I was surprised to come across two images in the Ewart Hunt gallery that feature in the book "Hongkong" by Swiss writer/photographer Martin Hurlimann (published 1969).
The images in question are Ewart sampan girl and Hakka Woman.
I have no idea what this means, but I felt moved to point it out!
Simon
Many thanks to James Ross for inviting me on to today's Morning Brew programme on RTHK Radio 3, for a chat about old Hong Kong photos and the latest Gwulo book.
You can hear us at the link below. Scroll down to the "30/12/2019 - David Bellis - Old Hong Kong Photos and the Tales They Tell" segment and click the arrow to play:
https://www.rthk.hk/radio/radio3/programme/morning_brew/episode/615360
Hello,
I would like to ask, when was the first time, the bay, (which is now called Discovery Bay, ) has been mentioned somewhere in a journal or document, back in the early years of the colonization. Were there fishing people living on that part of the island ? As well with the development of Mui Wo which was known for mining silver.
Any help and information about early settlements, historical facts, in Lantau, Mui Wo and what is now Discovery Bay is very much appreciated.
Thank you very much and a Happy New Year to all members
I have found afew old photos from when my father Brian Tunnicliff did his national service and arrived in Hong Kong on the Nevasa. It's probably a long shot but does anyone recognise any of his friends?
Gwulo users may find the China Families site useful. On it you can find a growing body of information about men and women of many different nationalities, professions and ages, who lived and worked in China between the 1850s and 1940s.
These records have been drawn from government department lists, legal and diplomatic records, cemetery lists, and during research undertaken for a number of projects on the history of modern China and of the foreign relations of China.
CHINA FAMILIES https://www.chinafamilies.net/
Hi, I am tracing an ancestor that died intestate in China in 1912. According to the British Supreme Court for China, intestate memo books register record, his father's address is given as Sailor's Home, West Point, Hong Kong. My family believes this may have been a 'post office box' as we know he lived elsewhere with quit a large family. Can anyone advise on this. Thank you.
Does anyone have a picture of my fathers regiment from REME 7th Queens Hussars 1957/58/59?
im unsure which year he would be in but he was born 1935.
I've been asked recently about May Road. I'd assumed that it was named after FH May, Governor 1912-19 ... and at https://gwulo.com/atom/23602 Gen Suzuki gives us the Wikipedia entry for it which say so.
But ... it was started in 1907 and the person who signed the announcement of its naming in the Government Gazette was none other than then Colonial Secretary F H May - see http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkgro/view/g1907/6398.pdf
Sure, May's a bit of a hero of mine, but I am willing to acknowledge his faults. However, such blatant self-aggrandisement wasn't one of them, nor would he have got away with such either from the Colonial Office or the HK Press.
So I start to assume that the road was named after Charles May, long time Police Magistrate etc. But a hunt through all the relevant records I can lay my hands on at the moment hasn't yielded confirmation of that. Has anyone any ideas, please?
If I had been able to find a map of Tsim Sha Tsui in the late fifties I would have found my answer without bothering other readers.
On the east side of Nathan Road between Middle and Mody Roads there was a very short cul-de-sac leading to a group of shops and Henry's Cafe, laid out in a circle. I have been straining my memory for the name of this street. Can nayone helo me? I think the whole area was redevoped in 1958/59 together with the Melbourne Hotel.
Nick Wilson
https://www.uchicago.hk/events/on-the-verge-of-metropolis-squatters-in-h...
I'm hoping to go to this ... or rather I was, but I notice that at least half of it is in Cantonese. As a non-speaker, does anyone have any idea if such talks come with any translation usually ... ?
Thanks!
My Grandfather Malcolm Sandison was part of C Squadron in the 17th/21st Royal Lancers in the mid-late 1950’s based in Germany. He was the driver of a Centurion Mk3 later converted to a Mk5, registration 02ZR72. For the past few years I have tried to track down his pride and joy, learning that the majority ended up being exported to Hong Kong for the Vietnam war and then onto Australia. I have had no luck in finding this particular Centurion unfortunately as of yet and was wondering if you could possibly shed any light or know anyone whom I could speak to. Thank you so much in advance, I look forward to your reply.
I've been having problems getting this to load in the last 24 hours ... and a few months ago all I could get was an error message. Each time I've emailed the webmaster (webmaster@lib.hku.hk) and a wonderful person there has got it up and running again within 5 minutes! We (ok, I ) moan and groan about access to material in HK ... so I have to shout about it a bit when things work this well! I've had a follow up email saying that the new server has had some issues but they are working on it. Indeed they are. Good people there!
The book Eastern Fortress has the claim of barracks at Tin Wan and Tai Tam (p.10), and Eitel claims that in 1843 Pottinger pushed forward ‘vigorously’ the building of ‘substantial’ barracks in Aberdeen and Stanley (p.185). However, I haven't found any contemporary records of a barracks at Aberdeen.
The chapter and verse is in TRANSACTIONS OF THE MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF BOMBAY for 1847 and 1848, the first article - “Contributions to the Military Medical Statistics of China”, by John Kinnis, M.D., Deputy Inspector General of Her Majesty's Hospitals.
He notes two permanent barracks, both begun in 1844 and first occupied in 1846: Murray and North Barracks (which are so minutely described one could almost draw the plans!). He mentions thereafter several temporary barracks around ‘Artillery Hill’, some brick and stone for the RE and RA, but temporary wooden and mat buildings (from what I can see mainly for Indian Army troops), which included a hospital and “seven (barrack buildings) in number, arranged in two groups on opposite sides of the rivulet that feeds the drains of Murray Barracks; constructed of mats, with floors, internal walls, and ceiling of planks; the windows glazed only alternately on each side, but all provided with folding shutters.”
Kinnis goes on to note that even with these there was not enough accommodation and that an ex-hospital near West Point was taken over from March 1845, a “substantial, hired, brick buildings on the sea shore near the west end of the town” for 438 men. In addition a large private house that had been being used also as a hospital, was taken over for 100 men and renamed Gillespie Barracks “in the east part of town”. There were also two floors taken over for troop and invalid accommodation on Hollywood Road.
Stanley is described as having nine permanent buildings (Officer’s mess, commandant, two senior officers & RE officer houses, sgts mess, guard house, school house, hospital) and seven temporary barracks – though they seem far from temporary, “The floors of the temporary barracks are boarded and raised several feet above the foundation, the walls are of brick whitewashed but not plastered, the roofs tiled, the verandahs, of which the corners are generally converted into Serjeants' quarters, are paved with brick flags. Every barrack is surrounded by a surface drain, with kitchens, wash-houses and privies, at the ends or sides. The windows are four feet high and three wide.”
Kinnis also minutely describes Saiwan, but with neither Saiwan nor Stanley does he say they are too unhealthy to continue. He notes some of Stanley’s temporary barracks are unhealthier than others, but makes no mention of any problems with Saiwan, which he notes had been completed in 1844.
The only other military accommodation Kinnis mentions is the use of the small battery on Kellett Island as a overspill barracks for a handful of men.
So, I suspect nothing ever got built outside West Point, Central and Ha Wan other than Saiwan and Stanley.
Best,
Stephen
Hi
I have been looking at the few items left by my uncle Robert Sidney Hill after his death last year.
He was born in Shanghai, interred by the Japanese during the war, moved to Hong Kong with his parents (Arthur) Sidney and Marie Florence Hill, was educated in England, and returned to Hong Kong to work for Sidney.
Two items that he held on to were silver tankards 1: H.K.S.R.A. 4th Division Winners 1966-7 and 2: Y.M.C.A.I - R.S. Hill, A.B. Lawrence, O. Littler, D Maker, M Owen, G Beresford.
I have no idea what either represent and wonder if you can help.
Regards
Richard Wedekind.
Does anyone know anything about an organisation called The Halcyon Circle? It is mentioned a few times in the South China Morning Post, first mention in 1940 and last in 1949. It seems to have been a group of women of different ethnicities who met at each other's homes - for what prupose I don't know. Lady Northcote, the Governor's wife, attended one meeting.
How would I find out where he is buried, it is only because of your website I now know the burial took place on the 9th of October 1915 at St John’s Cathedral. He was born 21st of April 1913. Where would I find an article or notice of his death.
Helen Cuming
These may be two completely different places ... but has anyone ideas about where Sheki or Shek I ... near Macao (by implication not in HK) might be - the year is 1900.
And another story I'm working on has a reference to Shekki Junk Wharf. I am fairly sure that this is in HK. The year for this one is 1927.
Any help will be much appreciated!
Patricia
The book Eastern Fortress has the claim of barracks at Tin Wan and Tai Tam (p.10), and Eitel claims that in 1843 Pottinger pushed forward ‘vigorously’ the building of ‘substantial’ barracks in Aberdeen and Stanley (p.185). However, I haven't found any contemporary records of a barracks at Aberdeen.
The chapter and verse is in TRANSACTIONS OF THE MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF BOMBAY for 1847 and 1848, the first article - “Contributions to the Military Medical Statistics of China”, by John Kinnis, M.D., Deputy Inspector General of Her Majesty's Hospitals.
He notes two permanent barracks, both begun in 1844 and first occupied in 1846: Murray and North Barracks (which are so minutely described one could almost draw the plans!). He mentions thereafter several temporary barracks around ‘Artillery Hill’, some brick and stone for the RE and RA, but temporary wooden and mat buildings (from what I can see mainly for Indian Army troops), which included a hospital and “seven (barrack buildings) in number, arranged in two groups on opposite sides of the rivulet that feeds the drains of Murray Barracks; constructed of mats, with floors, internal walls, and ceiling of planks; the windows glazed only alternately on each side, but all provided with folding shutters.”
Kinnis goes on to note that even with these there was not enough accommodation and that an ex-hospital near West Point was taken over from March 1845, a “substantial, hired, brick buildings on the sea shore near the west end of the town” for 438 men. In addition a large private house that had been being used also as a hospital, was taken over for 100 men and renamed Gillespie Barracks “in the east part of town”. There were also two floors taken over for troop and invalid accommodation on Hollywood Road.
Stanley is described as having nine permanent buildings (Officer’s mess, commandant, two senior officers & RE officer houses, sgts mess, guard house, school house, hospital) and seven temporary barracks – though they seem far from temporary, “The floors of the temporary barracks are boarded and raised several feet above the foundation, the walls are of brick whitewashed but not plastered, the roofs tiled, the verandahs, of which the corners are generally converted into Serjeants' quarters, are paved with brick flags. Every barrack is surrounded by a surface drain, with kitchens, wash-houses and privies, at the ends or sides. The windows are four feet high and three wide.”
Kinnis also minutely describes Saiwan, but with neither Saiwan nor Stanley does he say they are too unhealthy to continue. He notes some of Stanley’s temporary barracks are unhealthier than others, but makes no mention of any problems with Saiwan, which he notes had been completed in 1844.
The only other military accommodation Kinnis mentions is the use of the small battery on Kellett Island as a overspill barracks for a handful of men.
So, I suspect nothing ever got built outside West Point, Central and Ha Wan other than Saiwan and Stanley.
Best,
Stephen