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!!!!
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!!!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.