Walking Out
John Hoosha and I had been in the hospital together for a long time, and
we developed a friendship that carried on after we were liberated.
we developed a friendship that carried on after we were liberated.
One day we set out to visit the Prince Robert, still docked in Kowloon.
On the way we passed a Japanese guard house, and boldly entered, to
see about thirty or forty Japanese soldiers sitting around a long table.
On the way we passed a Japanese guard house, and boldly entered, to
see about thirty or forty Japanese soldiers sitting around a long table.
In an adjoining room they had stacked all their rifles and Swords. We
helped ourselves to a couple of samurai swords each, and started out the
door.
helped ourselves to a couple of samurai swords each, and started out the
door.
One of the Japs approached us with a clip board and made motions that
we should sign for the swords. The army is the army! So we humoured
them by signing. I signed "Clark Gable" the first fictitious name that came
to mind.
we should sign for the swords. The army is the army! So we humoured
them by signing. I signed "Clark Gable" the first fictitious name that came
to mind.
We proceeded on to the Prince Robert, where we were received royally,
and offered anything we wanted in the way of food and drink. I remember
biting into a slice of buttered white bread, the most delicious thing I had
tasted in four years!
and offered anything we wanted in the way of food and drink. I remember
biting into a slice of buttered white bread, the most delicious thing I had
tasted in four years!
I gave one of my swords to a young sailor on the ship. I have often
wondered if he still has it. I still have mine, on loan, perhaps permanently,
to the Bay Chaleur Military Museum.
wondered if he still has it. I still have mine, on loan, perhaps permanently,
to the Bay Chaleur Military Museum.
Transportation
We met a native Chinese who had obviously been a man of substance in
pre-war Hong Kong. He owned a car which he had dismantled in 1941
when the invasion took place, and he had placed the motor in one section
of Kowloon, the transmission in another, and so on.
pre-war Hong Kong. He owned a car which he had dismantled in 1941
when the invasion took place, and he had placed the motor in one section
of Kowloon, the transmission in another, and so on.
He done this to prevent his car from being used by the invaders. When
hostilities were safely over, he re-assembled the parts and had his car
back again.
hostilities were safely over, he re-assembled the parts and had his car
back again.
He must have thought he somehow owed us a debt of gratitude for our
failed attempt at defending his home, so he lent us his car to roam the city.
failed attempt at defending his home, so he lent us his car to roam the city.
And roam the city we did! Bottles of Napoleon brandy had mysteriously
found their way back into circulation. We raided a Japanese warehouse
and availed ourselves of some woolen blankets which were eagerly
accepted for bottles of the finest French Cognac.
found their way back into circulation. We raided a Japanese warehouse
and availed ourselves of some woolen blankets which were eagerly
accepted for bottles of the finest French Cognac.
The same family one day invited us to share a meal with them. It was a
sumptuous affair! There were bottles of scotch, gin, brandy, and wine. We
were seated around a big round table, on which the gracious lady of the
house , and a servant, served course after course of Chinese delicacies,
and urged us to help ourselves.
sumptuous affair! There were bottles of scotch, gin, brandy, and wine. We
were seated around a big round table, on which the gracious lady of the
house , and a servant, served course after course of Chinese delicacies,
and urged us to help ourselves.
The meal lasted most of the afternoon. Never before or since have I been
served more graciously, or has my appetite for food been so satisfied!
served more graciously, or has my appetite for food been so satisfied!
The car the Chinese gentleman had lent us was carbureted to burn
alcohol. We found a Japanese fuel dump that had 45 gallon drums of the
stuff. While attempting to get some of the alcohol for the car, I was
accosted by a patrol from one of the British ships in the harbour.
alcohol. We found a Japanese fuel dump that had 45 gallon drums of the
stuff. While attempting to get some of the alcohol for the car, I was
accosted by a patrol from one of the British ships in the harbour.
I was dressed in some clothes I had scrounged from somewhere, a pair of
army shorts, an army cap, and a pair of knee-length rubber Boots. When
I answered them in English, they wanted to know what army I belonged
to. I had trouble convincing them that I was a recently liberated POW.
army shorts, an army cap, and a pair of knee-length rubber Boots. When
I answered them in English, they wanted to know what army I belonged
to. I had trouble convincing them that I was a recently liberated POW.
Farewell to Hong Kong
Before long, probably about the first of September, we were assembled
and loaded aboard the Empress of Australia
and loaded aboard the Empress of Australia
I had over-indulged in all the good food that had been provided and
became quite ill. It was diagnosed as "jaundice". I was very nauseated and
my skin became yellow.
became quite ill. It was diagnosed as "jaundice". I was very nauseated and
my skin became yellow.
By the time we sailed I had recovered, and arrived in Manila in relatively
good health, after a tryingly, slow voyage from Hong Kong.
good health, after a tryingly, slow voyage from Hong Kong.
In Manila we were billeted in tents in an American Army Camp. There I
met some old friends who had arrived there from POW camps join Japan,
as well as a large number of liberate American POWs. I remember
especially Elden MacWhirter, with whom I had joined up in 1940.
met some old friends who had arrived there from POW camps join Japan,
as well as a large number of liberate American POWs. I remember
especially Elden MacWhirter, with whom I had joined up in 1940.
Manila