Love is a many splendoured thing

Tue, 09/23/2014 - 07:47

I have my mothers passport which I travelled on as a child.  It shows a disembarkation stamp for Singapore dated 22 December 1949.  On the back of the picture is written "SS Canton Jan 1950".  In the picture I am sitting in a bath with my arm in plaster.  I believe we left HK for UK on or about 16 December 1949.  The arm was broken in a fall into a storm nullah above Caine Road Police Flats 3 days before my family was due to sail to UK.  I was taken to (Queen ...) Hospital where a Eurasian Doctor set my arm in all three times.  My mother told me it was the author Han Suyin.  I can remember the ether mask used, the drops,  and the smell and sensation of this anaesthetic.  I cannot remember the Doctor.  Thought you might be interested.

Separately I have my fathers passport used to get to HK at the end of the war.  The stamps of his and my mother's may be of interest to historians.  I also have their HK Driving Licences and other documentation.

Date picture taken
1950s

Comments

Hi Stephen,

Is your mum Emma May Adkins and you have an older brother and sister, David and Nina? If yes and you’re interested I can send you the passenger manifest naming your family when they left UK for HK in 1946 and for your trip to HK in 1955 (the latter was also the SS Canton)

PS if you give permission, I am happy for admin to send you my email address

David