It Makes One Wonder ...
I must insert this brief side note to the story. In 1995 I received a letter
from a chap named E.J. Bird, an ex Royal Marine, who had served
aboard the "HMS Danae", and who had made the acquaintance of my
cousin in Northampton, England. My cousin told him that I had been on
the Awatea sailing for Hong Kong. Although I hadn't realized it, according
to Bird, the "Danae" joined the convoy in Manila and escorted us to Hong
Kong.
from a chap named E.J. Bird, an ex Royal Marine, who had served
aboard the "HMS Danae", and who had made the acquaintance of my
cousin in Northampton, England. My cousin told him that I had been on
the Awatea sailing for Hong Kong. Although I hadn't realized it, according
to Bird, the "Danae" joined the convoy in Manila and escorted us to Hong
Kong.
Bird wrote, "I will now endeavour to explain why it might be of interest to
you, and all the gallant Canadian men that survived the awful debacle that
happend all those years ago. I remember quite vividly the days when we
escorted you to Hong Kong from Manila, in the Phillipines, and the fact
that we of the crew were well aware of the situation that awaited all of
you. The whole detachment of Royal Marines aboard the "Danae" were,
to say the least, absolutely appalled at the predicament that we were
placing you in."
you, and all the gallant Canadian men that survived the awful debacle that
happend all those years ago. I remember quite vividly the days when we
escorted you to Hong Kong from Manila, in the Phillipines, and the fact
that we of the crew were well aware of the situation that awaited all of
you. The whole detachment of Royal Marines aboard the "Danae" were,
to say the least, absolutely appalled at the predicament that we were
placing you in."
Mr. Bird went to the trouble of locating a picture of the "Danae" for me
which is pictured here. The "Danae", above,went on to serve with
distinction throughout the war taking part in the Normandy Landing on "D
Day".
which is pictured here. The "Danae", above,went on to serve with
distinction throughout the war taking part in the Normandy Landing on "D
Day".
Hong Kong Arrival
Our arrival in Hong Kong was a much different experience. As we sailed
up to the dock in Kowloon we were greeted by three ancient aircraft.
They were pusher props, their propellers faced the rear of the aircraft, and
did not make much of impression of air power.
up to the dock in Kowloon we were greeted by three ancient aircraft.
They were pusher props, their propellers faced the rear of the aircraft, and
did not make much of impression of air power.
There were dozens of small, and not so small, boys swimming around
begging us to throw coins to them in the water. My Scottish upbringing
protected me from such a scandalous waste of money.
We disembarked, formed up, and marched up Nathan Road to our
barracks at Shan Shui Po, a distance of probably four miles. The route
was lined with spectators, and although it was the middle of November,
we found it quite warm marching along in our summer uniforms of shirts
and shorts with our small packs, and our rifles at the slope. We were
amused at the sight of the British soldiers watching the parade bundled up
in their greatcoats.
begging us to throw coins to them in the water. My Scottish upbringing
protected me from such a scandalous waste of money.
We disembarked, formed up, and marched up Nathan Road to our
barracks at Shan Shui Po, a distance of probably four miles. The route
was lined with spectators, and although it was the middle of November,
we found it quite warm marching along in our summer uniforms of shirts
and shorts with our small packs, and our rifles at the slope. We were
amused at the sight of the British soldiers watching the parade bundled up
in their greatcoats.
Hong Kong, the Good Life Before
the Bombs Began to Fall
the Bombs Began to Fall
Our first home away from home were the barracks at Sham Shui Po
across the harbour from Hong Kong in the city of Kowloon. They were
obviously old, having served a succession of garrison troops from the
early days of the British occupation. They were of stone with a stucco
finish, sparsely finished with not much more than an iron bed for each man.
The bed was made in two sections that telescoped together to leave more
floor space during daylight hours.
The mattress consisted of three "biscuits", or pads about two and a half
feet square and filled with coconut fibre. To make up the bed for
inspection the three biscuits were piled on top of each other on the
shortened bed. A mosquito net was provided which, as it turned out, was
a very valuable item as the camp was infested with malaria bearing
mosquitos.
A small cubicle was located at the end of the barrack for the use of the
section leader. But, the men enjoyed some unusual comforts too. We
were surprised, and somewhat amused, to wake up the first morning with
a servant polishing our shoes, shaving us in bed, and then making the bed
for us. It turned out later, according to the best information I have, that
those "servants" were, in fact, spies in the employ of the Japanese. So
much for security, and another example of the naivete of the Military
Advisors.
across the harbour from Hong Kong in the city of Kowloon. They were
obviously old, having served a succession of garrison troops from the
early days of the British occupation. They were of stone with a stucco
finish, sparsely finished with not much more than an iron bed for each man.
The bed was made in two sections that telescoped together to leave more
floor space during daylight hours.
The mattress consisted of three "biscuits", or pads about two and a half
feet square and filled with coconut fibre. To make up the bed for
inspection the three biscuits were piled on top of each other on the
shortened bed. A mosquito net was provided which, as it turned out, was
a very valuable item as the camp was infested with malaria bearing
mosquitos.
A small cubicle was located at the end of the barrack for the use of the
section leader. But, the men enjoyed some unusual comforts too. We
were surprised, and somewhat amused, to wake up the first morning with
a servant polishing our shoes, shaving us in bed, and then making the bed
for us. It turned out later, according to the best information I have, that
those "servants" were, in fact, spies in the employ of the Japanese. So
much for security, and another example of the naivete of the Military
Advisors.