Mature ‘motherly ladies’, probably form the WRVS helped at the Cheero Club and China Fleet Club helped if needed on welfare matters at home. I recall it was one of these ladies who arranged delivery of flowers to my sister Joan, when she was married. Incidentally, these turned out to be the only English ladies we ever had the opportunity to make contact with in the whole of our service in Hong Kong and our return 18 months later.
I made special reference in one of my first letters home, dated 15 April 1950, to a visit to the China Fleet Club and part is perhaps worth quoting:
[T]he three of us had the meal on a balcony overlooking the harbor, and waited on…it was a pleasant change to have a table cloth and choice of knives and forks. First we had a terrific tomato soup with fried bread, then sardines on toast with chips. After these tasters we had…pork, roasted spuds, carrots, green peas and apple sauce. This was delicious. For sweet we had some macaroni which tasted just like ice cream. To finish we had coffee. The whole for HK$ 3.20
That is about 4/- shillings, now UK 20p, or US 30 cents.
Victoria and Kowloon
We explored both Victoria and Kowloon. It never made any difference whether it was a weekday, Saturday or Sunday they were always busy. We never got far from the main streets or the European areas as everywhere else was ‘out of bounds’ to us. In any event I never felt the urge to explore the Chinese districts of narrow ladder like streets and tall tenement buildings hung with flags and washing, or the overcrowded and squalid shanty towns. Everywhere day and night the streets thronged with busy people cooking, sleeping, chattering and selling fruits and vegetables, along with barbers, letter writers and mahjong players. All this was accompanied by incessant clamor of strange noises and peculiar aromas as well as unpleasant smells. The teeming people, the noise of it all, the discordant Chinese music, exotic and unpleasant smells pressed in and demanded your attention.
The Chinese paid little heed of us. In army fashion and slang they were to us all ‘chinks’. This was true of them generally in the country or in the town. Whether we were in uniform, on duty or in civilian attire they were indifferent and never imposed themselves nor importuned to the extent of the Arabs and Indians we came across on our outward voyage. There seemed few beggars as such but many had nothing but the street to make their home. With each other they conversed at the top of their voices in a hard piercing tone and what seemed an aggressive manner. It appeared to us that every one acted only for themselves in a forcible manner showing little compassion and courtesy.
Pretty accurate description, the plane you mention was a ‘Mustang’, after the radio station in Shum Chun.
Thank you John for those remarks and your interest in my story. It’s even more interesting that after sixty five years the event is remembered. It did too at the time make an impression. It all happened so suddenly and was over so quickly. Not something that usually occurred at morning parade.
It appears you have some knowledge of the incident, can you add anything more about it?
Hi John.
I have followed you account with much interest.
You have the facts.
Perhaps you remember the typhoon that followed almost directly after we erected the tents, and demolished the lot. Incidentaly, i remember that after the rain, while a mob of naked soldiers were trying to get some order, a concert party called ‘The Four Aces. appeared and were quickly ushered the Officers Mess to avoid embarrassment ( not ours, I think).
Hey ho.
John.
John, it is apparent from your remarks you and I served time together at Lo Wu, will you say in what capacity?
I can’t say I can recall you directly but in some manner your name seems familiar. I look forward to learning a little more about you.
I think the plane incident and the typhoon were two particularly memorable events at Lo Wu, though it’s probably also true to say the whole experience of Lo Wu is unforgettable.
And I’ve certainly forgotten about that concert party but I can’t forget the hilarity that ensued in course of the torrential rains and its consequences. Something along the lines of a schoolboy lark.
One other matter I have since learned about was the strenuous effort involved in manpacking all the gear up to the OP was subsequently avoided because mules were later employed on the duty instead of of us squaddies. Some had it cushy!
So glad you got in touch, and If you have anything more to add please feel free to do so. How long ago it all was.
My regards,
John.
Hi,John.
As far as I was involved in the in the “man packing’ exercise, the practice of using mules never happened, as it was thought that the animal could carry little more than a soldier and was not as docile.
John, It was after our time. It seems remarkable that mules were employed at all. Why use a mule when you have a squaddy?
Character forming yes, and it did us no harm. It makes me smile when I hear complaints from teen agers about some aspects of their lot today. As was said “…they need to get their service in..”
Please keep up your remarks and tell us something of your NS experience. You clearly retain memories of it.
Regards,
John.
Hi,John ,
I was a regular, a fourth generation ‘gunner’,Your observations as a National Service man are very interesting.I was sorry to hear of Tim Tate-Smith, I bumped into him in Moulton(?) in ’71,while I working on the Shale belt.Bill Hale.Captain Ret.and Major Tilburn Ret,have now gone, but I was lucky enough to serve with them later and they both supported me at my wedding.I left the Army as a W.O. Surveyor 1, A.R.I. working overseas most of the time, including seven years with the S.O.A.
My infrequent visits to the U.K. persuaded me that I would not live there, We now live happily in a small town in France, where I am accepted as a welcome foreigner, not the case in the United States of Britain. So now you have it,Take care,
John.
Very interesting John, sad about Tim TS-we were good friends and he was best man at my wedding-and delighted in Sergeant Hale making Captain well deserved and at which I am not surprised and Capt Tilburn, as was, getting his majority. He was a gentleman and respected us. I thought highly of him. As I did also of Surveyor Sergeants and Warrant Officer’s, accomplished Surveyors RA and good soldiers who set a good example to us squaddies.
Can you say a little more about your service and the gentlemen in question?
I’m not surprised at your living outside of the UK, the USofA has been good to our sons and to us and we could not visualize living elsewhere. I’m glad you are happy with your new life. As we are here. There’s something to be said for starting one in later years. What is amusing about ours is that one day we were residents of staid Tunbridge Wells and immediately on my retirement, of Montana. Different in so many ways!
You did inquire about Brian’s story. I’m sorry there I can’t provide the translations you sought but I can say its purpose is a placeholder for subsequent contributions. The most likely first one is of a Surveyor RA with 15 Locating Battery as it became, and his experiences in Korea.
I now realize you don’t have the same tale as mine, but we do have shared expereinces and if you would care to let us know about them there will be any number of interested readers. And, of whom I should be one. If so please let me know and I can arrange it.
It was so very kind of you to get in touch and I do so appreciate it.
And you too, take care.
John.