More tales
Hugh A claimed to have been a labour organizer. His head was bald and
covered with scars which he said were the result of encounters with those
"reactionary bastards" affiliated with management.
covered with scars which he said were the result of encounters with those
"reactionary bastards" affiliated with management.
Hugh was an excitable fellow, quick to anger and positive in his approach
to any problem. He was a good bridge player, and he often joined in a
game in the corner of our hospital hut.
to any problem. He was a good bridge player, and he often joined in a
game in the corner of our hospital hut.
One day we were playing between two bunks, north and south seated on
the bunks and east and west on wooden stools between them.
the bunks and east and west on wooden stools between them.
Reg Taylor, a nervous fellow, was seated on a bunk beside one of us,
when suddenly, and without warning, an American fighter plane zoomed
low over the camp and loosed a burst of machine gun fire at the docks
across the cove from the camp.
when suddenly, and without warning, an American fighter plane zoomed
low over the camp and loosed a burst of machine gun fire at the docks
across the cove from the camp.
Everyone dived for cover, and Reg, in his haste to get to safety, hooked
his foot in Hugh's stool and upended him into the corner.
his foot in Hugh's stool and upended him into the corner.
Hugh came up with a roar, fists clenched, and ready to punch out the
"reactionary" who had abused his dignity!
"reactionary" who had abused his dignity!
How these unimportant and mundane incidents amused us and stayed in
our memory at a time when so little occurred to occupy our minds, gives
some indication of the uneventful life we lived in ShamShuiPo.
our memory at a time when so little occurred to occupy our minds, gives
some indication of the uneventful life we lived in ShamShuiPo.
Hugh A
Mental Illness
That not more of us cracked under the strain of confinement, starvation,
abuse, disease, and emotional distress, is something that amazes me and is
witness to the strength of character of the Canadians in ShamShuiPo.
abuse, disease, and emotional distress, is something that amazes me and is
witness to the strength of character of the Canadians in ShamShuiPo.
Perhaps I was one of the more fortunate. Other than my parents back
home and my brother and sisters all of whom were able to take care of
themselves, I had no emotional ties that affected me personally.
home and my brother and sisters all of whom were able to take care of
themselves, I had no emotional ties that affected me personally.
But consider the man who perhaps had a wife and children in Canada,
living on army allowances, lonely, beset by temptations of many kinds, and
prone to yield to those temptations.
living on army allowances, lonely, beset by temptations of many kinds, and
prone to yield to those temptations.
Thoughts of home and the fears that these temptations might cause the
loved one to falter, must have entered the nightmares of the married man.
loved one to falter, must have entered the nightmares of the married man.
One man who had cracked, and had tried to end it all by slashing his
wrists, was brought into our hospital hut in the middle of the night. He was
difficult for us,who at that time were scarcely able to wobble around, to
hold him and prevent him from doing more harm to himself.
wrists, was brought into our hospital hut in the middle of the night. He was
difficult for us,who at that time were scarcely able to wobble around, to
hold him and prevent him from doing more harm to himself.
I am happy to report that he recovered and got back home. However,I
have heard faint rumours that he had some mental problems later in life.
have heard faint rumours that he had some mental problems later in life.
Another of our fellows broke down so severely that he used to howl at the
full moon shining in through his window. This was distressing to all of us,
because he was a fellow that everyone liked.
full moon shining in through his window. This was distressing to all of us,
because he was a fellow that everyone liked.
One night he became so agitated that he undertook to walk home. He got
as far as the guard house, where the guards put him in a cell, and called
for us to go and get him.
as far as the guard house, where the guards put him in a cell, and called
for us to go and get him.
The Japanese guards seemed to have a fear of mentally disturbed people.
When his rescuers got there, the guards were peeking fearfully into the
cell, and were reluctant to go near their prisoner.
When his rescuers got there, the guards were peeking fearfully into the
cell, and were reluctant to go near their prisoner.
Doc Savage, who was perhaps the most frail among us, maintained that
our "patient" was a gentleman, because, in sparring with Doc, he strictly
observed the Marquis of Queensbury Rules!
our "patient" was a gentleman, because, in sparring with Doc, he strictly
observed the Marquis of Queensbury Rules!
This man also survived the prison camps and returned home, but I have
heard that he also had mental problems after leaving the service.
heard that he also had mental problems after leaving the service.
There were others as well who became depressed and retreated into
themselves. However, the daily struggle to survive, to wonder what next
would be around the corner, to look forward to one's turn to get "burnt
rice", kept most of sane until that happy day when we gained our freedom
once more.
themselves. However, the daily struggle to survive, to wonder what next
would be around the corner, to look forward to one's turn to get "burnt
rice", kept most of sane until that happy day when we gained our freedom
once more.
As a footnote, I should tell you that "burnt rice" was the crust that formed
inside the cooking pot, and was a little more palatable than the soggy mass
that was otherwise dished out.
inside the cooking pot, and was a little more palatable than the soggy mass
that was otherwise dished out.