Pity The Man With the Dhobie-Itch
A short time after we arrived in Hong Kong I developed an itch in my, uhum,
private parts that had me greatly worried. Had I caught some dreaded tropical
venereal disease? With out the benefit of contact? Were my privates going to fall
off? You can understand my concern. I went to the first sick parade, certain I was
headed for the hospital for a series of treatments graphically described by my
comrades as VERY painful and requiring the use of instruments that would have
been at home in a torture chamber.
Dr. Banfill smiled benignly at me following a brief, non-painful, inspection that
required no instruments, and informed me that I had a case of "dhobie itch".
"Dhobie itch?", I asked. "Yes," he said, "It's caused by washing your underclothes
in strong soap." Whew!!!!
private parts that had me greatly worried. Had I caught some dreaded tropical
venereal disease? With out the benefit of contact? Were my privates going to fall
off? You can understand my concern. I went to the first sick parade, certain I was
headed for the hospital for a series of treatments graphically described by my
comrades as VERY painful and requiring the use of instruments that would have
been at home in a torture chamber.
Dr. Banfill smiled benignly at me following a brief, non-painful, inspection that
required no instruments, and informed me that I had a case of "dhobie itch".
"Dhobie itch?", I asked. "Yes," he said, "It's caused by washing your underclothes
in strong soap." Whew!!!!
Night Life Was Something Else
Night life was something else. Passes to leave the barracks were required and
good until 23:59. They were easy to obtain and the Canadian troops swarmed out
into the night to seek the pleasures of the cities of Kowloon, and Victoria on the
island.
good until 23:59. They were easy to obtain and the Canadian troops swarmed out
into the night to seek the pleasures of the cities of Kowloon, and Victoria on the
island.
The SunSun Café was located in Kowloon, if I remember correctly, and attracted
troops of all stripes. There was a famous fight when Canadian and British troops
tangled in a bone-crushing brawl. Everyone you ask about it was there, though I
doubt it. I was there just briefly because as I was going up the stairs a Wurlitzer
was coming down. I wisely preceded it out the door and did not join the "party".
In addition to the written pass, good until 12:59 hours, a second pass was
required before you could get past the guard at the gate. It was a small, round,
latex device, issued at the nearby dispensary that called attention to itself with a
small blue light bulb mounted above the door.
I have a dim recollection of a taxi dance club somewhere in the amusement area. I
remember meeting Lieut. Elmer there, and his words to me were: "Philip, what
would your mother say if she knew you were here?" My answer to him was:, "Sir,
I shudder to think of it."
Our fun filled nighs were short-lived. Military Intelligence must have functioned to
some degree because, on December 8, most of the Canadian troops were in
position in the hill on the Island of Hong Kong short hours before the Japs opened
the war. In my ignorance of the situation I neither thought, nor cared, about what
was to happen next.
troops of all stripes. There was a famous fight when Canadian and British troops
tangled in a bone-crushing brawl. Everyone you ask about it was there, though I
doubt it. I was there just briefly because as I was going up the stairs a Wurlitzer
was coming down. I wisely preceded it out the door and did not join the "party".
In addition to the written pass, good until 12:59 hours, a second pass was
required before you could get past the guard at the gate. It was a small, round,
latex device, issued at the nearby dispensary that called attention to itself with a
small blue light bulb mounted above the door.
I have a dim recollection of a taxi dance club somewhere in the amusement area. I
remember meeting Lieut. Elmer there, and his words to me were: "Philip, what
would your mother say if she knew you were here?" My answer to him was:, "Sir,
I shudder to think of it."
Our fun filled nighs were short-lived. Military Intelligence must have functioned to
some degree because, on December 8, most of the Canadian troops were in
position in the hill on the Island of Hong Kong short hours before the Japs opened
the war. In my ignorance of the situation I neither thought, nor cared, about what
was to happen next.
The Japanese Attack
On the night of December 7, we were positioned at a place called Obelisk Hill, so
named because of a tall obelisk on the side of the hill, facing Tai Tam Reservoir.
On December 8th, the same morning they attacked Perl Harbour, the Japanese
planes came over Kai Tak Airport knocking out the meager air defence of the
Colony. They also bombed Sham Shui Po Barracks, and many other installations
in Kowloon and on the Island of Hong Kong. A few bombs landed near our
shelters on Obelisk Hill, but with no damage to anything except a few shrubs.
named because of a tall obelisk on the side of the hill, facing Tai Tam Reservoir.
On December 8th, the same morning they attacked Perl Harbour, the Japanese
planes came over Kai Tak Airport knocking out the meager air defence of the
Colony. They also bombed Sham Shui Po Barracks, and many other installations
in Kowloon and on the Island of Hong Kong. A few bombs landed near our
shelters on Obelisk Hill, but with no damage to anything except a few shrubs.
From December 8, until a landing effected by the Japanese Forces at Lye Mun on
the night of December17-18, we at "D" Coy Headquarters remained in position
on Obelisk Hill. "D" Coy Headquarters was composed of Major Maurice Parker,
Captain Charlie Price, Sgt. Major Frank Ebden, CQMS Tommy Smith, Cpl.
L.T.S. Bill Doull, Rfm. Jim Darrah, L/Cpl. Graydon Heath, Rfm. Bob Boudreau,
Byrron Willett, and myself.
the night of December17-18, we at "D" Coy Headquarters remained in position
on Obelisk Hill. "D" Coy Headquarters was composed of Major Maurice Parker,
Captain Charlie Price, Sgt. Major Frank Ebden, CQMS Tommy Smith, Cpl.
L.T.S. Bill Doull, Rfm. Jim Darrah, L/Cpl. Graydon Heath, Rfm. Bob Boudreau,
Byrron Willett, and myself.
From December 8, until things warmed up, not much happened. Except for
dodging the odd Jap bomb, things were pretty quiet on Obelisk Hill. One night
Rfm. Noseworthy, a Newfoundlander we had recruited when we were posted
there, and I were out on guard duty just up wind from the shelter. We got to
talking about our fellow defenders and I asked him what he thought about our
English friends. Noseworthy said, in perfect Newfoundlandese, "Dem Goddamn
Limey's. Dey pack dere blind aunt and give dem bad money." I fell on the ground
laughing. Poor Noseworthy didn't make it. He was killed in action.
dodging the odd Jap bomb, things were pretty quiet on Obelisk Hill. One night
Rfm. Noseworthy, a Newfoundlander we had recruited when we were posted
there, and I were out on guard duty just up wind from the shelter. We got to
talking about our fellow defenders and I asked him what he thought about our
English friends. Noseworthy said, in perfect Newfoundlandese, "Dem Goddamn
Limey's. Dey pack dere blind aunt and give dem bad money." I fell on the ground
laughing. Poor Noseworthy didn't make it. He was killed in action.
The Japanese Make a Landing on the Island
On the night of December 17/18, the Japs finally made a landing on the Island in
spite of the best efforts of "C" Coy, Royal Rifles of Canada, under the command
of Major Wells Bishop. Much can be told about the gallantry of our lads in the
opening hours of the war. Their bravery was outstanding.
spite of the best efforts of "C" Coy, Royal Rifles of Canada, under the command
of Major Wells Bishop. Much can be told about the gallantry of our lads in the
opening hours of the war. Their bravery was outstanding.