
CBS Prefects 1947
Back row from left: Jack Tinson, Allister Inglis, David Eggleton, Francis Brett, Phillipa Portallian, Patricia Stewart, Iris Ellery. Front row from left: W Mulcahy, Ian McNay, G P Ferguson, Vera Rumianzeff, Mrs Hill.
Ist X1 1947
Back row from left: David Knight, Ken Sargison, Michael Salter, David Eggleton, Jim Caynes, Ian Robertson, Allister Inglis, Jim Tinson. Front row from left: W Mulcahy. Tom Knight, Ian McNay, G P Ferguson, Gordon Blenkinsop Bob Daich?, Desmond Inglis
Staff 1947
Back from left: Norman Tucker, Unknown, Unknown, Mrs Crozier, Unknown, K J Attwell. Front from left: G Wilb, Miss M Hearson, Wilfred Mulcahy, Gordon Ferguson, Mrs Hill, David McLellan. (Ian notes: “the male members of the staff in 1947 were all ex POW with the exception of Wilfred Mulcahy who had been seconded to a civilian position in the Education Department and as a result went into Stanley”.)
1 Pat Hennessy’s (RCASC) grandson got in touch. As one of the senior Canadians lost in the fighting, and one whose death is fully documented, this is a very memorable way to start the month. His grandson will be in Hong Kong later in the year, and we will walk from 8 Coombe Road (Mycock’s house), where Hennessy was mortally wounded by shellfire, to the site of the War Memorial Hospital, on the way to which he expired. Sadly, I added an extra ‘e’ to Hennessy’s name in ‘Not The Slightest Chance’, so will fix that for the next edition
Image:
May Images Hong Kong News (courtesy Stuart Braga), Alex Zimmerman (courtesy Anne St. George), Brazel's ID Card (via Richard Hide) Eric Mitchell (courtesy Barry Mitchell), French Memorial (Author), Grenade (Anonymous) Maxwell's Grave's Blessing (courtesy Geoff Emerson), Stanley Journal (courtesy Elizabeth Ride), HK Telegraph (via HKMMIS)
May News
“We are missing out on a golden opportunity to sell the city, historians say”, South China Morning Post, May 30. Newspapers dominate this month’s long report. Kicked off by mentioning the copies of two editions of the Hong Kong News on the Gwulo site, we now have one full collection located, and one that is about two thirds complete. Thanks to Stuart Braga, I have also spent several useful hours going through all the wartime Australian papers; and lastly – in a separate area of research – I found some useful mentions of the Steele-Perkins ‘affair’ in the old papers on the Hong Kong Public Libraries Multi-Media Information System.
31 Carlos Rocha’s (HKVDC, Hong Kong Chindits) grandson got in touch, regarding the item on his grandfather in last June’s post.
30 Barbara Anslow sent a very interesting set of Stanley Camp reunion pictures to the Stanley Group.
30 I discovered today that We Shall Suffer There is now available on Kindle.
29 Anthony Carvalho’s (HKVDC) nephew got in touch. 29 Barbara Anslow notes: “Have just heard from his son that Dr Mark Erooga passed away peacefully in his sleep on 23rd May, aged 95. As you probably know, he particularly looked after TB patients in Stanley, and was greatly valued.” Stupidly, I didn’t make as much use of my correspondence with Dr Erooga as I should have done. If only there were 48 hours in the day…
26 Ian McNay notes: “Between 1947 and 1949 I worked with the Inland Revenue Department. There were a number of ex POWs in the Department.” He attached photos of Reginald Bertram Wood, HKRNVR, and Paul Douglas Chidell, HKVDC.
26 James Robinson’s (RAMC) family got in touch (in fact the person who got in touch is also David Strellet’s granddaughter – in touch in September 2009 – who has just discovered that Robinson was her grandmother’s cousin). Like many RAMC men, Robinson, as a POW in Japan, was sent to a camp (Tokyo #16B) in which he was the only ex-HK man.
25 Henry Ching kindly sent me a study he has written on the Diocesan Boy’s School Memorial Plaque. I have been trying to complete something similar – though on a lesser scale – for KGV.
24 Stuart Braga notes that the National Library of Australia also has copies of HKU’s Hong Kong News set, and has J.M. Braga’s set of originals, which is about two-thirds complete (having been assembled in Macau where delivery was not always assured). He was also kind enough to send me some examples.
24 Michael Hurst notes that the latest newsletter is now available on the Taiwan POW Society site: www.powtaiwan.org .
23 Martin Heyes was kind enough to send this link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/air-force-obituaries/7734339/Wing-Commander-Bill-Stoker.html. Bill, son of the well-respected HKVDC Lieutenant of the same name, had been evacuated from Hong Kong in 1940 with his mother, staying there initially at 448 Pt. Nepean Rd., E. Brighton. John Penn, who I have been corresponding with recently, knew both Bills well, and recalls Bill senior relating the story – over a whisky - of how he went to pick up the surviving nurses at St Stephen’s after the events of December 25th.
23 Barbara Anslow reminded me that Philippa Deane is still looking for anyone who recalls her mother, Winifred Deane, in Stanley Camp.
21 Buddha’s birthday, and an excuse to nip down to Stanley to photograph graves for families and researchers who have asked. While there, I took the opportunity to get a snap of the memorial to the French volunteers who perished. I have been in touch with a few families over the years, but who knows the full story of Paul de Roux, for example? Stories say that he was involved with smuggling essential items into the camps, was picked up by the Kempetai, and jumped to his death to avoid further interrogation (and the chance of revealing others' details).
21 Richard Frost sent me a 1953 photo (also posted on the gwulo site) looking down on Deepwater Bay and the area of PB15/VRC. It’s frustratingly close to the resolution required to really see the situation (for anyone following the question, it is about the exact location of the PB, which is generally regarded to have ended up as part of the VRC’s foundations).
19 Richard Hide kindly let me know that Eddy Brazel’s (HKRNVR) family had made contact. Brazel was a member of the famous Christmas Day escape.
18 Had a very pleasant dinner this evening with Carolyn Hopkins (daughter of Henry ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins of 2 Coy HKVDC, and step-daughter of Kenneth Berkley Nelson of the same unit), together with Rosemary & Desmond Inglis, both of whom had been evacuated from Hong Kong as children in 1940, though in different circumstances.
18 Elizabeth Ride kindly set a couple of photos from two editions of ‘The Stanley Journal’. I have seen one or two pages from these before, but didn’t previously know the source.
18 John Quinn’s (RM, Lisbon Maru) son got in touch. He notes: “In the 1980s he and my mum were guests of honour for a few weeks at Tamar in Hong Kong. He spent his time visiting gravestones and giving talks to officers, NCOs and marines on his recollections of those difficult times leading up to Xmas Day.”
18 Bill Lake sent this very interesting link to the return of HMS Amethyst to Hong Kong. Not exactly WWII (1949, to be precise, though Amethyst had a proud war record), but probably of interest to many – not least the shots of the harbour, with HMS Belfast in pride of place: http://www.movietone.com/assets/BMN0938/wmv/CSAI128365CSAIEND_CSEXT52378CSEXTEND_H.wmv 18 Ernest Coulson’s (HKVDC) daughter-in-law got in touch. Coulson was in 2 Coy, HKVDC.
18 A researcher made contact, looking for more information on James Norman Ford, HKVDC.
18 Aubrey Gardner’s (HKVDC) daughter got in touch. She would like to know if: “any relatives of Aubrey George Gardner, Laurence Gardner, Reginald Gardner or George Gardner, children of Alfred and Gertrude ‘Alice’ Gardner are reading.” Gardner was in 2 Bty.
17 Oh, the perils of the amateur historian in Hong Kong! Walking peacefully to work this morning, early, along historic Bowen Road just under the old British Military Hospital there, I came face to face with a very recently dead Bamboo Pit Viper (illustrated). This is our most common venomous snake, and while it probably won’t kill an adult, you wouldn’t want to muck about with one. But at least this was a Viper – you often see the Great Green Snakes killed like this; they are almost identical apart from the head shape and the colour of the tail, and most people jump to conclusions. On the way home, on the same path, was a bright green stick insect, so at least the wildlife still seems to be flourishing.
16 Today the SCMP ran an article commenting on the state of repair of the three plaques that we (‘we’ meaning the Hong Kong Government, the Canadian Consulate, and their various friends) placed at a number of points around HK in 2005 to commemorate Lawson, Osborn, and C Coy of the RRoC. Yes, these need attention, and the matter is being addressed.
16 Spent some time reading the autumn 1941 newspaper coverage of the enquiry into the ‘Steele-Perkins affair’. The enquiry (September/October 1941) seemed rather different from the stories still told in HK today. It focused mainly on the point that Mimi Lau had saved $5,000 in six months on a monthly salary of $200 (offered 'as a charity' by a building company), and on the fact that the building company was selling the HK Government concrete blocks at 49 cents instead of the going rate of 39 cents. They made no direct mention, as far as I could see, of any alleged 'affair' between Steele-Perkins and Mimi Lau. Luckily Barbara Anslow was S-P’s secretary, so I asked her viewpoint. She pointed out the media frenzy, and that another member of the ARP’s senior staff committed suicide earlier that year – actually about as the story broke. It seems that S-P’s reputation may well have been unfairly besmirched.
14 Today the Canadian Consul called a meeting of interested parties to discuss the existing Canadian memorial plaques, and the question of Second World War Memorials as a whole. It was a very positive discussion, and good to see someone at last taking the initiative on this issue which – if planned and co-ordinated to best advantage – would create a major asset for both our burgeoning interest in local heritage and that of our tourists.
14 Alex Zimmerman’s (HKVDC) stepdaughter got in touch. She sent a photo of Alex talking to Lord Snowdon, and another (taken apparently from May Road shortly post war) from their apartment. She notes: “He and my mother left HK in about 1965 and lived in Tokyo for about 10 years before moving to Canada. I attach a photo of Alex, the only one I have, taken in at a trade fair in about the late 60's. He seems to be demonstrating electronic equipment to Lord Snowdon. I know that he was, at one time, working for Parker Pens and acting as a ‘fixer’ for companies wanting to invest in a emerging China in the early 70s.” Can anyone supply more information about Mr Zimmerman?
14 Rob Weir sent me a text mentioning that he had taken David Bellis to East Brigade’s underground headquarters at the Tai Tam crossroads. I checked Gwulo, and there is already a little article about it: http://gwulo.com/wartime-bunker-and-shelters-near-tai-tam-gap
13 Heard the very sad news today that John Black had passed away. I first corresponded with John in 2004, and we have exchanged emails ever since. He was the man behind the recognition of the Day Joyce Sheet, as well as being a 1940 evacuee. As a small boy, he lived where we do in Hong Kong, and his life was saved in the same hospital that we use for our own children when they have their little emergencies. I must admit that my first emotion when hearing the news was simply anger; there were so many other things that I had wanted to discuss.
13 In the book of battlefield tours that I am currently working on at, I of course include the spot near Park View where so many who were captured around Jardine’s Lookout were held. Early in December 20th 1941, a British mortar bomb hit the building’s thin roof, wounding and killing many inside. Amongst these were Vaughan and Eric Mitchell (brothers) of the Winnipeg Grenadiers. Eric was badly wounded, and when the Japanese ordered them to march out to North Point POW Camp, Vaughan refused – electing to stay with his younger brother. That, of course, was the end for both. I contacted Vaughan’s son, explaining what I was working on, and was very grateful that he passed me photos of both these men, with permission to use them.
13 Rusty Tsoi contacted me, saying: “Two months ago I bought the book ‘The Royal Rifles of Canada in Hong Kong 1941-1945’ by Grant S. Garneau. The book was first edition and I noticed that it contained a sticker with the Canadian Expeditionary Force ‘HK’ Logo. The script upon it reads as follows:
‘Sidney A. Vale, Winnipeg Grenadiers’ ”. Carol Hadley was kind enough to fill in the blanks with Sid’s obit: “Mr. Sidney Arthur (Sid) Vale passed away in the Vernon Jubilee Hospital on Thursday, February 26th, 2004 at the age of 85 years. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Hazel of Vernon, B.C., his step-children; Gordon (Simonne) Macklem of Kelowna, B.C., Bunny (James) Raddis of creston, B.C., Wendy (Gilles Dicaire) Berge of Creston, B.C., Bill (Lucy) Brick of Leduc, Alberta, and Ted (Sherry) Brick of Vernon, B.C., 11 step-grandchildren, 8 step-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members. Cremation preceded the Memorial Service which will be held at Desert Cove Recreational Centre on Saturday, March 6th, 2004 at 2:00 P.M. with Mr. Brian Jackson officiating. Funeral arrangements have been made with Bethel Funeral Chapel Ltd., 5605-27th Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 8Z5 (1-250-542-1187).”
13 Michael Hurst, MBE, who has done so much work for and with the Taiwan POWs, visited Hong Kong to photograph the graves of those who perished there and were re-interred locally post-war. Unfortunately we missed each other this time.
12 That Stanley tiger seems unforgettable! The subject came up yet again on the Stanley Camp group, and Barbara Anslow said: “My diary for 31st May 1942 records photo in newspaper showing tiger killed in Stanley. The Stanley resident who skinned it etc. was Mr. Bradbury, who was a butcher. Re Peter Gilchrist's mention of spotting pug marks, perhaps this ties up with my entry for August 6th 1942 - 'Saw tiger marks opposite hospital path!' - i.e. Tweed Bay Hospital where I worked.”
11 A friend of mine met William S.K. Woo, a Chinese member of OSS at a function. Woo, acting as an interpreter, was among the first people from the Allied forces in China to re-enter Hong Kong after the surrender.
9 Kris Gregoire got in touch from Canada. His grandfather (Simon Fraser Pollock) and four of his great uncles (Glenford Gregoire, Coleman Pollock, Noble Nicol, Ralph Nicol) fought in Hong Kong with the Royal Rifles.
9 Gordon Andreassend – a Kiwi – sent me a link to the blog for his Goodwin walk http://asia-ecopreneur.blogspot.com/2010/04/anzac-day.html (see last month). He notes also his interest in Gandy, who escaped in the MTBs that Goodwin served on: “My interest in Gandy comes from a study I am making of the early Land Surveyors of Hong Kong. Gandy trained in the Royal Navy, and in the late 1920's left the service, studied land surveying and early in the 1930's was appointed as a Land Surveyor in Hong Kong. He maintained this post in the Civil Service until the outbreak of WW II, when he was recalled to military service, and remained in Hong Kong until the Japanese attack in 1941. Following his escape with the group, he served on several ships, and after the war, returned to his post as a Land Surveyor in Hong Kong. He rose to the senior-most position in the Survey Office prior to his retirement in the mid-1950s.” He continues: “Goodwin's story is very well told in his own words in his 1953 book - Hongkong Escape - and I like to regard him as another one of those valiant MTB escapees - who had to wait until 1944 when he was able to make his break for freedom! He moved from NZ to Australia around 1956, and died there in 1994, at the ripe old age of 92.”
9 Oh, good grief! Ross Lynneberg, who – as a survivor of the Lisbon Maru – is old enough to know better, sent me the following joke: “Wife asks husband: ‘How many women have you slept with?’ Husband proudly replies, ‘Only you, Darling – with all the others, I was awake’. Ross, of course, is also a Kiwi - so has some excuse!
8 A couple of friends were metal detecting at a site I located last November, and found more than they had bargained for. EOD were called out and destroyed said device (they claimed it was a Japanese grenade, but it looked more like a British M36 to me. What do you think?)
7 Had lunch at the Hong Kong Club to discuss possible new walks for the autumn. These will be a mix of current ones (such as Nicholson/Cameron) and some new routes.
5 I asked Dennis Morley (Royal Scots) if he would be attending this year’s ‘Researching FEPOW Conference in October. He replied that he would more likely be visiting Sweden with his grandson.
5 Elizabeth Ride commented on last month’s post: “Ellen Field: My father had an interesting habit of making notes in the margin of books. Ellen Field's book moved him to make many such.
Goodwin: I wonder if the Goodwin crowd would be interested to know (if they don’t already) that his interrogation by BAAG is available in the NA in file WO 224/188 (28 pages). This mostly concerns camp conditions, but they presumably already have access to his diary for the actual escape.
HK News: The full set (1942-1945) is in the HKU Library, Special Collections (presented by Osler Thomas, collected and bound by Osler's father).
HKVDC Nursing Detachment: I cannot help about the medal, but your correspondent may not know that Mrs Braude wrote a good (and very moving) article about them in the Centenary Number 1954 of The Volunteer, p.95.”
5 Stuart Braga was kind enough to point me to a resource that allows searching of Australian newspapers: http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/
5 Geoff Emerson was kind enough to send a copy of ‘St John’s Review’ which featured the blessing of Maxwell’s grave on the front page. He also sent a series of photos of the event, including Maxwell’s sister (Nancy) at the graveside.
4 Received a nice note from Wally Scragg’s granddaughter (Wally was HKPF circa 1941). Wally will be 90 in November.
3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I happened to check the records for this website and discovered that today (apparently) is the tenth birthday. I had been sure that the site started in 1999, but there we are.
2 Had an interesting email from Henry D’Assumpcao mentioning three Macanese members of the Chindits: Vicente Antonio da Costa (who was killed in Burma: http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1056950), Leonardo Da Silva, and Bobby Laurel. Yet none of the three appear to have joined the Hong Kong Chindits via BAAG like the 128 others who made up the Hong Kong Column. Does anyone know their story?
1 William Carden’s (RAPC) stepson got in touch
Image:
April Images William Whelan (courtesy Ian Jenkins, via Ron Taylor), Peter Delahunt (courtesy Chris Delahunt), William Thompson (courtesy Trudi Jessel) Poster for 'Responsibility' (courtesy Moe Moss), 7.92s (courtesy Mark Banham), .303 Mk VI (author) Charles Sloan's wedding (courtesy Alan Sloan), Casualty Telegram (courtesy Alan Sloan), Ian Mcknay with the Attwells (courtesy Ian Mcknay)
April News
Another great month for new contacts and photographs – especially two new high-quality pictures of men lost on the Lisbon Maru. 30 ‘Harry’ Penn’s (HKVDC) son got in touch. He also notes that his wife was an evacuee from Hong Kong, who was torpedoed on the Ulysses while attempting to sail from Sydney to Liverpool via Panama. 29 Researcher Ron Abbott is looking for a photo of Pipe-Major William Mackie, HKVDC, who was killed on December 24 1941. Ron notes: “William Mackie was serving with the 2nd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders at Fort George when he won the Inverness gold medal against very strong opposition, 2nd place going to the famous Roddy Campbell. William Mackie later transferred to the King's Own Scottish Borderers, as Pipe-Major, and on leaving the Army took up employment with the Admiralty in the Naval Dockyard in Hong Kong. He was also Pipe-Major of the Hong Kong Volunteers, and was killed when the Japanese invaded Hong Kong in December 1941." He adds: “The ‘gold medal’ from the Northern Meeting at Inverness is roughly the solo bagpiping equivalent of the World Championships / Olympics... a top award.”
28 Ron Taylor (UK) kindly sent me two photos of Lance Sergeant William Whelan of 22 Fortress Coy, RE, who was lost on the Lisbon Maru. 28 I had a very interesting email from Glasgow: “I was going through some personal items that belonged to my late father when I came across an affidavit that had been taken by my grandfather. It is dated 10th May 1946, Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, Scotland. My grandfather was at that time a police sergeant. The document is titled ‘In the matter of Japanese war crimes and the matter of atrocities committed on the occasion of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru 27th Sept to 2nd October 1942’. It is a two page document given by a William McDonagh, Drummer, Royal Scots. It gives his account of what he saw as a prisoner on board the vessel, the shooting of a British soldier, his subsequent escape into the water and being recovered. He appeared to endure some harsh treatment before ending up in a POW camp in Kobe. After liberation the unfortunate man’s plane crashed into the sea“. Such statements were taken by policemen all over the English-speaking world, and were used in the war crimes trials. 27 Ellen Field’s third cousin got in touch. 27 By complete co-incidence, Sue Chan of the National Library of Australia got in touch with further details on Ellen Field: “I have recently had some questions about Ellen Field and her book ‘Twilight in Hong Kong’. It is part of our library collection, and easily found on the Internet. Readers would like to know more about her and her family. I have not been able to find a lot of information but there is one item in a Canadian newspaper of 1962 which takes her story forward a little: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tj4yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=heUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4994%2C392948She featured in a 1960s This Is Your Life programme, although I have been unable to find details of this. I believe it was a BBC recording, and not archived:http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=39822940She is also mentioned in the book by Liam Nolan, Small Man of Nanataki, the story of a Japanese interpreter who helped her. However, this book is about the war years, and does not give later information about Ellen Field, although ‘This is your Life’ is mentioned in the preface.http://www.worldcat.org/title/small-man-of-nanataki/oclc/6080833I hope your readers find this information helpful.” 26 Today, at 11.00, Private Maxwell’s new headstone was blessed. 25 Unfortunately I missed this very interesting walk: “On ANZAC Day 2010 (Sunday 25 April 2010) a walk will be arranged over the approximate route Ralph Goodwin took during the first four days of his escape. Kiwis, their Digger mates, and any other kindred souls will be welcome to join this historic ramble, in remembrance of Goodwin. The walk of about 11km will take four to five hours, starting near Mei Foo MTR and finishing at Tai Wai, near Shatin. It will be lead by long time Hong Kong Kiwi Gordon Andreassend. Effort required will be ‘moderate’.” 24 The Gwulo site now includes a couple of copies of the Hong Kong News from 1944. As far as I know, no complete collection exists, although many individual copies are in private hands. http://gwulo.com/the-hongkong-news 23 Robert ‘Jim’ Fleming’s (Royal Rifles) family got in touch. 22 Moe Moss sent me the details of the play ‘Responsibility’ which is set during the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. It will run from May 19 to 23 at the Shouson Theatre at the Hong Kong Arts Centre in Wanchai. More details on: www.tritheatre.com 22 Alix Furey was kind enough to send me a letter written by A.C.I. Bowker of the HKVDC, on the subject of British evacuees from Hong Kong to Australia ‘illicitly’ returning home. ‘Aci’ passed away in the Bowen Road hospital on 2 October 1942. I’m looking at the old building from our balcony as I type this. 18 Today I sent my final revised draft of the History of the HKDDC to the Royal Asiatic Society. At about 8,000 words it’s not a masterful work, but hopefully does some justice to the memory of an organization that until today has diligently dodged detailed documentation. 17 Rohan Price at City U is working on a very interesting book, studying legal aspects of the Japanese occupation: http://www.issuu.com/empireofthieves 16 Brendan Worrell contacted me from Hainan where he is studying – among other things - the Indian POWs who were held there by the Japanese. 15 Jack Stanton’s (RA) son got in touch. 15 Bill Lake was kind enough to send me a picture of a Canadian stamp featuring the battle of Hong Kong. I wasn’t aware one had been produced. 15 David Legge’s (HKRNVR and MTB escaper) cousin got in touch, noting that Legge’s brother Brian flew in the Battle of Britain – rather topical at the moment! 14 Ronald Elliott’s (RA) son got in touch. 10 Ian Dixon’s (HKVDC) daughter got in touch noting that her father was still around, living in Sydney. 10 Finally got around to asking Tony Williams, the ammunition expert, about the strange blunt bullets that turn up on Violet Hill. I suggested they might be from old stocks of Mk V .303. He said: “Not the Mk V - that had a hollow point. It looks most likely to be the Mk II or the Mk VI - they were very similar except that the Mk VI had a thicker jacket. The Mk VI was introduced in 1904 and replaced from around 1912.” 7 Peter Delahunt’s (RA) nephew got in touch. When I do my Wong Nai Chung walk I always start at the old RA position, and talk about the battle there and those killed in its attempted defence. Now I have a photo of Delahunt - one of the lost men I have been describing. 7 It seems that hammering spent shell cases into the earth around a gun position was an accepted way of stabilising it. I was sent a number of photos of 37mm Japanese shell cases being used in that way in Hong Kong (and I have two of the cases themselves on my shelf). 7 Gary Whitely got in touch with reference to an HKVDC nursing detachment medal he owns. He notes: “It is made of silver 3.2cm in diameter. On the obverse it has Two Intertwined Embossed Dragons with an Embossed Kings Crown above. On the reverse is engraved ‘H.K.V.D.C. Nursing Detachment’ at the bottom of the obverse is impressed in very small letters (looks like) Markle and 90 Silvera. The ribbon is 3.1cm wide and the colours are Black 1.25cm, Red 0.4cm, Yellow 0.2, Black 1.25cm and is attached by a loop 1.3cm diameter toa smaller loop which is part of the medal.” He would like to know more about it, if anyone can help (illustrated). 7 Trudi Jessel kindly sent several photos of William Thompson (who was lost on the Lisbon Maru - see last month). 6 David Davidson’s (RASC) son got in touch. 6 The Bay Area Civilian ex-POWs (they mean Internees) have an interesting new website: http://bacepow.net/index.htm 5 George Tattam’s (Middlesex) granddaughter got in touch. 3 Ian McNay sent a very interesting email responding to various items on this site in the last few months. He included several high-quality photos of Dockyard Police and noted: “But the main item for me was that Alison McEwan had referred to Ken and Jill Attwell and their daughter Pippa. Ken was my English Master at CBS. Together with the Headmaster Gordon Ferguson, they were a major force in getting me a HK Government Grant to University, in UK. Ended up in Edinburgh. Jill was Jill Beavis, Head of the Quarry Bay primary School and an internee. John Black and I were both at Quarry Bay School. Colin Ewan, Alison's father, taught us to box at CBS in his Physical Education class. At the time I had no idea that he had been with BAAG and had a distinguished military career. Alison and Pippa might be interested to know this.” 3 Alan Sloan’s (HKVDC) son, who is also the nephew of John Sloan (HKVDC) got in touch, sending wedding photos of both men, plus other useful contacts and information. He notes of his father: “My father was originally in the Motor Machine-Gun Platoon… He was posted to the HKE power station as he was employed there as a shift Engineer. I wish I had listened more closely to his stories but after multiple tellings I as a child became bored and inattentive. There was a few that stuck with me like, while defending the power station he was very impressed with the accuracy of the Japanese knee mortars. They could break a window with one shell and then put the next one through the same hole.” 2 Kicked off the month with a very interesting walk across a misty and wet Violet Hill. Aside from some post-war .303, the most interesting find was a charger full of Canton Arsenal-made 7.92mm rifle rounds. These would have been picked up by the Japanese, together with a sniper’s rifle, in China, and brought into Hong Kong at the time of the invasion. Similar, of course, to the British-made 7.92mm machine gun rounds that turned up on Jardine’s Lookout a few years ago. 2 TK and others commented on the Sikh temple mentioned last month. Barbara Anslow described how it was bombed on the 10th of December 1941.Also, on the subject of PB45, TK notes: “My Japanese Map (made by Jap Army) clearly shows that it is situated half way up Mt Parker Road between contour lines 200 and 250 feet. It was above the junction of SCR and MPR and was on the right side of MPR (looking north).” 1 Martin Sanders got in touch, recalling that his father had been one of the first RAF men to return to Hong Kong immediately after the Japanese surrender, and sending a photo of ‘Air House’. Air House looks to be 1930s architecture, and Martin informs me that it was commandeered by the RAF at that time. 1 Noel Forde’s (Royal Army Pay Corps) great stepson got in contact. 1 A gentleman friendly with Fred Gard’s (Winnipeg Grenadiers) family got in touch.
Image:
March Images
George Stone (courtesy Steven Rann), Giddins' MI9 form (courtesy Mike Murray), Stanley Tour (courtesy Geoffrey Emerson) Captain Dewar (courtesy Col. David Owen, via Bill Lake), Sikh Temple 1945 (courtesy Time Life), Sikh Temple 2010 (author) Maxwell's new grave (author), Battlebox cross-section (courtesy Tan), Palmer book article (courtesy Michael Palmer)
March News
Nobody remembers the Royal Artillery, but in a month like this you’re given no choice. It was a major force in Hong Kong in 1941, has left visible remains all over the territory, and has certainly dominated proceedings for the last 30 days or so – everything from the case of March 30th and the three families of artillerymen who made contact on the 29th, to the MI9 form covering the Gunners’ escape from the Lisbon Maru. (And for anyone who is counting: Yes, this is the first time that a monthly update has exceeded 3,000 words).
31 Hugh Dulley’s (HKRNVR) son got in touch. I am looking forward to learning more about Mr Dulley, who was lost on December 19, 1941, leading the group at Postbridge. 31 Bill Lake kindly sent me a photo of Captain Arthur Dewar’s medals (from Col. David Owen’s collection) and DSO citation, including a photo. Those who saw Dewar when he finally deigned to surrender Little Hong Kong (a day or two after everyone else) described him as ‘tough looking’, which seems something of an understatement.
30 The Hong Kong War Memorial Pensions Appeal Board held its twenty-first hearing today. Seventy years after the events being adjudicated upon, reaching good decisions is a challenge. However, after more than twenty years of dealing with Hong Kong’s fragmented and confused wartime records - and the equally manifold memories of those there at the time - I feel at least some confidence in participating in such decisions without the luxurious encumbrance of certainty. The Government did some excellent work in providing clear and complete briefing documents, and kindly provided me with an interpreter as the proceedings were of course in Cantonese. I walked away from the hearing feeling that justice had been served.
29 A friend of George Stone’s (RA, Lisbon Maru) late sister got in touch from the States, sending a very good photograph. Stone was lost on the Lisbon Maru, and his sister volunteered for service in India (where she met and married an American officer, hence the connection). 29 A researcher looking into John Dickinson (RA) got in touch, noting that he had a son called Edward born after his death (John was lost on Dec 19, 1941). John's wife Ludmilla was evacuated from Hong Kong in July 1940. The last address I have for her is: ‘Tudor’, 74 Hotham Street, East Melbourne, Australia. John was only 23 in 1941 when he died, so Ludmilla was (the chances are) born around 1920. 'Ludmilla' is of course a Russian name; many White Russians were in Hong Kong at that time, having generally travelled down via Harbin with their families after the revolution, and a surprisingly high percentage married British servicemen and policemen (see last month). 29 Adam Glen Alexander’s (RA, Lisbon Maru) niece got in touch. Alexander was one of the BSMs lost on the ship.
27 While researching something completely different, I came across references to the position of PB45 in No 1 Coy HKVDC’s war diary. The PB45 section, by the time the Japanese attacked, was on the path up to Quarry Gap where Sir Cecil’s Ride branches off. The PB itself must surely have been very near.
25 The F-ck Buttons mystery is revealed. They say: “the grandfather of one of the band - Ben Power - was on the Lisbon Maru and survived.”
21 William Thompson’s (Royal Engineers, Lisbon Maru) niece got in contact.
20 While researching the evacuation of British women and children from Hong Kong in 1940, I noted how many Dockyard families had been evacuated, whose menfolk don’t seem to have still been in Hong Kong when the Japanese attacked. I asked Barbara Anslow her opinion and she replied: “I hadn't any knowledge on that subject, but the other day was looking at my 1939 diary for 20th September just after WWII had broken out, and found 'Dad says he might be transferred to Singapore’.” Oddly enough, though, a superficial look at Singapore POWs and internees doesn’t turn up any of these men either, so perhaps they had shipped back to the UK before December 1941? 20 Joao Botas, from http://macauantigo.blogspot.com/ contacted me asking for some details of the Portuguese/Macanese defenders of Hong Kong. 20 With wonderful timing, Faye Powell sent me a copy of a Hong Kong Royal Naval Dockyard Police recruitment advertisement from the Sydney Morning Herald of May 1941 – just what I needed to finalise the Royal Asiatic Society article on the HKDDC and RNDYP. She also introduced me to the Trove service in Australia, which archives newspapers and presents their text in usable form. Very impressive (see this example: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/975667?searchTerm=shamshuipo)
19 Joe Whitcroft’s (HKPF) great niece got in touch. 15 Gordon Dempster, son of Henry Dempster RNDYP, sent this link: http://news.webshots.com/album/426142674afOFCy These photos all turn up (together often enough) now and then, but need proper captions. Some are just plain wrong (like the photo of Shamshuipo with ‘POW’ spelt out on the main crossroads, which is always labelled ‘North Point’).
14 I took the Hong Kong Club walkers along Bowen Road today. I was actually a little nervous of this, as everyone in Hong Kong knows this road so well. But luckily it turned out that none of them had really looked at it from a World War Two perspective before. I had assumed it would take no more than 90 minutes from end to end, but even after chivvying people along at various points, we still didn’t finish for two hours. Dr Scriven’s son turned up, which was an added bonus.
13 Meg Parkes asks: “I’m just revisiting my interview with Reg Davis (from Devon, now deceased) back in 2008 and he mentions his work keeping the wireless station open until after Boxing Day 1941. He told me he was on the staff of the Commodore of Hong Kong and had a corner of the underground HQ. He showed me his Mention in Despatches. A question... would those messages sent from his radio room have been kept? If so would they be at the National Archives?” It’s a good question, but not as far as I know. I have a copy of the Fortress Signals log, but don’t know of any others. I sent Meg a scan of the cross-section of the BattleBox showing signalers’ offices. 13 Edward Lawrence notes: “I have been loaned a copy of Cyril Gahagan’s war diary with a view to publishing it and I wonder if the name 'Gahagan' means anything to you?” Well, yes, it does. According to Stewart’s book: “They held the Power Station throughout the night; and, when driven out, continued house-to-house fighting. A party of a dozen Middlesex and Volunteers held the main office building until it burned over their heads. Part of the fighting centered round a derelict omnibus in King’s Road, the so-called Battle of the Bus. It was here that Pte. T. E. (‘Tam’) Pearce told Paterson that he would as soon be killed under a bus rather than be roasted alive inside a burning building, and ‘at the time there seemed to be quite a bit in what he said’ not much choice either way. It was here too that after Cpl. R. P. Dunlop and Ptes. V. Sorby, Pearce and J. Roscoe had become casualties, the last man, Pte. G. E. Gahagan, drove off an enemy patrol single-handed, killing the officer and four men with five rounds. Captain J. K. Jacosta was killed and Captain R. G. Burch wounded, but the fight continued until well into the morning of the next day, the 19th, when the enemy completed their mopping up. A few of the Fusiliers managed to get away; Major Paterson with the others surrendered when the ammunition was exhausted and further resistance impossible.”
11 William Boyes’ (HKSRA) grandson-in-law got in touch. 11 Michael Hurst in Taiwan sent me a Word version of Stewart’s ‘Little Red Book’. I’m not quite sure what the provenance is, but it’s useful to have this seminal work available as searchable text. 11 Michael Palmer’s (the grandson of George Palmer, Royal Rifles of Canada) book ‘Dark Side of the Sun’ is being launched in Canada to some acclaim. See http://www.hkvca.ca/store/reading.htm and http://www.themilitarymuseums.ca/lectureseriestopics. Coverage in the major newspapers has already been good, for example: www.calgaryherald.com/life/FAMILY+BONDS/2650769/story.html It can be found at all major Canadian book shops, and of course from the excellent Hong Kong Veteran Commemorative Association web site: www.hkvca.ca 11 Shyama Peebles on Lantau emailed me asking for information about Vincent Thomas Stanley Scott (or possibly Scott-Gordon) – who apparently served in HK just before hostilities, and whose family may have been evacuated from here to Australia in 1940, but unfortunately I was not able to help. 11 My copy of ‘Silks, Satins, Gold Braid and Monkey Jackets’ arrived. As Dave had implied, it was a bit disappointing. If the author had written it ten years earlier, his memories may have been clearer and less obsessed with personal issues. However, this is still a welcome addition to my library.
8 A lady notes: “My mother was in Stanley camp with a Madam who had a ‘house’ in Happy Valley. She was also an American who went by the name of Madame Andree (?). Is there any way of checking this name? My mother knows it was a frenchified 'nom de guerre' like Andree, but we can't be sure.” Can anyone help? (anonymously, if necessary!) 8 John Peacock suggested that this site should have the ability to host audio recordings. It’s not a bad idea, and I will look into it.
7 Barbara Anslow emailed the Stanley Group saying: “Came across these old cuttings of camp drawings by Mr. M. L. Bevan, who was Deputy Director of Air Raid Precautions.” She attached six such drawings that had originally been published in The Illustrated London News of Nov 24, 1945. 7 Ron Taylor (UK) was kind enough to send a photo of Stoker First Class Albert William Archer of HMS Thracian, who was lost on the Lisbon Maru (illustrated). 7 Govier continues: “One of my memories is of the whole unit being told to form a hollow square, near to the Japanese section of the camp. A Lt Col who we knew as ‘scram’ was paraded in front of us by the Japanese, he was bound with barbed wire and made to stand in front of a wall. We were then told to sign a ‘no escape’ document, en masse the unit refused. The Jap officer then shouted ‘open fire’ and a machine gun on fixed lines peppered the wall above the Lt Colonel’s head. The unit was asked again to sign the document, again a unanimous refusal. The unit had a number of lawyers and learned people in it, who explained that as a legally binding document it was meaningless, as it would be taken under duress. All of us then signed the document except one. He was Lt Wiseman (RASC), who adamantly refused to sign it. He was made to wear a sign around his neck for the rest of his internment. The sign said: ‘this man is dangerous’. Ironically what the Japs didn't know, as Wiseman always wore trousers, was that he had a false lower leg (he had showed this to me on a picnic before the war). Had the Japs known they could have taken his false leg off him.” 7 Walking through the cathedral grounds this morning, I took a photo of Maxwell’s completed grave. They’ve done a fine job.
6 Today I was invited to lead a historical tour of St Stephen’s College in Stanley to celebrate the 60th anniversary of St Stephen’s Chapel. We had some 60 people turn up, and took a very enjoyable walk around the grounds and the cemetery. Unfortunately I had to depart a little hurriedly having arranged to meet the visiting daughter of a POW immediately after, but it was a very satisfying afternoon. 6 I mentioned James Hart, RASC, to Mr Govier, and the latter replied: “I remember Jimmy Hart, particularly when we were walking down the gang plank in Southampton, my father who had been a POW in Changi, was waiting for me and asked Jimmy, who was in front of me, if I was onboard.” He continued: “When the Japs had captured HK, Corporal [Paddy Sheridan] was working in the bakery (he was a baker). He was asked to produce his ID and an escort was sent with him to collect it. Paddy concealed his Army ID and instead produced an Irish passport that was in Gaelic. The Jap officer could not understand it and took it away for examination. Some days later a very polite and humble Jap asked to speak to him and told him that as Ireland was neutral, he was free to leave the colony. Paddy sold all the food in the bakery and with the help of Jesuit priests got a ticket to [Macau] after several days in hiding an agent took him to the border with China. He then made his way to Kunming where he was met by an American who took him to the US airbase. He was then flown in a Dakota over the Himalayas to Calcutta where he was repatriated. He was awarded a Military Medal for his efforts.”
5 As I was walking back from work, a tourist stopped me and asked where the mosque on Queen’s Road East was. I showed him, and then realized that not only would it have been on the front line between the cemetery and Mount Parrish, but also that its ruins had featured in a Time/Life photo of 1946. 5 A researcher says: “I have spent many hours recently looking for information about Hong Kong Police Officers 1938 - 1948 and have finally found your site. I wonder if you can help, please. The entry I found, under Hong Kong Police was Fyfe D R, Police Training School (LHT) (103). We are looking for FYFFE David Robert, b 1914, Montreal whose parents were Scottish. I am trying to help a friend, b 1948, Hong Kong, find out about his father who left his wife and newborn son, in Hong Kong, 1948, on the Canada Mail bound for Seattle. His destination, according to the manifest was White Rock, British Columbia. His aunt, Elizabeth Fyffe, travelled from Toronto to Seattle to meet him whilst he was in transit. We have tracked David Fyffe from his arrival in Hong Kong 1938, 1943 manifest to New York on MV Gripsholm from Mormugau, 1944 Halifax to Avonmouth and finally his departure from Hong Kong 1948. His wife and son returned to Dundee, Scotland late 1948 to live with David Fyffe's mother. Tragically his wife died in 1959 and their son was put into a Children's Home. His elderly grandmother died not long after and so he has no way of finding out what became of his father.” This was David Robert Fyffe, a Canadian Police Officer interned in Stanley Camp, and apparently repatriated with the other Canadians in 1943. His wife, Christina Scotland Fraser arrived in Hong Kong 1946.
4 Douglas John Govier’s (RASC) daughter got in touch, with the news that her father is still around. She notes: “[He] is 93 years old. He has often mentioned being assigned to dispose of what he describes as ‘Officers mess treasure’, which he believed rightly or wrongly had belonged to the Indian Army. The treasure was driven away and buried. Some years ago he went back to Hong Kong at the invitation of his Regiment and attempted to locate where he had been told to bury it. Because of the high rise building which have been built since the war he was unable find the spot.” I later heard from the man himself: “Just prior to being captured I was attached to the 2/14 Punjab Rifles maintaining Bren gun carriers and other vehicles. I was based on Kowloon Island. On the 15th or 17th of December 1941 I was instructed to load numerous boxes onto a 2 1/2 ton Dodge lorry, one of the boxes contained 2 large Ming Vases. I was told that they had been taken from the Temple of Heaven by the regiment during the Boxer rebellion, there were numerous other very heavy boxes, but I did not know the content, it took 2 of us to move them. Also were the Regimental colours, the poles were so long I had to cut them in order to shorten them. I was instructed to take them to Murray Barracks, [Hong Kong Island.] I had been informed the load was from the officers’ mess of the Punjab Riles, who had formerly been with the East India Company. I was informed that all of the ‘treasure’ was taken by officers under the cover of darkness and buried in an air raid shelter within Murray barracks.” 4 Mike Murray sent me Rod Giddins’ Index Card and MI9 questionnaire. Interesting to read the first mention I’ve seen (in these) of who opened the hatch of Number 3 Hold of the Lisbon Maru to let the gunners out. 4 Dave Deptford: “Odd subject, title refers to a book ' Silks, Satins, Gold Braid and Monkey Jackets ' by Jim Shepherd, HKP 1928 - 1950, ISBN 1 85821.342.8 Pentland Press 1996. Shepherd was interned in Stanley.” Shepherd was a policeman. I will have to find a copy.
3 The Revd Dr Peter Howson Minister of Inverness Methodist Church emailed me to say: “One of my congregation celebrated his 90th birthday yesterday. He was a survivor of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru. My interest is that I was Senior Chaplain British Forces Hong Kong 1990 - 1992 and thus had the privilege of leading services to mark the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Pacific War.” This turned out to be Fred Keel. Howson continued: “Originally A Coy he was transferred to the Mortar Platoon in HQ Coy. He tells me that they never fired a round. He believes that another survivor, Gordon Urquhart, is also in Inverness but is confined to a nursing home and in very poor health.” 3 I normally don’t mention it on this site, but I get quite a few queries about non-Hong Kong wartime affairs. Today’s was about Dorothy Mary Disney. Through Greg Leck’s excellent work ‘Captives of Empire’ I was able to answer that she was a missionary with the ‘Society for Propagation of the Gospel’ at Yungtsing. She entered Weihsein Camp (northern China) in March 1943.
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February Images Papers of Muhammad Anwar, Gunner 7986 HKSRA (courtesy Fatima Bibi), Japanese 75mm cartridges (courtesy Craig Mitchell), Witham letter (courtesy Ron Rakusen) C Battery (courtesy James Walker), George Harris (courtesy Diana Morrison), Kriloff's papers (courtesy Cyril Martin) Simpson letter (courtesy Margaret Simpson), Walsh headstone at Stanley (author), Yokohama cemetery (courtesy Christopher Garvie)
February News I don't know why it is that significant finds of artefacts from the war have such an effect on me, but for some reason nothing provides the same buzz as something that turns up having lain on the hills since the day it was used nearly 70 years ago. So in a month that saw some very significant new contacts and information, it was a friend's find of Japanese artillery shell cases (in an area that I had advised he might fruitfully look) that took the biscuit. And for a month that I had expected to be quiet, this update is close to the 2,500 words that I - arbitrarily - chose as a maximum. 28 Walked past Private Maxwell's grave outside the cathedral this morning. Although the fence has gone, it has a nice granite border and black stones are packed around the original headstone. They've done a nice job. 27 Dennis Winter's (HKRNVR) daughter got in touch. 26 Eric Hall's (2 Coy HKVDC) daughter got in touch. She notes: "My father passed away in 1999, aged 84, having worked in Hong Kong after the war, Canada and Mexico, finally settling in Scotland again in 1962 where he continued to work as a Chartered Accountant until he died. (Not bad for someone who was told he would never work again after the war and was given a small pension!)" Hall's parents were interned at Weihsein Camp in China. 26 Alasdair Orr, whose grandfather Captain Anthony Atkinson served in HK with the HKSRA, sent this video interview of Alistair Urquhart. While not directly related to Hong Kong, it's worth a look: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8534000/8534377.stmAlso, the Adam Park project in Singapore is proceeding well: http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/battlefieldarchaeology/centreprojects/singaporewwiiproject/. And staying outside Hong Kong, Paul Riches was kind enough to tell me about his and Jonathan Moffat's new book, a history of the Malayan/Singapore volunteers: 'In Oriente Primus'. This is a history of the Malayan and Singapore Volunteers from their 19th century inception to 1945. "It includes a comprehensive biographical roll of European World War 2 Volunteers and a roll of awards of the Efficiency Decoration & Medal, The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration & Long Service Medal, Orders & Decorations, Mention in Despatches (WW1 & WW2), Jubilee & Coronation medals, supplemented by previously unpublished period photographs." The HKVDC's motto, not dissimilarly, was 'Nulli Secundus in Oriente'. 24 Arthur Gee's (HKRNVR, MTB Escape) daughter got in touch. 24 Rob Weir notes: "Had a look at PB 33 last Sunday. It is still there, at the northern end of the beach, but within a Watersports compound. Appears to be intact. The LL Shelter is about 75 metres away at the back of the beach, near some housing. It is intact but blanked off. Unusual that they are so far apart." 22 Herbert Slaytor's (of the Lisbon Maru) daughter was kind enough to pass me that bad news that her father passed away yesterday morning: "My brother Robert and sister Terry were at his side when he peacefully slipped away. His cremation will be held on Friday at 11.15. Right up to the end he took an enormous interest in things and people around him.I wanted to thank you for bringing to light that part of his history previously left unacknowledged. He was profoundly moved that someone had cared enough to write about that time." 22 Cyril Martin sent me a unique cache of information on his relative, Constantine Kriloff (also known as Alexander Kennedy), who was a Sub Inspector in the HK Police and clearly had a very interesting career in intelligence during the remainder of the war (having been in Singapore, and escaped, at the time of the Japanese attack). 22 Following a discussion about the number of Russians who were in, or passed through, Hong Kong just before the invasion, Margaret Simpson was kind enough to send an account of her mother's experiences, and a photo of her (illustrated). 22 Alison McEwan notes that Ken and Jill Attwell's daughter Pippa is still around. I shall invite her to join the Stanley discussion group, as people have been asking about the family. 21 George Harris' (RN, Lisbon Maru) great niece got in touch, kindly sending several photos, newspaper cuttings, and letters. She also notes that: "we have a small steel yacht, 'Ganga Devi' that was in Hong Kong harbour from about 1936 until she was sailed back to the UK in the 1960s". (Ron Taylor kindly cleaned up one of the photos of Mr Harris). 20 Today we received a Chinese New Year greeting card from Dennis Morley of Lisbon Maru fame. He never, ever, forgets. For some reason, the arrival of that card always cheers me up. 18 Temporary Colonel Lanceray Newnham GC's (Middlesex Regiment and Command and Staff) great grandson got in touch. This, naturally, is one of the families I have been keenest to contact. 17 I had advised a friend to search in a certain rough area if he wanted to find remains from the war. He did so over the Chinese New Year holidays and made one of the best finds I have ever seen! Caches of Japanese 37mm (Type 94) and 75mm (Type 41) shell cases in decent condition. When these things are found, it is vital to note where and to record the headstamp. This information is of great benefit to researchers, so I ask that all such finds be reported. Note: I do not recommend using metal detectors on Hong Kong's battlefields as there is just too much unexploded ordnance still around. In Germany - where they have had to become experts - they reckon they will have to stop trying to defuse certain types of ordnance as early as next year, as the passing years have made them dangerously unstable. 17 Michael Hurst in Taiwan asked about: "Williams, Hugh H. Master Merchant Navy SS Henry Keswick Died 01.01.4545 Manila - I.E.9 - [Possibly Hofuku Maru and died in Manila but I wonder how he would have got on the Hofuku Maru which sailed out of Singapore if he was based in HK?]" Buried in Hong Kong, Williams was on my books. However, a little research showed that in fact the tug SS Henry Keswick (although based in Hong Kong) transported supplies to Corregidor and was shelled and sunk at North Dock there. Williams must have passed away in Manila and been reinterred in HK post-war. 16 On the second day of the Chinese New Year holiday I visited Will Newman at St Stephen's College Stanley to finalise the route for our historical tour of the school grounds on March 6. How sad to see Bungalow B's garage - the home of the Murray family of a father and three sons during internment - rotting away. It should be a museum in itself. I also borrowed my older son's camera to take photos of two graves for families who have been in contact recently. I really must upgrade; my 4 megapixel brownie was all the rage in about 1432. 16 Joe Yip sent me this: http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/volunteer411225. My Chinese reading skills aren't what they should be, but it was nice to see the photos of the Japanese pillboxes in the NTs. 14 Received a very welcome email (see last month) saying: "William Valentine Field was my great grandfather's brother so would Love to get in touch with the researcher mentioned below." 13 Margaret Simpson sent some wonderfully atmospheric photos of her mother and herself in Sydney and elsewhere after the evacuation from Hong Kong. 13 Good old Roger Mansell was kind enough to forward an email from John Carter's (RN) family, seeking more information about him. I confirmed that he was a Lisbon Maru survivor, and our friends in Japan confirmed he was at Osaka #1B. 10 Peter Devaney's (RE) great nephew got in touch, sending some high resolution photos of Devaney's grave, and the Yokohama cemetery as a whole. 10 Received an email from a lady wanting to know if Temp. Col. Lanceray Newnham GC had any surviving relatives. 9 Donald Anderson's (3 Coy, HKVDC) family got in touch. 8 Tim Hoffman, with whom I discussed Victor Needa (or Repulse Bay Hotel fame) the other day, noted that his mother said: "I spoke to Joan Zirinsky this afternoon and she does indeed remember Victor Needa though she didn't know him well. His second wife owned a flower shop in HK - Jeanette's Flowers?" 8 I was pleased to hear from Bob Tatz again. He served in the Merchant Navy with a Frank lee (see last month), but I believe this is a different gentleman. 8 In discussions with Margaret Simpson, an issue that has been in the verge of my consciousness for several years surfaced. Is there no decent research on the pre-war Russian community in Hong Kong? A huge number of people took the Harbin/Shanghai route after the revolution; many eligible young Russian women married British servicemen, businessmen, and policemen. There must have been quite a story. 8 Oatway family researchers contacted me about Louis Hillesden Oatway of Stanley camp, who died 4-May-1943 but has no known grave. I hadn't noticed this anomaly before. Why was he not buried in Stanley? They would be interested to learn more about is family: "he was born 1893 in St. Germans, Cornwall and was married to Olive Small. He had 2 daughters Pauline b. abt. 1921 in Hong Kong I presume and Hazel b. 1927. I just found Olive Oatway's death and that was Mar qtr 1948, age 52 at Newton Abbott, Devon. So it looks like all Louis H D Oatway's family left Hong Kong and went back to live in Devon, England. So that pretty much ties up the family and what happened to them." 7 Max Holroyd sent me a letter from prior historian Tim Carew to his father (of escape and BAAG fame), together with the BAAG crest. 7 John Walsh's (HKPF) grandson got in touch. Greg Leck notes Mr Walsh's cause of death as heart attack. I took a photo of the grave for the family. Walsh's son and daughter were evacuated from Hong Kong in 1940. 6 Fatima Bibi from Pakistan sent me a good set of documents from her late husband's HKSRA career. 6 William Simpson's (HKVDC) daughter got in touch, sending some good photos of a matchbox cover that he made and inscribed. She was also in the 1940 evacuation, so I am doubly glad to be in contact. She found some letters that placed Williams in the Field Engineers, so I have moved him there from 'unallocated'. 5 George Chown's (RA, Lisbon Maru) nephew got in touch. 5 Isabella Palmer's website dedicated to Eddie Hyndman is ready: http://eddiehyndman.yolasite.com/ 5 Robert Painting's (Middlesex, Lisbon Maru) niece got in touch. She is looking for a photo of Mr Painting, if anyone has one. 4 Between us, Ron Rakusen and I managed to track down Witham's son in the UK. Ron found this article http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4401660.pdf and a few other bits and pieces, and I used my 'dark web' (is that the right term these days?) knowledge to make the connection. 4 Henry Ching told me that sad news that Norman Broadbridge (commander, reporting to Field, of PB2 on Jardine's Lookout) passed away just before Christmas. 3 Muhammad Anwar's (Gunner 7986, HKSRA) wife was kind enough to make contact from Pakistan! Very exciting, as this is the first such contact I have had. 2 In response to a request for a photo of PB33, James Walker sent a set of excellent photos of other sites of wartime importance (Round Island - where Thracian ran aground, and C Battery at Bluff Head - Hok Tsui). 2 A friend found, on the Internet, a unique Masonic plaque. It features five names: Bell, Fred Walter - WOII, RASC Bull, Edward Arthur - Sergeant, RAOC Shepherd, Douglas John - Driver, RASC Tappenden, Henry R. - Private, HKVDC Greenberg, Walter W.- Sapper, HKVDC 'Dingy' Bell, of course, is the gentleman whose profusely illustrated diary turned up unexpectedly last year. 2 Rob Weir notes that I forgot to mention one very important thing when lecturing at HKIS in Tai Tam last month � that the school itself is built on the site of the Red Hill 4.5-inch howitzer battery! 2 Ron Rakusen, the letter expert, noticed last month's story about Whitham, and wondered if he had anything to do with Witham the tea advisor to the Chinese Government. There's no connection as far as I can see. Witham and his wife and son stayed in Stanley till liberation. 1 Margaret Martin sent a photo of a mess tin that was auctioned last year. It belonged to Sergeant Charles Goddard of the Middlesex, and has been decorated with the name of Goddard and ten men, under the caption 'PB33'. Clearly Goddard was in command of this pillbox, and the others are the crew. Charles Goddard was on the third draft of POWs from HK to Japan, and survived. Reginald Pennick was on the second draft, the Lisbon Maru, and died when it was sunk by a US submarine. John Funnell survived the Lisbon Maru, but died at Kobe POW camp soon after (beri beri). Frederick Gentry died on the Lisbon Maru William Pope survived the Lisbon Maru and the war Webster? Unfortunately there were three Websters in the battalion, and I can't work out which this was Arthur Francome was on the fifth draft to Japan and survived the war. Richard Morley was on the first draft to Japan and survived the war Louis Remerdied of grenade wounds sustained near PB 29 (after PB33's crew retired to Stanley). Donald Ridden died on the Lisbon Maru Harry Wilderspin survived the Lisbon Maru and died at Kobe camp (also beri beri). PB33 is still there, according to Rob Weir at "one end of To Tei Wan beach, with the LL Shelter at the other. This is on the west coast of the D'Aguilar Peninsular on the northern end of the enormous quarry", though I don't have a photo to hand. 1 Vincent Young's (also Yeung's) family kindly sent a copy of a letter from Auchinleck to Young commending the latter's gallantry in the field. 1 TK notes that he has the same photo of the cars at Magazine Gap from a Japanese news agency. It is dated Dec 28, and captioned: "DAMAGED BRITISH ARMY MOTOR CARS WHICH FAILED TO ESCAPE HEAVY BOMBARDMENT NEAR VICTORIA BATTERY". As Victoria Battery was obsolete well before the war, and was on the location now occupied by the Vice Chancellor's Lodge at HKU, this can be taken with a pinch of salt. Proving yet again that he has more comprehensive files on 1941 Hong Kong than anyone else, he also provided letters that both the late Arthur Gomes and I wrote to the South China Morning Post about Maxwell's grave in 1993!
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January Images Knocked out cars (courtesy Tim Ko), James McDade (courtesy Robert McCluskey), MTB11's Crew (courtesy Bill Lake) Jackie Anderson (courtesy David Stamp), Banham & Harpers (courtesy Canadian Consulate), 'Roddy' Mayer (courtesy Peter Mayer) Maxwell then (author), Maxwell now (author), RNYP (courtesy Elizabeth Lai)
January News I realised while compiling this month’s updates, that at some point last year this website must have celebrated its tenth birthday. I don’t think I kept a note, but as far as I recall it started as just a one-page site and an email address in 1999. In a related milestone, this month brings the total number of words written in the monthly updates to over 100,000 – so anyone reading since the first (in October 2003) has read the equivalent of a whole book for free! All praise to the Interweb. Interesting that the first month of 2010 should result in finding three more veterans of Hong Kong. A good omen, perhaps. 31 Received a very interesting photo from Rob Weir of expended ammunition he has found on his walks. Two are clearly .303, one is a post war 7.62 blank, one a Japanese 7.7 and one – wait for it – is an American 30 spare six (30 06)! The latter is a bit of a mystery. Interestingly, it is identical – and exchangeable – with the Japanese 7.7. 28 The Seraphina/Borosoff family (Stanley internees) got in touch. 27 Vincent Young’s (RA, BAAG, Force 136) family got in touch with the news that Mr Young is still around and active! 26 Very interesting and useful meeting today with Hong Kong University Press to talk about projects old and new. 25 John ‘Jackie’ Anderson’s (RA, Lisbon Maru) nephew got in touch, with a photo of Anderson and a copy of the last postcard he sent home from Shamshuipo before the fatal voyage. 25 Andre Xavier’s (HKVDC) nephew-in-law got in touch with the news that Mr Xavier is still around. 25 Bill Lake sent two very welcome photos of Collingwood and MTB11’s crew, received from Nigel Collingwood. 24 About 30 people (and a dog) turned up for the first Hong Kong Club walk of the year. We chose the Violet Hill to Deepwater Bay route, and despite the misty weather it was a lot of fun. I was able to tell Jim Hart’s (Royal Army Service Corps, RASC – note the mistake referred to below) story of survival, after he was bayoneted on our path and swam to Chung Hom Kok before walking back to Victoria. 24 Stewart Braga was kind enough to send two pages from the ‘Reports of Proceedings’ of HMAS Mildura (see October 19). This seems to clarify and confirm our conjecture that Mildura was the first vessel into Hong Kong harbour at liberation. 24 Dennis Morley mentioned an interesting article in The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/6951709/Japan-raises-POW-hopes-by-opening-wartime-archives.html 23 Had an enquiry from Carol Cooper of COFEPOW, about Lt. Cmdr. Hugh Dawes DSO, OBE.23 From the FEPOW community I hear that at a function in Kanchanaburi on the 15th the Queen of the Netherlands (via her Ambassador in Thailand) decorated Rod Beattie with the "Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau" for his years of work in researching and helping all families connected with the Thai-Burma Railway, including the 17,000 Dutch POWs involved, 2,700 of whom died. Good for Rod. My work looks very small-scale and amateur by comparison. 23 The Batgung boys note that their article http://gwulo.com/node/5187 mentions a Mr Forsyth. A little research showed that this was no other than the commander of 2 Coy HKVDC who perished at Stanley Police Station (you know, the Wellcome Supermarket) on Dec 24 1941. 22 Archie Hart pointed out that I had committed the dastardly crime of calling his father (Jim Hart) a member of the RAOC! He was, of course, RASC. Archie notes: “He will be 94 on Tuesday, he is off to Dublin Wednesday, he will be there for 2 weeks.” 22 Was delighted to receive a letter from Taffy Evans of the Middlesex. He’s not getting around so easily these days, but his handwriting is still better than mine ever was! 19 A fellow researcher wants a second try at tracking down Ellen Field’s family. She notes: “I am searching for information on Frank and Ellen Lee (nee Field) and their family. Their daughters were Virginia Jane Lee born Hong Kong about 1934, (known as Junie), Carolyn Janet born Hong Kong about 1936 (known as Barbie) and Wendy Judith born Hong Kong about 1939. Frank Lee seems, (and I presume his family), to have returned to Hong Kong after the end of WW2 as I find him on passenger lists travelling between H.K. and England classified as a Marine Engineer. Frank Lee and his father-in-law William Valentine Field were interned at Shamshuipo Camp for the duration of the occupation and Ellen Lee (Field) was a bit of a heroine over the supplies she managed to get allowed into this camp. She wrote a book entitled Twilight in Hong Kong which was published in 1960.” 17 Walking down to the town today I noticed that the railings around Private Maxwell’s grave outside the cathedral have gone, and a new CWGC headstone has been erected. I always used to joke that if they ever tried to move that grave I would chain myself to the railings, so was a little miffed to see them gone! Let’s see how it goes. If people trample over the area, we can petition Mr Chynchen to have the railings replaced. At IFC, on the same walk, I found the ‘Conserving Central’ exhibition. It is, quite frankly, bizarre. Apparently the ‘Murray Building’ (the late 60s block which becomes obsolete on the opening of the new Government HQ down at Tamar) is part of the conservation. It’s nice to see the French Mission mentioned, but it was never part of the typical look and feel of old Victoria (whereas the Pedder Building, which is the only building left that typifies pre-war Central, isn’t mentioned at all). The exhibition seems concerned solely with buildings belonging to the government – oddly enough, the very organisation that permitted all the old ones to be demolished! 15 Isabella Palmer, daughter of George Palmer, HKVDC, notes: “In December sometime Dad and his driver with Eddie in the back were in the staff car and travelling on one of the Hongkong roads (I have a memory it was on Magazine Gap Road) when a Japanese airplane dived on them and dropped a bomb. The bomb hit the car and Dad and the Driver survived unhurt, but Eddie was closer to where the bomb hit the car in the back and was mortally injured. He died about a week later in hospital and the doctor said to my great Uncle Dolly: This is the saddest day of this war, a soldier of 15 has been killed.” Eddie was Eduardo (Edward) Hyndman who joined up at 15 lying about his age, and – oddly enough – was one of the names corrected on my site by Henry. He was admitted to the War Memorial Hospital on Dec 20 and died on the 31st. They were strafed too, so I suspect the car is the more distant one – more like a staff car - in that well known photo from the Mainichi Shimbun. Tim Ko was kind enough to provide a copy. The hillock in the background looks to me like the spur off Mt Gough where the Japanese War Memorial was later built, in which case this is near the top of Magazine Gap Road. Anyone got ant better ideas? 15 Donald Tait’s (Middlesex Regiment) nephew got in touch. Tait was one of the ‘hard men’ on the first draft to Japan, and is still around, living in Great Ayton. 15 Peter Mayer sent a set of very interesting photos and sketches of his father, who commanded the Hong Kong Chinese Regiment. The sketches appear to have been by Lieutenant Percy John Poole of the 2/14 Punjabis, whose work I have not seen before. 14 Jill Shull, who I met at HKIS, was kind enough to tell me of an experiment that her husband’s uncle – a conscientious objector – was involved in. Clearly this had ramifications for the later American RAPWI efforts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Starvation_Experiment 14 The Canadian Consulate was kind enough to send a fine gift and a memorial DVD and CD from last month’s ceremony. The CD only included one photo of me (pointing out Osborn’s name, with the prime minister and wife), but at least they got my best side. 13 James Whitham’s (HKVDC, Middlesex, Lisbon Maru) family got in touch. Whitham’s widow (maiden name Beatrice Brouwer) is still around. Their son was born just before the war, and being American, mother and son were repatriated from Stanley in June 42. The boy died in a tragic drowning accident, and Whitham was lost on the Lisbon Maru. His widow remarried, and their daughter (who contacted me) is married to the penultimate commander of British forces in Hong Kong. 13 Today I was invited to speak to the combined Year 7 at Hong Kong International School in Tai Tam. They have just started covering the Second World War in history, and although focused primarily on Europe, wanted a little local context. You can learn all you need to know about a school in an hour with 225 of their pupils – and it was all good. 13 Henry d'Assumpcao gave me some useful corrections to typos of Macanese names on this site. I will add these to the bulk correction I intend doing later this year (more on this next month). 12 A lady translating an old Chinese memoir is looking for anything about a company in Japanese occupied Hong Kong called 東榮公司 (probably Dung Wing Company), or two brothers in charge of it: Ho Ban-Gaail 何品階 and Ho Sung-Gaail 何崇階. 8 Received a parcel from George Kelling in the States, with the RASC War Diary, a copy of the Hong Kong News for Wednesday January 14 1942 – the first edition, I believe - and some very useful notes on the Hong Kong Chinese Regiment. It never ceases to amaze, that once I focus on a particular topic, details immediately flow from unexpected sources. 8 Started, today, writing up a short history of the Hong Kong Chinese Regiment. I have had this in mind for a long time, since receiving some photos of the unit ten years (or so) ago, but it is one of the many details I need to sort out before committing fully to the British Army Aid Group story. 6 Good to see the HERO party in the news: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=92665&sid=26603822&con_type=1&d_str=20100106&fc=4 5 Walked back from work to notice all the doorways (aside from those bricked or concreted in) of the Air Raid Shelters under Mount Parrish open. Stopped at the upper tunnel on Kennedy Road to get a quick photo with the camera phone. The guard had the decency to look the other way, but I was surprised how steeply the floor dropped away (a recipe for disaster if people panicked at the entrance). (Illustrated). 4 Having, sadly, missed the HERO event, at least today I was able to have lunch with Richard Hide, the catalyst and mastermind for the whole thing. The re-enactment was clearly a great success, having done everything that it had set out to achieve. Ted Ross’s (Ministry of Information) son Warrick – himself a well-known film director – filmed the whole thing, so hopefully later there will be a documentary. Two other people on the trip are writing books about their ancestors who were part of the original escape. Local historian Phillip Snow was also present, so my guess is that this admirable venture will be well documented. 3 Robert McCluskey sent me some very good photographs of James McDade (see last month). 2 Set off with a friend on Jardine’s Lookout, to try to establish exactly where Osborn was lost. It’s not something that would stand up in a court of law, but a deep trench (which shows up clearly in an immediately post-war aerial photo) just past the cairn seems a very logical place. 2 Elizabeth Lai sent me two more photos of the RNDYP (again dated from around 1950, and taken on Stonecutters). These showed the entire complement, rather than just the European officers. 2 Frank Molthen’s (Stanley Internee) great niece got in contact. 1 Although I sent my Hong Kong Dockyard Defence Corps history to the RAS on Dec 31, I’m still trying to correctly annotate an immediate post-war photo of the related Dockyard Police. With input from various families, we’re making progress!
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December Images Saiwan with PM (courtesy Canadian Consulate), Osborn grandchildren & Lake (courtesy Bill Lake), Saiwan (courtesy Bill Lake) Wendy at cairn (author), Lunch at Consul General's residence (courtesy Canadian Consulate), Argyle Street (courtesy Bevan Field's family) HERO group photo (courtesy Richard Hide), Thomas Coupar (courtesy Stewart Yohn), Bevan & Butts (courtesy David Bevan)
December News
I don’t think any other battlefield has quite the same relationship with Christmas as Hong Kong. Those who went through the experience of invasion on December 8th through to surrender on the 25th have a different slant on the festive season to the rest of us, and it echoes down even in the 21st century, with visits, memorial services, and recollections which always make this the busiest month of the year.
31 Richard Hide sent some photos from the HERO escape re-enactment, including a group photo taken within feet of where the famous group photo was taken in 1942. (See the top of this page: http://www.hongkongescape.org/Escape_09.htm).
28 With the help of David Kohl and Laura Ziegler, we have this snippet on one of those Americans who survived Stanley but passed away soon after. It is a strange thing for me to read, as I visit Redwood City at least four times a year and never think of it in this context: "Walter Arndt remained in (HK) with the same company (Dollar Steamship/American President Lines) from 1924 until the Japanese took Hong Kong in Dec. 1941. He was then interned in the Stanley Peninsula concentration camp at Hong Kong. In 1942, he was returned to the States on the Swedish Steamer Gripsholm... Mr Arndt's life came to an end on Oct 8, 1943, at Redwood City, CA. He had been severely weakened by his experiences as a Japanese prisoner." - Albert Ziegler, ‘Biographical Sketches of LC-MS Mainland China Missionaries’ 1981, unpublished.
27 A distant relative of the Mitchell brothers (Winnipeg Grenadiers, killed at Wong Nai Chung Gap) got in touch. While looking through Field’s diary of the actions there (he spoke well of the Mitchells) I realized I had never done anything sensible with the various photos of POWs that are included.
24 The HERO adventure started today. We were in the Philippines and thus missed it, but I will report in more depth next month.
22 David Bevan was kind enough to send a photo of his father Ivor (standing) and Ivor’s friend Trevor Butts. He notes: “Regarding Trevor's death my two sisters also remember my Dad saying he was killed in an explosion (nothing left) I suspect as I said in a previous mail that it was probably a shell.” Photos of those lost in the battle are very uncommon. 22 I received an interesting email from a gentleman whose mother was evacuated from Tientsin (where her father served with the Durham Light Infantry). While I now have a fair amount of detail on the Hong Kong evacuation, and the earlier Shanghai evacuation (as the latter was via Hong Kong), I can find very little on Tientsin.
20 Steve Verrals mentioned a new book called Forgotten Regiments: Regular and Volunteer Units of the British Far East by Barry Renfrew. Looks interesting.
19 Dave Manning was kind enough to send me a copy of Major Stewart’s (3 Coy, HKVDC) war diary. I had seen the original many years ago, but hadn’t thought to take a copy.
18 William Campbell’s (HKPF, Lisbon Maru) family got in touch.
17 Michael Palmer, the grandson of George Palmer, Royal Rifles, let me know that the book about his grandfather’s experience in the battle, and as a POW at Shamshuipo, and Omine is now available at: http://www.borealispress.com/darksideofthesun.html. To the best of our joint knowledge, this is the first published work that focuses on Omine. 17 The Stanley Group were all saddened to hear of the passing of Doris Ziegler Hake. Born in 1929, she was one of the few Americans from Stanley (aside from Don Ady and Laura Louise Ziegler Darnell) still in contact. 17 Heard today from Dave Manning, who left that ‘lunchbox’ at the Osborn cairn. I knew the name seemed familiar; we were corresponding a few years ago!
14 Patricia Osborn is out of hospital. I took two hours off at lunch today, and met her and Wendy at the Conrad Hotel to view the Osborn Statue at Hong Kong Park (illustrated). After that, we went to Wanchai Gap. I was trying to think of a part of Hong Kong that Osborn VC would certainly have traversed, and Black’s Link from Wanchai Gap to Middle Gap was an obvious choice. First we saw the remaining Splinter-Proof Shelters at Wanchai Gap, and then I pushed Patricia’s wheelchair (after all, she only left the ICU a few days ago) up Black’s Link. Patricia was of course very badly hurt in an accident just before her father left for Hong Kong, and was a year in hospital. That accident also cost her an eye, and she has had other problems with vision since. Walking up that road, trying to describe the vegetation and views that her father saw 68 years ago on the march to his death, opened my eyes to them in a new way.
12 Barbara Anslow always sends a Christmas 1941 email at around this time. Here’s an excerpt from this year’s: “That day, 'Christmas' was the last thought in our minds; since the attack on 8th December, the days no longer had names and there were no weekends, every one worked every day; that done, you went to your designated cafe for a meal, then back to your billet - mine was in Dina House, Duddell Street, just off Queen's Road Central. My Mother was nursing and living in the Jockey Club war hospital; sister Olive with Food Control Dept in Central and living in Gloucester Hotel; sister Mabel a VAD in the Military Hospital. I had breakfast in the Parisienne Grille about 7am before trotting up Battery Path to work in the administration tunnel beneath Govt House which I entered through the entrance opening into Lower Albert Road. I never spent unnecessary time out in the open because of sporadic shelling from Kowloon. There was nothing that morning to show it was Christmas Day - no presents, no cards: I couldn't even get to Church. We knew the Japanese troops were swarming over the island and getting nearer to us in Central, and that the battle 'front' was shortening all the time, yet somehow seemed to accept it as happening without realising the consequences. During the morning, a male colleague in the tunnel who had a camera with him got a few of us to go outside where he took some snaps; after the war the film was developed and showed us looking serene and happy - I think this was because the men kept light-hearted and made us laugh.” 12 Geoff Emerson today kindly sent me Anderson’s report of the radio affair at Stanley.
11 Through the kind help of Ron Taylor (UK), Hubert Rees’ (BAAG) family got in touch. Here’s an amazing thing: They sent a photo of Hubert and two of his friends standing in front of a building. On the back it said: ‘Tayport S.C.” Within twenty minutes I had found a modern photo of the same building and had it identified; whatever did we do before the Interweb?
10 Lee sent an amazing document, the post-war report of Charles Mycock (headmaster of the Ellie Kadoorie School – see November). Mycock was headquartered at Woodside while Commandant of the Taikoo Braemar Dispersal Area for Refugees (which included the famous concrete rice kitchens which are still there). Now finally I know what happened there, and on the road from Quarry Gap to Quarry Bay. A real find. Interestingly, Mycock wrote it in 1945 while recuperating at Lower Hutt. The Hutt Valley was the first part of New Zealand I ever visited. 10 Still getting Google alerts about the Lisbon Maru song by those damn F—k Buttons. I went to HMV to buy it the other day, but they didn’t have it.
9 Rob Weir notes: “In an Admiralty document I found a report from Cicala on daily activities. In it they passed through the Rambler Channel and anchored in Gin Drinkers Bay, and were in voice contact with PB 414. As I have never pinned down the position of 414, it at least gives me something to work on. The same report gives some detail of the AA defences around the Naval Dockyard, again, interesting reading.” Those AA details were also very useful for my Short History of the HKDDC.
8 The grandson of Sergeant Thomas Coupar, Royal Scots (a Lisbon Maru survivor) sent some fine photos. 8 Had a brief interview today with ‘Golden Age Magazine’, whose target demographic is the retired, and whose focus for the interview was the HERO activity which starts at the end of the month.
7 Having arranged to meet Osborn’s grandchildren (Wendy and Teeay), on Jardine’s Lookout, I arrived there just as a gale started driving rain through the hills. As they had to visit their mother in hospital first, I was a bit damp by the time they arrived! The good news was that Patricia had been operated on and was recovering nicely. They were full of praise for Hong Kong’s medical professionals, expressing the possibility that the treatment had been faster and better than that they might have had at home. We trooped up the hill to see the Osborn Memorial. They asked exactly where Osborn had lost his life, and I described that although the VC citation said Mount Butler, it was all but certain that he had been lost on Jardine’s Lookout, and that there was a cairn marking the approximate place. I also mentioned that the path to it was treacherous, steep, slippery and not-recommended; they set off for it immediately, leaving me floundering around in their wake. We did a bit of restoration work on the cairn, now fully exposed to the wind and rain, when to my horror I saw that someone had dumped an old lunchbox in it. Before I could do anything sensible, they had seen it. But when we opened it, inside there was no mouldy half-eaten sandwich but a waterproof visitors’ book, a pen, and a letter inviting the reader to sign in memory of Osborn, and A & D Coys, Winnipeg Grenadiers. It made the day. After a shower and a change, we all met up at the Canadian Consul General’s official residence for a fine lunch with His Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. 7 William Wigglesworth’s (RAMC) son got in touch. Being a medic, Wigglesworth was sent to Japan and ended up in Omori at liberation. I suspect he was at one of the other Tokyo-administration camps beforehand, but haven’t yet traced which one. 7 There were some fine photos in the Canadian press this morning. The Canadian Consulate also sent one of the Prime Minister, Dr Dan Waters (who fought in the Western Desert - one of the few regular army WWII veterans in Hong Kong), and Maxi Cheng of the Hong Kong Chindits.
6 At the annual Sai Wan Memorial Service, my ‘special’ role was to brief the visiting Canadian Prime Minister on the battle, and the Canadians buried in – or memorialized at – the cemetery. Not many people realize that only 35 of the Canadians buried in that cemetery under their own name were killed in the fighting. More than 220 of their comrades who died in the hills were left there, and although 100 or more of their bodies were eventually recovered, they could not be identified. The remaining 130 or so named Canadians buried at Saiwan died as POWs. I was surprised that the Prime Minister seemed quite aware of this, and his wife spoke knowledgeably of the diseases that the veterans brought home, and often died of young. There’s an old joke in politics: “Sincerity is everything. Once you can fake that, you’re made”, but if this was fake it was Oscar-winning stuff. I was rather impressed (and was told later that his poor wife had been in tears for most of the ceremony).
5 Today I was invited to join the Annual ‘Witness to War’ prize day at the Canadian International School. This recognizes schoolchildren and veterans who work together to record the latters’ experiences. It was an interesting event, but in part I attended in order to meet the Osborn family. As everyone knows, CSM John Robert Osborn, Winnipeg Grenadiers, received the only VC awarded for the Hong Kong battle. I put his daughter, Patricia, in touch with the Canadian Consulate some time back, and they very kindly arranged for her to visit Hong Kong this weekend (with tickets kindly sponsored by Air Canada). I was surprised to see that his two grandchildren were there, but Patricia was not. I was mortified to hear that she had collapsed the day before, and was in hospital.
4 Arthur Bright’s (RN, Lisbon Maru) grandson-in-law got in touch.
3 Thomas Barclay’s (Stanley Internee) granddaughter got in touch.
1 Bill Lake was kind enough to send me this link to a video bio of Frederick Pollock, Royal Rifles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFA7ob_ZRZs 1 Reginald J. Schofield’s (Royal Rifles) grandson got in touch.
Image:
November Images Charlie Collard (courtesy Daniel Collard), 'Best in Japan' (Amazon, via author), Chan Chak's bullet (courtesy Richard Hide) .38 Smith & Wesson (anonymous), Annotated Chindit photo (courtesy Frank Young), View from top of Nicholson (author) Author & Elizabeth Ride (courtesy Mo Ching), Ride's escape coat (author), William Sumner (courtesy Ron Taylor, UK)
November News
DESCENDANTS OF WORLD WAR II HEROES TO COMMEMORATE ESCAPE FROM HONG KONG ON CHRISTMAS DAY In a remarkable example of cooperation between British and Chinese that would not have been possible just a few years ago, this Christmas nearly 100 descendants of those who took part in one of the most thrilling episodes of World War II will gather in Hong Kong to commemorate it. The international group hopes that by honouring those of their families who took part in the escape, they will in a small way be able to build a new phase of Sino-British friendship. See: http://www.hongkongescape.org/index_hk.htm
30 Emma Oxford kindly sent me the blurb above, and continued: “This Christmas, descendants of the 68 men will travel from all corners of the globe to pay tribute to their forefathers and the Chinese who aided them in 1941. Members of fourteen families, representing one in five of the men who survived the escape, will attend commemorative events in Hong Kong and take part in a re-enactment of the escape into China. Families of the 1941 escapers live on four continents – Europe, Asia, America and Australia. Most have never met each other until now. They are first, second and third generation descendants of the escape party, and range in age from toddlers to a 90 year-old, Kathleen Collingwood, who is the widow of Lt. John Collingwood, second-in-command of the MTB flotilla. The commemorations are the fruit of a year’s work by the organisation HERO – the Hong Kong Escape Re-enactment Organisation – which was formed by a group of descendants of those who escaped. HERO has already brought together individuals who had long been fascinated by their fathers’ and grandfathers’ stories, but had not known each other. Richard Hide, son of Petty Officer Buddy Hide, began a website ten years ago (www.hongkongescape.org) which has connected many families. In 1997, as a result of an article in Newsweek magazine, Emma Oxford, daughter of Squadron Leader Max Oxford, connected with Chinese-Canadian Anita Li, a daughter of Admiral Chan Chak, the central Chinese figure in the escape. Emma later lived in Hong Kong for two years, and is writing a book about her parents’ wartime experiences. Ann Partridge, Sheena Recaldin and Jane Barclay, the daughters of David MacDougall, Ministry of Information chief in Hong Kong and the territory’s first postwar Colonial Secretary, rekindled a childhood friendship with the Oxford family thanks to Hong Kong historian Philip Snow, whose standard work The Fall of Hong Kong included the story of the escape. Alison McEwan, daughter of Special Operations Executive agent Colin McEwan, met fellow descendants when editing her father’s diary of the escape. These and many other connections spun into a global network, which over the past year has grown to its present strength of 100 members. The events in December will include the opening on December 24th of “Escape from Hong Kong”, a special exhibition which will be hosted by the Museum of Coastal Defence and will be on display for two years. Families have loaned original diaries, letters, photographs and memorabilia to bring the story to life for a wider audience. Often, these personal documents only came to light after the deaths of the family member who had escaped, and they will be seen for the first time in this exhibition. By sharing such diaries and letters, as well as consulting official reports that have recently been declassified, founder members of HERO drew up detailed plans to retrace the steps of their forefathers along a route that had been kept secret for many years. On Christmas Day, close to 100 members of HERO will gather for a private dinner at the Jumbo Floating Restaurant on Hong Kong’s Aberdeen Harbour – at exactly the time and place where, sixty-eight years ago, the escape began under Japanese fire. The following day, the group will set off by boat for the island of Ping Chau and then the coast of Guangdong Province, setting foot on the mainland at the very location of the 1941 landing. There they will be greeted by descendants of the Chinese guerrilla groups that provided food, shelter and invaluable intelligence for the 1941 escape. The HERO group needed special permission to land on the coast of China, which has been granted because HERO is working with Chinese partner organisations to make the re-enactment as accurate as possible – and foster a new phase of Sino-British friendship. The re-enactment will conclude in Huizhou on December 28/29th with a ceremony hosted by HERO, and a group photo of descendants to replicate an iconic 1941 photo of the weary but relieved survivors of the first escape from Hong Kong.”
30 More unhappily, Alan Jordan today let me know that his father Charles (of Lisbon Maru fame) passed away in his sleep on the 28th.
29 Elizabeth Ride came to dinner and we finalised my simple catalogue of her father’s papers in HKU Archives.
28 Alfred Morris’s (civilian internee) granddaughter got in touch. 28 Alex Gerondal’s (civilian internee) adopted son got in touch.
26 Mo Ching from HKU Archives was kind enough to send a set of photographs from my earlier visit to Elizabeth Ride there. Great photos, except that in my new glasses I look just like Ronnie Barker… “And here’s the news…” 26 Murray Doull was kind enough to send two new photos of the Canadian memorial.
25 Daniel Collard sent me some very interesting pages from his father’s wartime diary, and a number of good photos. 25 Richard Hide sent a nice photo of the bullet that hit Admiral Chan Chak during his escape. I last saw the real thing when I visited Donald Chan at his home (a short walk from our house) last year. 25 With the cold weather we’ve had here in the last few days, Barbara Anslow’s words on the Stanley Group today are worth reading: “We did feel the cold at times in Stanley, especially as most of us were sleeping on camp beds, not mattresses. Luckily it was winter when we went in, so most of us were wearing Hong Kong winter clothes, and had a coat or jacket. No bedding was supplied, and most people didn't get the opportunity to return to their homes after the surrender to pick up items suitable for internment. After the surrender but before going to Stanley, the Japs confined most of us in small Chinese hotels around Central. When we were shepherded out of the hotels to sail to Stanley, I (probably in common with many others) pinched the blanket off the bed I'd shared with a school teacher, and wore it bandolier-fashion. I don't remember ever having a pillow or sheets.”
24 I heard again today from the family of CSM John Osborn, VC, who we will be welcoming in Hong Kong very shortly. Looking forward to meeting them! 24 Visited HKU today for a second session with Elizabeth Ride. The guide to Sir Lindsay Tasman Ride’s papers is slowly becoming more complete.
23 Three different people let me know that I am appearing on History Channel in Hong Kong at the moment. This appears to be a documentary I helped ATV with about three or four years ago. I hope it’s not too bad! 23 Bill Lake kindly sent me a CD ROM of photos of the Saiwan Memorial to The Missing. This will be valuable as I am quite often asked for photos of the names of the men commemorated there.
22 Took the Hong Kong Club walkers for their hardest ever historical walk! We started off with 28 people (and two dogs) for the initial walk along Black’s Link, and the trek up Mount Nicholson. The weather couldn’t have been better, and we made good time to the summit. Then down again to Black’s Link, Middle Gap, and Middle Gap Road before trying Cameron. By this time we had already been going for two hours and a few people had to leave, but around 21 of us (and two dogs) made it to the top. Interestingly, not one of the members had ever been to its summit before. Afterwards, Robert Gibson sent some excellent photos he had taken during the walk.
22 Arthur Sully’s (2 Coy, HKVDC) granddaughter got in touch.
21 Jack Pedley’s (RE) grandson got in touch. 21 We now have 31 people signed up for tomorrow’s walk. I admit to being a little nervous, as the path really isn’t up to it. Without doubt this will be the largest party to attempt an assault on Mount Cameron since December 1941. 21 Wilfred Markey’s (RAOC) grandson got in touch. Markey’s wife and daughter were evacuated to Australia pre-war. 21 Charlie Walter Collard’s (RN, Lisbon Maru) sons got in touch.
20 I missed an interesting lecture today, on the history of Union Church. The blurb read: “Union Church in Hong Kong was founded in 1844 by the missionary and sinologist James Legge. This talk will be an illustrated history of the church from its inception to the present day, and will include archive material as well as the personal testaments of people involved in the church, particularly during the Second World War. Dr [Brooke] Himsworth was born in the Hong Kong Stanley Internment Camp in 1943, where his parents were interned. He was raised in Hong Kong and then sent to school in England. After studying at Kings School, Canterbury he attended Sussex University where he read Physics and Mathematics. From there he went to London University and did a masters degree followed by a doctorate in Solid State Physics. He then worked in industry before moving on to higher education. His interest in Union Church was rekindled when he came to Hong Kong in 1987 to work at Lingnan College (now Lingnan University) as Head of the Department of Computer Studies. His parents had been married in Union Church before the war, and he had been christened by the minister in the internment camp. Using the church’s archive material and his own personal material, he wrote a series of articles for the church magazine during 1991 and 1992. This talk will be a pictorial representation of this material. Dr Himsworth is currently engaged in producing a pictorial history of the Stanley Internment Camp. He is married to Patricia and they live in South Cumbria near the Lake District. His hobbies include singing in the local choral society, and climbing mountains.”
17 Visited HKU today to spend a few hours with Elizabeth Ride going through her father’s papers (which I do every time she is in Hong Kong). This time I started writing a guide to them, for myself and other researchers. I also saw the physical artefacts from her father that she had donated – including the coat he war on his escape.
16 Charles Mycock’s (Civilian Internee) grandson got in touch. Mycock was the headmaster at the Ellie Kadoorie School.
12 Frank Young, whose father was in the Chindits, was kind enough to annotate the photo that appeared last month, naming three of those present. 12 I noticed on Amazon today that The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru is their number one best seller in Japan! It took me a few moments to realize they meant the category ‘Japan’ rather than the country…
10 Ron Taylor (UK) kindly sent me a photo of William Sumner, 965 Defence Battery, who was lost on the Lisbon Maru. I believe this is the first photo I have seen of a member of that battery. 10 Ian McNay let me know the sad news today that Brian Bromley had passed away. Brian was a very keen correspondent (I was wondering why I hadn’t heard from him recently) who was evacuated from Hong Kong as a child in 1940 (his father was in the HKDDC). 10 A friend found a live .38 Smith & Wesson round in the Mount Nicholson area. Although occasional .380 automatic and .38 revolver cartridges turn up from time to time, this is the first .38 S&W I have seen. It was found next to a Japanese officer’s whistle.
9 William Anderson’s (BAAG) daughter got in touch. 9 Kung Chong-chow’s (RE) grandson-in-law got in touch.
8 Memorial Sunday. Today Elizabeth Ride had asked me to help her place Osler Thomas’s wreath on the Cenotaph, but fortunately Osler’s daughter flew in from Australia and was able to do this herself with Elizabeth. The ceremony was particularly well attended this year. 8 The Taiwan News ran a short story about Commonwealth War Graves around the area: http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1102573〈=eng_news&cate_img=317.jpg&cate_rss=news_Features
7 Frederick Fooks’s (Royal Engineers) great niece got in contact. 7 James McNie McDade’s (RN) nephew got in touch. McDade is one of just four HMS Hong Kong men in my files. There was a ship under this name in Queen Victoria's navy, and one built in around 1943 for the RN, but nothing in the records in between. I have often wondered if it was a base station - possibly a name for the code-breaking Royal Naval radio facility at Stonecutters Island. Alf Bennett once remarked that he had four radio operators with him at the remains of FECB at Stonecutter’s (after the bulk moved to Singapore). I wonder if these were they? However, to the best of my knowledge Mr McDade and two others were lost on 19 December 1941 in Hong Kong harbour while serving on the Motor Torpedo Boat flotilla. 7 Una Brown, ex-Stanley Internee, passed away today in Melbourne at the age of 95. In Jean Gittins' book "Stanley: Behind Barbed Wire'" she quotes Una as saying: "How I wept for Harold! To think that he had given his life so that we should suffer thus…” . Harold was her husband, Harold Wilson Brown, 4th Battery , HKVDC, who was killed in the fighting.
5 Nelson Mar passed away early this morning. A colourful character who had been a clearance diver for the RN pre-war, he joined BAAG during the war years. The peak of his service was his successful escorting of a shot-down American aircrew from Macau to Allied lines in China. Post-war he lived in Japan for a while, even once playing tennis with the Japanese emperor (he carried a photo of the event as proof). In recent years he was a keen member of the Chinese Recreation Club, and did a great deal to recognize the Chinese rescue of British POWs from the Lisbon Maru. 5 In answer to last month’s query, Dennis Morley notes: “I did meet a Tad Wielandt through Paul Connolly several times. From what I remember he was a great guy but what he did for a living I do not know. I did meet quite a few people through Paul. Happy Days!”
2 Duncan Chan passed away this morning. One of Admiral Chan Chak’s twin sons, he will be greatly missed. His brother and the rest of the family were by his side.
1 George Kotwall’s (HKVDC, BAAG) granddaughter got in contact. 1 In preparation for the next Hong Kong Club walk, I did a reconnaissance of the route from Wong Nai Chung Gap, up Mount Nicholson, then up Mount Cameron. To my surprise, just as I thought surface finds were running out, I found two Japanese 6.5mm rifle cartridges (one illustrated). I had forgotten just how treacherous the path up Cameron is…
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October Images Sprague and friends (courtesy Philip & Jen Burton), Bellamy letter (courtesy Faye Powell), Pillbox (courtesy Glen Swemmer) James Hart (courtesy Archie Hart), Maryknoll, Stanley (Author), Hide letter (courtesy Richard Hide) Poster (courtesy Researching FEPOW History), Evans' book in Japanese (courtesy Tad Hosoi), Sussex Express (courtesy Richard Hide)
October News Needing to find a letter written to me by a member of 2 Coy, HKVDC, in around 2001, I turned to my paper files. Big mistake! I have hundreds of letter sent to me by veterans at around that time, and found item after item that I had not really used or delved into properly. Maps, sketches, descriptions of fellow POWs, of wartime incidents, of people and places which really should not go to waste – but which had arrived at times when I was focused on other things. Perfect motivation, though, for my current ‘secret’ project. 30 Richard Hide sent me an update on the HERO expedition to Hong Kong and China, timed for this Christmas. It seems that everything is going well. I will give as many details as I can in the November News. Meanwhile he included a photo of the 1/24 model of MTB07 which will be featured in the exhibition (illustrated), and a cutting from the Sussex Express of June 5 1942, featuring his parents’ wedding shortly after ‘Buddy’ Hide’s successful escape and return home.For an update on HERO, see here: http://www.hongkongescape.org/Escape_09.htm 30 George Jackman’s (RCOC) nephew got in touch. 29 Elizabeth Ride today passed me the tragic news that Dr Osler Thomas FRACS, DSO, MBE (Mil) (HKVDC, BAAG, Force 136) had passed away due to a reaction to a flu jab. Osler had intended to be in Hong Kong this week, and we were planning to discuss the BAAG history I am working on. 29 Was interviewed today by Associated Press for an article about Sai Wan Cemetery. 29 Received a nice letter from Gordon Fairclough today, who having read Appendix 15 of WSST, reminded me that it was Kane Bush (Lewis Bush’s Japanese wife) who fed him while he was lying wounded in Aberdeen immediately after the surrender. 28 A lucky day in Chinese. Today, Tad Hosoi emailed me to say that: “The Japanese translation of ‘Roll Call at Oeyama’ finally came out in Japan in August. I have attached two photos of the cover. The first one is the frontcover only with a promotional belt at the bottom… The front cover features the Nippon Yakin Oeyama Smelting Plant (and in fact, it also shows the POW camp, if you use a magnifier) and the cover shows the peaks of the Oeyama mountain range. Both the front and back covers have Frank Evans' own handwriting out from his POW diaries. The front cover one is from August 20, 1945 and the back cover one is from December 27/28, 1943 on his way to Japan on the Toyama Maru. The publisher printed 2,000 copies and it has already sold more than 70% of them.” 27 Montague Truscott’s (RCoS, Lisbon Maru) cousin got in touch, From her I learned that although Mr Truscott had been a lowly Corporal at the time of the sinking, he rose to be a Lieutenant Colonel in the Signals! Few people achieved such a rise – especially having sat out the war as a POW, away from the usual fast wartime opportunities for promotion. 26 While going through the old letters referred to above, I found Colonel Kilpatrick’s full War Diary – which concentrates mainly on his experiences in the Taiwan camps. Shame I was too dopey to relocate it while researching WSST!I have offered it to Michael Hurst of the Taiwan Camps. I found this item in my voluminous correspondence with H.W. ‘Bunny’ Browne, CBE, from around 2000, in which were many other great pieces (the funniest, I am sure, being the story of how Captain Harry Badger of the Middlesex – a tough officer, well-respected by the Japanese – was taken one night to their sergeants’ mess just outside Shamshuipo’s wire for a few beers. A ‘few’ beers later, Badger was the only one who hadn’t crawled away to die, and therefore had to break back into his own POW camp!)26 The annual official ceremony in commemoration of those who died in the defence of Hong Kong between 1941 and 1945 was held at the City Hall Memorial Garden. I was invited, but unfortunately could not attend. The Acting Chief Executive, John Tsang, laid a wreath. Senior government officials and representatives from the Judiciary, the Legislative Council and the Executive Council were also present. They were joined by representatives of the various Central People's Government organisations in Hong Kong, members of the consular corps, religious leaders, community dignitaries, former members of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, war veterans' groups, uniformed groups and student groups. 25 Was delighted to hear from Garfield and Fran Kvalheim again. Gar is the last survivor of the crew of USS Grouper who sank the Lisbon Maru. He was of huge help to me when I wrote that book. 25 From Gordon Andreassen: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20091029a4.htmlhttp://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20091024a3.htmland (more amusingly) http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20091024b2.html 22 MANDATORY VIEWING: Seriously, you don’t want to miss this. Watch in HQ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIHTrmz4hTI&feature=channelWe should offer prizes for watchers of this video, perhaps two sets: One for the person who can spot the most sites that still exist (for example, the Cenotaph, the Chinese War Memorial in the Botanic Gardens, the fountain, LegCo, etc.) and one for whoever can spot the most important demolished sites (Eucliffe, Mount Austin Barracks, the old HSBC HQ, the old HK Club, St George’s Building, etc.). It was shot in 1938. Some readers may even be senior enough to recognize some of the people who feature. 21 I have been invited to lead an historic tour of Stanley’s St Stephen’s College grounds in March of next year as part of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of St Stephens’s Chapel. Needless to say, I will be there! 21 Pete Wilson emailed with the sad news that Lial Colbert (her father, Royal Naval Dockyard Police) had passed away on September 12. 19 An old friend from work noted that his father served on the HMAS Mildura – a minesweeper – which was (as far as we can tell) the first vessel to enter Hong Kong Harbour after the Japanese surrender. Thank you Mr James “Jim” Radburn! There should be a memorial here to you and your shipmates. See: http://home.vicnet.net.au/%7Emildura/ 19 It’s time to plan the Hong Kong Club walks for the New Year. I have suggested doing one old favourite and one new route. I have some ideas, but am holding my own council for the moment. 18 Visited Wong Nai Chung Gap with Larry Brody. Larry is staying at the Luk Kwok Hotel of Suzie Wong fame. In the reception area they have a few good photos of the hotel as it was in those days. It was a pretty massive building, rather different than I had expected. 18 A researcher looking into the war service of his hometown: Widnes, Cheshire in the UK notes that one casualty is buried at Stanley Military Cemetery. This is Petty Officer Telegraphist George Hutchinson, H.M.S. Tamar. Hutchison was actually allocated to the MTBs, so next time I am down at Stanley cemetery I will get a photo of the grave. 18 Ernest John Hosken’s (Lisbon Maru, Royal Corps of Signals) son got in touch. “He wasn't one to dwell on his war, so I just found out scraps from time to time over about 30 years. Eating bits of fish to stay alive, swimming eight miles to shore, having every deficiency disease known to medicine - that kind of thing. And then an epic railway journey across America after being cared for in San Francisco. Then coming home to find a wicked stepmother who took his gratuity and back pay off him and kicked him out, going to sea, then meeting a friend in a pub who told him about the Diplomatic Wireless Service... your usual war and post-war story, really.” 17 Elizabeth Doery, nee Gittins, plans a trip to the Yokohama Cemetery in spring 2010 to visit her father’s grave. I am embarrassed to say that despite visiting Japan once or twice per year, I have never been to the cemetery. Perhaps I should accompany Elizabeth and see the Cherry Blossom where it counts, rather than only outside our Tokyo office. 15 Today I had a wonderful email from Archie Hart – the son of James Hart, RAOC, who has been mentioned on this site many times. Left for dead at the Eucliffe massacre, Hart is still touring the world today. This may be his last such trip, but who knows? Archie says: “Here’s a couple of pics of him on a recent trip to Italy. He took me along, and we went to visit his brother’s grave at the Sangro River Cemetery, he was killed in 1943 during the Italy campaign.” ARCHIBALD SANDERS HOLMES Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 8th Bn. Age: 19, Date of Death: 20/11/1943. We sometimes forget what a terrible battle of attrition that was. The 8th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders alone had lost 156 officers and 1000 men since Operation Torch and from those that landed in Algeria with the 5th Battalion, The Royal East Kent Regiment (Buffs), only two or three remained at the end. 13 A lady who was brought up on Kennedy Road asked if I knew anything of the fighting there in late December 1941. Aside from the few details in NTSC, does anyone have any further info? 10 Visited Stanley today with Larry Brody, a well-known American scriptwriter with an interest in the period. 10 Glen Swemmer sent a nice batch of photos of the pillbox and splinter-proof shelters near where the Tai Tam Road meets the road to Shek O. 9 Was contacted by The War Graves Photographic Project who are writing an article about the Lisbon Maru for their newsletter. http://www.twgpp.org/index.php 9 Had a nice email from Nobby Hunt (MTBs and Lisbon Maru), and realized that I had neglected to send him a copy of WSST. This will be rectified as soon as I return from my current travels. 8 Alfred Keeler’s (Middlesex, Lisbon Maru) great niece got in touch. Keeler died in camp in Japan on the very day that Japan surrendered, and his ashes were carried back to the UK by Sergeant Bill Poulter.
7 I have been invited to the 4th annual International Witness to War Project Recognition Ceremony, December 5th at the Canadian International School in Aberdeen. The invitation also pointed to a photo from the Winnipeg Free Press of the new memorial. I can’t get enough of this, being completely seduced by both its physical beauty and the fact that it commemorates those who survived as well as those who perished. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/hong-kong-veterans-honoured-53342497.html 6 A friend reports meeting Harold Bidwell, and finding him alive as well. Harold and his wife (Elsie, nee Lammert) were Stanley internees. 5 Faye Powell, whose father was in the Dockyard Police, notes: “When my father was ‘fighting’ the Aust Govt to prove he was a returned serviceman - it wasn't until 1952 (before I was born) and a letter from Sgt Bellamy before he was able to be recognised. The exact wording, spelling and punctuation in this letter says: ‘On 8 December 1941 the Royal Naval Yard Police were mobilised into 'A separate Section of the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Force' under its respective Commander who was the Commodore in Charge H.K. (Proclamation by H.E. The Governor under the Emergency Regulations). Other Civilians in the Dockyards were also mobilised and the whole became officially recognised as the THE DOCKYARD DEFENCE CORPS.’ “ This is interesting as the Dockyard Police were certainly mobilized as a military (rather than civilian) organization, but the War Diary of the HKDDC makes no mention of this. Does anyone else have any more info?
4 Richard Hide sent me “a copy of ‘The Letter’ every mother dreaded." (See entry for the 30th as well). 3 For a long time I had wondered about the Carmelite Monastery in Stanley. Surely it must have been right on the frontline on around December 24, 1941, and surely there must have been fighting there? On the walls there are some signs of repaired shrapnel damage, but not a great deal. Today, a friend and I walked in. The nuns there are not allowed to speak to strangers, but after a while my friend made our purpose clear. The recipient of our query retired, noting that she would need to speak to someone older. After at least ten minutes, the wooden contraption in front of us turned, and a written missive was delivered: “The Japanese army entered fighting into Stanley on Christmas Eve, & on Christmas morning the whole place was overrun by them. During the fighting, the Canossian Convent in Shaukiwan was in danger, and their place was evacuated; the Canossian mothers & their orphans were brought to us instead & they were received with great charity. So when the Japanese came into our monastery they saw a charitable institution & left us unmolested.” We also visited Maryknoll School that day, the site of yet another massacre. The place was open to all. We walked through, admiring the building and its decorations, and gaining a great respect for those who maintain it… 3… and, on the other side of the respectability spectrum, Google today informed me that a British duo by the delightful name of ‘Fuck Buttons’ has released a CD with a track called ‘The Lisbon Maru’. It’s actually getting good reviews, so I’ll have to buy a copy. http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/10/22/album-review-fuck-buttons-tarot-sport/ 1 I was contacted today by someone researching Ellen Field for American friends who are her distant cousins. They would like to make contact with Field’s daughters, if they are still around. 1 The Researching FEPOW History Group sent me a poster for their October 2010 event. I hope to confirm that I will be speaking there, just as soon as we sort out the school schedules for that autumn. 1 Does anyone remember Herman Tadema-Wielandt (HKVDC) and his first wife (also apparently HKVDC)? His daughter has been making enquiries. 1 Philip & Jen Burton sent a photo kept by William Sprague of the HKVDC Armoured Cars. Left to right: ?, William Sprague, CQMS Charley Barman, Signalman Fred Latter, Signalman Dave Howell. Who is the man on the far left? I have certainly seen a photo of him before, somewhere. The trigger for sending me the photo, of course, was the book Resist to The End: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Resist-End-1941-1945-Asiatic-Society/dp/9622099769/ref=pd_sim_b_1
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September Images
Canada's Memorial Wall (courtesy Murray Doull), Hong Kong Harbour (courtesy John Black), Pinewood Battery (courtesy Robert Gibson) Chindit reunion (courtesy Elizabeth Ride), Daily Expres (courtesy Peter Clarke), Gordon Clip (courtesy Alexander Gordon) 13mm (author), Evacuee bracelet (courtesy Michael Martin), Plate & Spoon (courtesy Bill Lake)
September News Looking at yourself on camera is never easy, but I confess to being pleased with the seven-minute Far Eastern Economic Review’s video interview (see below). My “60th anniversary of the FCC” book launch requires considerably more stamina! 28 Today I received my invitation to the Researching FEPOW History Group 3rd International Conference, 9 – 10 October, 2010, at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA), Alrewas, Staffordshire. 27 Was scanning in some images for a piece I’m writing, and took the opportunity of scanning in a Japanese 13mm round at 600dpi! Not a particularly typical use of a scanner, but it’s one of the most impressive pieces of wartime hardware I have yet found in the hills. 26 Murray Doull was kind enough to send me a whole CD of images from last month’s wall unveiling in Canada. It was hard to pick a representative view, but several showed the almost surreal reflectivity of the stone very well, and I chose my favourite of those. Interesting to compare with the original artist’s impression (scroll down the page). The reality is so much more part of its environment. 26 George Kelling was kind enough to send me an article about the trial of the ‘Kamloops Kid’ written by the court interpreter. The majority of the Japanese tried for war crimes in Hong Kong got off relatively lightly, with most of the death and long sentences being commuted. You could - as this author does - contend that compared to the others, Inouye received different treatment. In his case, I am sure it was the fact that he was 'meant to be Canadian' which was at the root of it. Perhaps the most interesting thing for me was the statement that he was married to a Chinese lady who had previously been married to a British policeman! I had not heard this before, and will look into it. 25 Received an invitation to Hong Kong’s Remembrance Day Ceremony, which this year will be on Sunday Nov 8th. 23 Dave Deptford notes that the Appleton medal group (see last month): “sold for GBP1,350 plus 17.5% buyers commission. More than I thought but illustrating the increasing strength of the UK market for anything with a HK connection.” 21 On the Stanley Group Brian Edgar noted: “I've always been interested in the poet and painter William Blake and for a long time the standard edition of his 'prophetic books' (difficult poems that are very unlike the famous ones about the tiger and Jerusalem) was referred to as 'Sloss and Wallis' for short, after the two editors. Annoyingly the first names are never given, but it was D. J. Sloss, M. A., C.B.E., of the University of Rangoon(this was in 1925). I'd love to know if this was the HKU Sloss in Stanley!” I am sure it must be. Hong Kong University includes in its list of Chairmen of Council ’1940 -1949 .. .. .. D.J. Sloss, CBE, MA, LLD’. It's hard to believe there could have been two such men in Far Eastern universities at that time. 20 Took the HK Club Walkers on a new route called ‘Looking Down on War’, which simply skirts The Peak while looking at the city and harbour and talking about the wartime events that occurred in the streets and buildings visible below. Peter Clarke kicked the walk off nicely by bringing a copy of the Daily Express of Dec 20 1941, with its ‘Hongkong Garrison Fight To The Last’ headline. Afterwards, Robert Gibson was kind enough to send me a set of good photos from the walk. Lucky I chose this route rather than the much harder one planned for November 22, as I broke my big toe in two places two weeks ago! 19 Was put in touch with Peter Carruthers, son of Michael Carruthers MC who was in charge of the Volunteers’ armoured cars during the fighting. 18 Henry Danbrowsky’s (HKPF) granddaughter got in touch. 17 HKU have improved their link for WSST, incorporating the FEER video: http://www.hkupress.org/book/9789622099609.htm 16 Roger Mansell was kind enough to send this link: http://bugleobserver.canadaeast.com/news/article/791592 16 Bill Lake sent some interesting photos of a plate and spoon made in Stanley Camp by John Charter for his wife Yvonne from a fan blade.
15 Mike Booker sent me an amazing photo of the harbour which he has been able to date to exactly 1st September 1937 (that’s the Empress of Canada on the right with the white funnels).
12 Mike McPherson was kind enough to contact me: “Some time ago I came into the possession of a drawing done by [Charles Knox and Henry Earley] while they were prisoners at Shamshuipo prison camp in Hong Kong. The nativity scene is dated Christmas 1943. This drawing was given to Captain Father Frank Deloughery who was a prisoner of war… It has often occurred to me that it might indeed be of greater interest to the direct family of these men. You can imagine how pleased I was to find your web site and find that Charles Knox’s son had contacted you with info on not only his father but also his uncle Henry Earley.” I have put the two parties in touch. 11 Nathan Greenfield sent some interesting notes from Lt Col G.W.L. Nicholson (a Canadian historian) on his interviews with Brigadier Wallis and Lt Col Rose. 10 I heard today that Wally Scragg (ex wartime HK police) is in hospital following a couple of falls. He is well remembered by the Hong Kong community, and I sent best wishes via his granddaughter. 8 Win Deane’s (Stanley Internee) daughter got in touch. 7 Elizabeth Ride sent an interesting photo of what looks like an early reunion of the Hong Kong Chindits. 7 Michael Martin sent a fascinating photo of an ‘Evacuee bracelet’ which appears to have been issued in Australia to ex-HK evacuees. Has anyone else see these? 7 David Louis Strellett’s (HKVDC) granddaughter got in touch. 7 Alexander Gordon’s (Royal Scots) son got in touch, sending a newspaper cutting about his father. 6 I discovered today that a video of my launch of ‘We Shall Suffer There’ at the FCC is available on the web at: http://www.viewfromhere.hk/The_View_From_Here/FCCHK2009TonyBanham.html 5 On the Stanley group, I was asked to provide feedback on Janice Lee’s excellent book ‘The Piano Teacher’, With Janice’s permission I did, and one of the points in her book that I had questioned was whether Stanley internees received Red Cross food parcels. Well, they did. This was one of Barbara Anslow’s comments: “How I agree with William Sewell's ecstatic remarks about the Red Cross parcels! After opening mine, my diary says 'Had a spoonful of Nestle's condensed milk - absolute Heaven!' My hungry younger sister Mabel ate her entire tin at one sitting.Some of the cardboard boxes were made into garages, doll's houses etc. for the children for Christmas. In our room we used the scattering of shredded paper among the tins for burning out the bugs in the springs and wooden bits of my Mum's bed.” William Sewell was an internee, and author of the mainly autobiographical ‘Strange Harmony’. 5 John Edmund Richardson OBE’s (civilian internee) niece got in touch. 4 George Kelling, a retired US Army Officer in Texas (and a historian with a particular emphasis on British Empire history of the Second World War), let me know that he met Jim Fallace, HKRNVR (one of the three Lisbon Maru escapees) a few times. He was also kind enough to send me some useful bits and pieces from his researches – including a copy of the letter sent to Fallace in 1996 from the daughter of the man who sheltered him in a cave until he escaped to the mainland. 3 Vincent Lee kindly let me know that: “A Battle of Hong Kong veteran, Sir Harry FANG Sin Yang, of Field Ambulance, HKVDC, died on August 24, 2009 at the age of 86. He was an uncle of Anson Chan, and his autobiography included a few paragraphs about his experience as a dresser/stretcher during the 18-day battle.” On his death, Chief Executive Donald Tsang said: "A man of high integrity and pleasant personality, he served with humility, commitment, professional excellence and enormous energy. He has left a lasting legacy in both Hong Kong and abroad. The community will miss him sorely.” The book that Vincent refers to is “Rehabilitation, A Life's Work, the biography of Professor Sir Harry Fang”, HKUP 2002. 3 I saw today that the Far Eastern Economic Review carried a review of We Shall Suffer There by Jason Wordie. Overall a fair job (in my opinion), though – as I have discussed with Hong Kong University Press before – sometimes I think we need a category sticker on the front of each book (‘Reference Book’, ‘Easy Read’, ‘Popular History’ etc.) so that people know, ab initio, what they are dealing with. http://www.feer.com/reviews/2009/september51/we-shall-suffer-there-hong-kongs-defenders-imprisoned-1942-451Note the video embedded in it! Well worth watching (again, in my humble opinion). 3 Annemarie Evans notes that: ”Liz Chater, a distant relative of Sir Catchick Paul Chater was in town this week to help celebrate Hongkong Land's 120th anniversary. [Liz] let me in on a little tantalising mystery. She's basically researched a heck of a lot of info on Chater's life (and Armenian gaeneology in general). The following pertains to the Chater collection. Some of his paintings were shown at a Hong Kong Museum of Art exhibition a couple of years ago. Many of his paintings, as you're probably aware, disappeared during the war. There were rumours that some were buried below Government House (quite how, not sure) but this has been subsequently debunked by Kim Salkeld, now Lands Registrar, who was in govt house during Patten's era. Chater collected both China porcelain and Japanese bizenware. Some of this can be seen in old photos of Marble Hall, his home. Some of it was not catalogued. It was assumed that much of that china was pillaged in the second world war and sank on its way to Japan. However, Liz has discovered that after Chater's death in 1926, he left much of his estate either to the Hong Kong government or to the Armenian Church, based in Calcutta. She found a document that states that 30 boxes were at Kowloon Wharf (I got this slightly wrong in my SCMP report early this week), six of which were listed as paintings, but the other 24 could have been china. So not all went to Japan. Also slightly sceptical on how the Japanese would have got hold of his china anyway. Those 30 boxes were auctioned in Calcutta by the Bengal Trustee. Obviously documents at the India end are a little more difficult to get hold of.” And now the big question, of course, is ‘who knows where it all ended up?’ 2 Commander Vernall’s daughter confirmed that one of the photos she sent me last month was of HMS Cornflower, the HKRNVR’s depot ship (illustrated). 1 John Black kindly sent me two very interesting old photos of the harbour.1 Michael Pether of the FEPOW Community group notes that he found, in the New Zealand National Archives in Wellington “some 60-80 forms (by men such as Gunner E. Pridham/Pte. Harry Sando/Gunner James Shaw etc.) of men who were in Shamshuipo camp in HK all making specific allegations of collaboration (including the making of Japanese propaganda films) against Major Boon (RASC) and Gunners Bevan and Gunner Tovey/Taubier”, Also “Cpl. Clifford Samuel Rumary, with his statement as being a survivor and the last man off the ‘Lisbon Maru’ because for some reason he was in the ships crows nest”
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August Images
Le Droit article (courtesy Murray Doull), Memorial Wall Veterans (courtesy Murray Doull), Pointing out Maurice Parker's name (courtesy Ron Parker) Owen Griffiths (courtesy Louise Clark), Lial Colbert (courtesy Faye Powell), Commander Vernall (courtesy Ann Pumphrey) Drummer Holdford circled (courtesy Kevin Holdford), POW Postcard (courtesy Hartley Moyes), Prince Phillip's letter (courtesy Richard Hide)
August News
The major event of the month was obviously the official dedication of the C Force Memorial Wall in Ottawa. The project by the HKVCA has been the work of many years’ planning and fund raising. However, they still need further donations for landscaping work to complete the environment around the memorial in a fitting manner.
30 Lial Colbert’s (RNDYP, Lisbon Maru) granddaughter got in contact. Quite a coincidence as there’s a photo of Colbert on the site this month!
29 Dave Deptford notes that Lockdales (www.lockdales.com), at Lot 1873 in their Sept 20th auction, list the six medals to F G Appleton, HK Police. Appleton was born in 1913, the son of a HK Policeman, enlisted in 1934, was interned, and retired as a Chief Inspector: 1939-45,Pacific, Defence and War Medals, Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service, Colonial Police Long Service. “Estimate is £1300 + which I believe far too high but we shall see.” Earlier, Dave had also mentioned that at Bosleys sale 2nd Sept 2009 there is a Group to Commander John Graham BINNY R.N: 1914/15 Star, BWM, Vict -1939-45 Star, Atlantic, Africa, Pacific and War Medal. “Reportedly posted to 2nd Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla at HK and POW there. Estimate £200-300 (low, as usual).”
28 Harry Clark’s granddaughter-in-law sent another batch of amazing photos. Top of the list was a snap of ‘Ginger Griffiths’. From his name and cap badge I am 90% sure that this is Owen Griffiths, RCoS, who was lost near the Tai Koo Sugar factory on Dec 19, 1941. Another interesting photo from 1937 showed ‘Jock’ Fox of the Seaforth Highlanders who were stationed in Shanghai at the time. There was also another good shot of the harbour, again from 1937, and one of West Fort (illustrated).
28 Continuing a correspondence from a year ago, Andrew Tuft – whose father served aboard HMS Swiftsure, notes: “Swiftsure anchored off the Dockyard in the early afternoon of 30 August and a landing party of 500 sailors and Marines went ashore under the command of Lieutenant Commander W.L.M. Brown DSC. Operation Lion had commenced. The force, later to be known as 'Brown Force', cleared the Japanese out of the Dockyard by sunset, a few unfortunates were caught by the Chinese mob outside the gates. More troops were landed on 31 August and Brownforce established HQ in the Cecil Hotel. Able Seaman George Bennett Marshall from HMS Swiftsure injured himself fatally with an automatic pistol on 3 September, and was buried in Happy Valley on 4 September. I have a picture of the burial party. Two other Swiftsure Sailors died on 5th September, Able Seaman Samuel Hopkins, and Able Seaman David Simpson Scott, but my reference does not record the cause of death. These may have been the two guys my father recalled as being killed by a booby trap.” The Cecil Hotel was on Kennedy Road, next door to the current Masonic Lodge.
26 George Mose’s (RA, Lisbon Maru) grandson got in touch. Mose’s wife, son and daughter were evacuated to Australia in 1940. I wonder if this spate of Lisbon Maru connections is due to the BBC program mentioned earlier?
26 Harold Sharrock’s (Middlesex, Lisbon Maru) grandson got in touch.
25 Harry Clark’s (Hong Kong Signals Company, Lisbon Maru) granddaughter-in-law got in touch.
25 I see that Discovery Channel Magazine (https://www.rdasia.com/rd/rdhtml/en/discoverychannel/) is carrying a long-planned Lisbon Maru article in its current edition. Unfortunately, I think it’s only available in Asia.
25 Paul Rimmer was kind enough to let me know that the BBC show featuring Fred O’Donnell (ex-Lisbon Maru) had just been shown. There’s a corresponding article on their website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_8214000/8214172.stm
23 Hartley Moyes sent a very interesting postcard. Dated from 1976, but postmarked 1977, it bears many signatures – some clearly identifiable as ex-HK POWs:
Sergeant Bob Manchester - D Coy WG,
Captain Victor Stanley Ebbage, MBE - RAOC
Lance Corporal Albert 'Tooky' Poole - Middlesex Regt,
Arther Ellis - A/Sgt. Albert Ellis, RASC?
Robert H Dunlop - There were three Robert Dunlops, but this is presumably Rifleman Robert Harold Dunlop, Royal Rifles of Canada,
CM Maltby – Who passed away 1980 (which fits the 1977 date on the card).
20 Received a nice letter from Marilynn Armacost, saying that her copy of WSST had arrived. We posted it from Sheboygan Falls, WI, on our holiday!
20 Murray Doull sent a great piece from ‘Le Droit’ with a dramatic photo of his father, and attached a number of other photos from the event.
18 Ron Parker sent two great photos of himself at the Canadian memorial wall.
17 Edith Chan of HKU’s Special Collections was kind enough to send me a big scan of Osler Thomas’ wartime map of Canton and Hong Kong.
17 Mike Babin let me know that the Hong Kong Children’s Orchestra concert in Toronto raised C$20,000 for the memorial. Not bad! He has also proposed another Canadian pilgrimage to Hong Kong for December 2010.
16 The SCMP ran a HERO article today, focusing on the support provided by HRH Prince Phillip.
16 For the first time in several years, I missed today’s Liberation Day Memorial service at City Hall. Unfortunately a damaged foot kept me at home. However, I was very pleased (if a little surprised) to see it featured on the evening news.
16 William Sprague’s daughter and son-n-law sent a few interesting excerpts from his diary, kept while a batman at Argyle Street camp.
16 I have been having an interesting conversation with Mark Huang, ex La Salle College, about what the building was used for during the war. Did it stay a Japanese hospital throughout?
15 Ron Taylor (UK) let me know that his mother’s cousin is Joan Crawford, of HK Electric fame. He adds: “her husband was Sgt George William Kenneth Crawford and I think that it was his brother who was Gnr AK Crawford. Her Father, Ferdinand Duckworth was in Stanley along with the rest of the family. Her sister, Nancy, who is still very much around, was married to James Barron (Field Coy Engineers).”
15 The C Force Memorial was finally unveiled today. The Memorial Wall is located at the corner of Sussex Drive and King Edward Street. The event was well covered by the Canadian press:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/680777
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/testament+veterans+spoken+stone/1898718/story.html
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Gallery+Battle+Hong+Kong+memorial/1897867/story.html
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Gander+Royal+Riflemen+best+friend/1896089/story.html
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/memorial+unveiled+Saturday/1893355/story.html
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Grit+grace+face+horror/1887000/story.html
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090815/veterans_memorial_090815/20090815?hub=Canada Phil Doddridge’s speech is worth reading: “Comrades, ladies and gentlemen, and all you wonderful people.
This ceremony today marks the fulfillment of a dream, a vision that started years ago when we began to realize that many of our comrades who have left this world, would not be recognized for their valiant efforts of so many years ago.
To many, the defence of Hong Kong was a minor event in comparison to the vast conflict that consumed the world in those anxious and dreadful days of the 1940s. It is no wonder that the war in Europe got headlines while our little war was largely forgotten.
And so, as one of the few remaining Hong Kong Veterans, I am honoured and privileged beyond compare to be here today to express the gratitude of all my comrades for this permanent marker of our place in history.
It is especially fitting that it be installed in our Nation’s Capital, the nucleus of the country we pledged to serve seventy years ago.
As I look at my comrades today, aged, as I am, I recall the slender youths who sailed across the Pacific Ocean in 1941, to encounter a well trained and battle-hardened foe.
How innocent of combat we were.
How naïve of the horrors of war.
How far removed from the comforts of home and the good order of peace-time Canada.
How oblivious we were to the many years we would languish in those horror camps.
As I stand before this shrine today, August 15th, 2009, 68 years after receiving our marching orders, all those memories come flooding back; the Canada of the 1940s, the young men in the flush of youth, without a care, completely unaware of what lay ahead.
For this Memorial Wall - our Wall- we have so many people to thank:
The sons, daughters, widows and friends of our veterans who have given so much, who have donated their time, their energy and their money to this cause.
To the committee that made this important event happen, I cannot emphasize enough our thanks for their dedication, their endless meetings, their sleepless nights – all to assure the success of the project. Each and every one has added their wisdom and experience to all matter relating to the planning and construction of this magnificent Wall.
Since the funding campaign started in Calgary two years ago, it has kept rolling without pause.
So many people have listened to our story, so many have helped with money and encouragement.
And now, we are here today. The moment of truth has arrived.
I salute my comrades here today. I salute the memory of my comrades who have left this world.
And so, until this stone disintegrates and returns to dust, we will be remembered.
May we all from our place in the hereafter, be able to look down upon this marble monument and say, ‘My name is written there. I am remembered.’ “
Thanks to Ron Parker, Gerry Tuppert, and others for these items.
15 Annemarie Evans was kind enough to send CDs of her recent radio interviews with me for RTHK. I will have to see if there’s a way (with permission) of getting these sound archives onto this site.
14 Cynthy Gomes is asking what happened to the wives and families of HKVDC soldiers, who were billeted in May Road during the fighting? The only coverage I can find is from Ellen Field, and this implies that they all went their separate ways in the months after – some going to Stanley, and some (presumably) to Rosary Hill. Others, like Cynthy’s mother, clearly made it to Macau shortly after the surrender.
13 Paul Cowan pointed out that Tommy Douglas (the ‘Greatest Canadian of all time’: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Douglas), who introduced universal public health care to Canada, should have been with the Winnipeg Grenadiers in Hong Kong, but was removed from the draft due to health issues. I am also rather proud of the fact that my great uncle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Gooch) was part of the 1945 UK government that introduced the National Health Service. Our family experience of the NHS tells a good story. When my father needed a hip replacement, he was put on a queue that clearly wasn't going to move for three years or so, so us 'kids' paid for him to have it done privately. During the operation (at the age of 77), the anaesthetist didn't like the sound of his heart. That led to him having a heart valve replacement, under the NHS and with no wait, under Dr Wells at Papworth (possibly the best heart combination in the world). Currently my mother (now 80) is in an NHS hospital having her lungs fixed, so we feel we've done well from 'the family scheme'! Old Uncle Ted couldn't have planned it better. A little off topic? Not really, when you consider how many FEPOWs have been treated by both systems.
11 Lawrence sent me the Dec 25 and 26 entries from Barnett’s diaries. Taken with Scotcher’s report (see last month) and the other eye-witness interviews and affidavits, I think we now have a very clear view of what happened at St Stephen’s on Dec 25. Not to labour the point, the padre writes (moments before the Japanese stormed the building): “Heavy fighting going on all around. Everybody longs for daylight.”
10 Ron Parker (son of the well-respected commander of D Coy, RRoC, Major Maurice Parker) let me know that his website has moved to: http://www.battleofhongkong.com/
9 While waiting in San Francisco for our flight back to Hong Kong, I took a moment to phone uber-researcher Roger Mansell. A real gentleman!
7 Lawrence MacIsaac contacted me from Canada, noting that he had access to Padre James Barnett’s wartime diary. I rather foolishly told him that I knew all about it, but he very politely (and correctly) pointed out that I was referring to Barnett’s 1946 report.
6 Faye Powell was kind enough to send another affidavit, this time from Cyril Barnaby, RNDYP. He notes (among other things): “In approximately Aug 43, I was told by R.B. MOORE, RNYP that Bill CURD RNYP HONG KONG was beaten by Sgt KAKUDA and another guard, and that CURD subsequently died in the camp hospital. About the winter of 44, Pte McGRATH of the Middlesex Regt was given numerous beatings by KAKUDA and IKEDA, and by the Camp Commandant. He was sentenced to jail, he had no blankets, nor was he allowed to wash. After a month or so in jail, he lost his toes from frostbite and I witnessed many beatings that he was given. Also in the winter of 44, I witnessed IKEDA beat Sgt SMYTHE, R.A.”
5 Richard Hide of HERO (Hong Kong Escape Re-enactment Organisation) was kind enough to send me their commendation from HRH Prince Phillip. The latter had been in HK for the formal surrender in 1946, and had met Colin McEwan in Hong Kong in the fifties while on a visit on Britannia.
5 Amazon UK today sent me an email recommending that I buy some book called We Shall Suffer There. While they show great taste, they also demonstrate some imperfections in their demographic marketing.
5 David Bellis sent an email mentioning this article (which was also reproduced in the SCMP in a condensed form): http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2009/08/03/old-hong-kong-lives-online/. He also notes that he has spun off all the history-related stuff from Batgung to a new website: http://gwulo.com/ .
5 Faye Powell was kind enough to send the War Crimes Affidavit of Lial Colbert, Royal Naval Dockyard Police. About Ichioka Hospital he notes: “I was told by PETTY OFFICER ENNIFER, RN, that five men, including himself were taken from ITCHIOKA to the Japanese military hospital and used for medical experiments. He told me that the experiments were made in the cutting of nerves with a view to curing malnutrition disease in the legs and ankles. Some of these PsW died. I was told by various PsW, including LT JACKSON that numerous PsW died at this hospital; in the first three months about 52 died, and up till Mar 43, over 100 had died. As I was merely a visitor, I did not witness any of the major beatings, which occurred, but I was often told of them.” Roger Mansell was copied on this exchange, and sent in reply a statement by an American POW called John Kidd, who was one of those experimented upon. Kidd noted: “Hearing [the Japanese experiment] plan, [our British doctor] strenuously objected. When medical colleagues discuss a procedure, there sometimes may be a difference of opinion. Ordinarily, as gentlemen, they discuss the merits of the matter despite professional ranking, the debate sometimes getting lively. When the ranking power was Japanese, and the dissenting opinion was from a British prisoner, the discussion was short. The Jap guards, representing Jap medicine, merely beat the living hell out of the objecting British officer. The British doctor’s name was Charles E. Jackson. I will never forget him as long as I live. He was a big man, over six feet tall with a Van Dyke beard. Of course, he spoke with a British accent and portrayed the courtly mannerisms. He was quite ‘chipper’ but was often beaten into unconsciousness.” Kidd’s multi-page account of the ‘experiment’ and its aftermath are sobering in the extreme.
4 George Wilson’s (RAOC) granddaughter got in touch.
4 It’s always interesting to be away from Hong Kong (we’re in Wisconsin at the moment) when a typhoon comes. Our phones are set to alert us when the Observatory hoists a storm warning. It’s eight now, of a potential ten, and nine might be raised later…
4 On the Stanley Group, Barbara Anslow notes, of the book 'The Private Life of Old Hong Kong: “Of special interest to me is a paragraph describing how Marie Paterson known as 'Pat', a volunteer nurse (Aux. Nursing Service) in the Jockey Club war-time hospital when Jap soldiers invaded it and raped some of the nurses, bravely escaped and under cover of darkness made her way to the British Military Hospital on Bowen Road and raised the alarm as to what was happening in the Jockey Club. My mother was also a volunteer nurse with Pat, and during the night that the raping was going on, Pat who was a small person, crawled into my Mum's camp bed hoping to be shielded from the Japs by my Mum's then bulk, saying 'Don't let them get me' - which they didn't. In the wee small hours when the soldiers had stopped coming to carry off more nurses, Pat crawled out from the bed, saying she had to go. Next morning, the nurses learned that Pat had escaped from the hospital. Later that day Dr Selwyn-Clarke (with some Jap officers) arrived, and told the Matron he had heard some fantastic tale of happenings in this hospital by an hysterical woman, and had come to investigate. Thanks to Pat's courage, the nurses were spared from further raping.”
4 Walter Spencley’s (Royal Rifles) son got in touch.
4 Justin Kirby notes: “I was sent a photo by Derek Bird of his Christening in Hong Kong in 1939 (see link below) as it had a picture of my great aunt Valda who died in a POW camp. She married Alexander Shepstone Godley of the Royal Scots who is also in the photo, which also includes: Back row. Tony Lomax, Pat Skipwith, Sandy Godley, Margaret Whyatt . Front row: John Whyatt, Godfrey Bird, Daphne Bird & Derek, Valda Godley.” Valda died in camp at Palembang, Sumatra. Godley served in Singapore, rather than Hong Kong, and re-married in 1946. Justin adds: “Funny how there's a web of interrelated connections behind a photo.” Too true!
3 Commander Vernall’s daughter’s next door neighbour was kind enough to send me a number of scanned images from the old boy’s photo album.
3 Elizabeth Ride notes: “I checked in on your Diary, and thought the Life photos were great. The one of what I presume is the stone staircase at HKU leading up to the roofless Great Hall poses a mystery [Life No 76]. There is no sign of the damage caused by the shellburst, which actually can still be seen now as repair work. A good view of Mount Austin Barracks [Life No 56, taken from 'Prof Forster’s garage' at No 5 The Peak], and a close up of damage to the Married Quarters on the left of the building [Life No 8]. By the way, the white bungalow to the left, uphill of the Barracks, was our beloved pre-war home - now blocks of gigantic flats but with the same number, 12. Strangely enough, even though the numbering has been turned upside down (prewar it began at the top and went downwards), No.12 landed up with the same number.”
