Tag Archives: Hong Kong

Jenny

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During the war and when he returned to HK in the 1950s, Dad had a Chinese interpreter to help him communicate with his local troops. This afternoon I met with the interpreter’s daughter, Jenny, who met me at the hotel. We did a bit of shopping, took the Star Ferry for a sunset ride to the Island and then went for a wander round Soho.

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There followed a very long walk in search of a bus stop, a very short bus ride and then another wait for a taxi to take us to a place dear to Jenny’s heart – a karaoke bar. I had, until that moment, spent a lifetime successfully avoiding amateur singers (except drunk ones, obviously) but it seemed my luck had turned. There were several performers, a couple quite good but one who apparently sang Danny Boy, in English, but sounded more like badly oiled brakes being applied. Jenny sang several songs. I think I’ll stop there.

Me and Jenny

Me and Jenny

I pleaded jetlag and sped home on the good old MTR. It was wonderful to meet someone who has such a long connection with our family and I am only sad that the interpreter himself is no longer with us.

Stanley

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I went to Stanley, on the south side of the island, with Georgie Hunt, a Shropshire friend who now lives here. Once you are away from the north coast you get into lovely hilly, verdant country and the pace of life slows to the comprehensible.

Stanley

Stanley

We visited the war cemetery at Stanley and I found the grave of one of Dad’s colleagues, who he mentions in his story of the battle. The poor man, George Neve, died in January ’42, having been wounded in battle at Aberdeen in late December. I don’t suppose the healthcare in POW camp was up to treating wounds or fending off infection. On further investigation I find to my horror that wounded men in Stanley hospital were often bayoneted to death by the Japanese. Man’s inhumanity to man is unbearable.

George Neve's grave at Stanley

George Neve’s grave at Stanley

Most of the graves were for young men who’d died in the last 2 or 3 days of the battle. One can’t help feeling that they died in vain. They may have had a better time of it than those who were imprisoned, however, many of whom did not survive.