Lance Corporal Les
Lance Corporal Les went out of the camp and returned with a 26 ounce bottle of
Johnny Walker Red Lable. He got a little table, about a foot square, and a small
stool. He carefully spread a small white cloth over the table, and put the bottle and
a glass on it. Then he sat down and poured himself a drink, He didn't get up until
he had polished off the whole bottle. Then he got up and went out again.
When he came back he had a huge bottle of (and I'm not certain of the name)
samshui.It is a sort of wine, and it has a horrible taste.He sat down again and
poured a glass of it.He took one sip and toppled off the stool. We carried him in
to his bunk where he spent the rest of the day sleeping it off
The Return of the Prince
Before many days, the HMCS Prince Robert, the same ship that had escorted us
to Hong Kong in 1941, docked again in Kowloon. Our first contact with home
was a visit from one of the officers from the ship.
Lance Corporal Les went out of the camp and returned with a 26 ounce bottle of
Johnny Walker Red Lable. He got a little table, about a foot square, and a small
stool. He carefully spread a small white cloth over the table, and put the bottle and
a glass on it. Then he sat down and poured himself a drink, He didn't get up until
he had polished off the whole bottle. Then he got up and went out again.
When he came back he had a huge bottle of (and I'm not certain of the name)
samshui.It is a sort of wine, and it has a horrible taste.He sat down again and
poured a glass of it.He took one sip and toppled off the stool. We carried him in
to his bunk where he spent the rest of the day sleeping it off
The Return of the Prince
Before many days, the HMCS Prince Robert, the same ship that had escorted us
to Hong Kong in 1941, docked again in Kowloon. Our first contact with home
was a visit from one of the officers from the ship.
This now famous picture appears in almost every book that was written by or
about Hong Kong POWs.It shows the Canadian officer handing out cartons of
good Canadian cigarettes to us at the main gate at ShamShuiPo.
If you look carefully you'll see a forlorn figure walking along at the upper right
corner. That is yours truly, uncertain about what was about to take place, and not
anxious to be seen in an emaciated state by the folks back home.
I said afterwards that nobody would see a picture of my skinny frame.I can
identify most of the men in that picture, having lived in close quarters with them for
almost four years.
I'll name them here, and I think I am right,but no doubt there will be differences of
opinion. If so, I would appreciate hearing about it if you don't agree.
From left to right, in a general order they are, to the best of my recollection:
Unknown, Henry Lyons, Dr. Grey, unknown, Raymond Quirion, Bob Olscamp,
Col. Jack Price, George Everett, unknown,Jim MacLean, Louis Gignac,
Canadian officer, unknown, Quentin Mulrooney, Roman Chapados, Ken
Chesser, John Hoosha, Jim Cook, George Sands, Rfm Dimes, Graydon Heath,
and of course, myself, upper right corner.
I am reminded of what one of our fellows, a farm boy, originally, said about being
released. He said, "I feel just like a calf that has been penned up all winter, and
when the door is opened in the spring, the calf will put out one foot cautiously,
then withdraw it, then try again until he is sure that it will be all right to go out!"
Major "B" had lived in comparative luxury, just inside the prison camp gate. He
was believed by all of us to have been a collaborator with the Japanese. He was
hauled unceremoniously from his hut and propelled by the seat of his pants down
the main street, dumped into a latrine and locked in.
We lined up along the road and applauded his progress.I have heard that on his
return to his homeland he was tried for his behaviour in the prison camp, and his
contribution to the distress and discomfort, if not the death of some of his fellow
prisoners. He was dismissed and released. None of us who lived through those
years in ShamShuiPo wish him any kind of good fortune.
about Hong Kong POWs.It shows the Canadian officer handing out cartons of
good Canadian cigarettes to us at the main gate at ShamShuiPo.
If you look carefully you'll see a forlorn figure walking along at the upper right
corner. That is yours truly, uncertain about what was about to take place, and not
anxious to be seen in an emaciated state by the folks back home.
I said afterwards that nobody would see a picture of my skinny frame.I can
identify most of the men in that picture, having lived in close quarters with them for
almost four years.
I'll name them here, and I think I am right,but no doubt there will be differences of
opinion. If so, I would appreciate hearing about it if you don't agree.
From left to right, in a general order they are, to the best of my recollection:
Unknown, Henry Lyons, Dr. Grey, unknown, Raymond Quirion, Bob Olscamp,
Col. Jack Price, George Everett, unknown,Jim MacLean, Louis Gignac,
Canadian officer, unknown, Quentin Mulrooney, Roman Chapados, Ken
Chesser, John Hoosha, Jim Cook, George Sands, Rfm Dimes, Graydon Heath,
and of course, myself, upper right corner.
I am reminded of what one of our fellows, a farm boy, originally, said about being
released. He said, "I feel just like a calf that has been penned up all winter, and
when the door is opened in the spring, the calf will put out one foot cautiously,
then withdraw it, then try again until he is sure that it will be all right to go out!"
Major "B" had lived in comparative luxury, just inside the prison camp gate. He
was believed by all of us to have been a collaborator with the Japanese. He was
hauled unceremoniously from his hut and propelled by the seat of his pants down
the main street, dumped into a latrine and locked in.
We lined up along the road and applauded his progress.I have heard that on his
return to his homeland he was tried for his behaviour in the prison camp, and his
contribution to the distress and discomfort, if not the death of some of his fellow
prisoners. He was dismissed and released. None of us who lived through those
years in ShamShuiPo wish him any kind of good fortune.