Albert Jillott was my Grandfather. As far as I know he arrived in Hong Kong after the 1st world war on a ship from Archangel in Russia. He had been posted there with the Royal Marines. The story goes that at the end of the war he slipped the billeting officer a few quid and asked to be put on the next ship out of there. That went to Hong Kong, so that’s where he stayed.
He worked at Hong Kong Prison until his retirement in 1954, at which point he was Assistant Commissioner of Prisons and was awarded the MBE for his work. It may amuse you to know that he retired at the age of 53 and proceeded to live until he was 92. He was therefore receiving his government pension for longer than he actually worked for them!
He was married to Maude, with two daughters: Cynthia Valerie (my mother, who has always used Valerie as her name) and Diana. Diana sadly passed away last month, but my mother is still going strong at 85!
The ladies of the family were all evacuated to Australia during the war years. Mum told me a lovely story about how, after they had settled in Melbourne, Australia, her mother (my Grandmother) won a raffle at the local Hong Kong evacuees luncheon, and that gave her the opportunity to broadcast a message on the radio in Hong Kong.
When it was broadcast, my Grandfather had just finished his shift as a prison officer in Hong Kong Prison and wandered next door into the police HQ bar for a well-deserved drink. He was quite a loud character and made his usual rumbustious entrance to the bar, but was told to be quiet as the evacuated wives were broadcasting on the radio and the men wanted to hear if any of their wives were included. Of course, my Grandmother's voice came over the radio with a message that they were all OK and missing him, at which point my Grandfather turned right around, returned to the prison, and requested he take the leave that was owing to him so he could visit his family in Australia. It was perfect timing for him, as a few days after he left Hong Kong it fell to the Japanese.
I look forward to hearing from anyone who has any further information on their time in Hong Kong.
Comments
Mr Jillott had a long career
Mr Jillott had a long career in the Prison Service. Page J84 of the Blue Book for 1924 gives the 'Date of First Appointment', ie when he started work there, as 1st March 1922.
Albert Jillott service record
I was in the PRO today, looking at Civil Service lIsts so took the opportunity of finding Mr Jillott in the 1937 list. I've managed (whayhay!! ) to post a photo of it, but attaching it to here is way too complicated .... so it appears as a separate item, sorry
Patricia
Patricia's find
Albert Jillott
Albert Jillott 23 May 1901 - 1993
Death 1993 Wolverhampton date of birth on death record 23 May 1901
Albert Jillott
4 Bentley St Lockwood Huddersfield, Lockwood, Yorkshire & Yorkshire (West Riding), England
Albert Jillott born Lockwwood Yorkshire living with parents and siblings Father Tom Jillott a warp dresser and mother Sarah Ann a fruiterer
Thank you
Patricia,
Thank you so much for this information. We haven't seen this record before.
Best wishes,
Liz.
Thank you
Thank you so much for this information. It fills in a few more gaps in the family history.
Best wishes,
Liz.
Albert Jillott
My father was Superintendent of Stanley Prison after the war, having been interned in Stanley for the duration, and went on to become Commissioner of Prisons in 1953, so he would have known Bud, as he was called, well. He wrote a short account of his own career, and I've lifted this from it:
By then (October 1945 when he went home to England finally) some of the prison officers who had been on leave when war broke out had returned. One of these was "Bud" Jillott, an ex-Royal Marine whose great knowledge of prison administration was to be invaluable. His service background was also useful, as the prison was to be temporarily manned in the absence of sufficient warder staff, by Royal Marines.
Thank you, Kirsty
Dear Kirsty,
Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I will show it to my mother later who will be delighted to hear this. He was indeed known as Bud, the nickname continued after he returned to England and I still remember him being addressed this way when I was a child.
Thank you once again and best wishes,
Liz.