Voyage of the Queen Elizabeth departed Southampton 16 September 1948 arrived New York 19 September 1948
George S Ladd 39 Single Nationality Portuguese Destination 106 Wall Street New York
Passenger List Southampton to Hong Kong October 1952
George Samuel Ladd 43 Accountant 62 Queensborough Terrace London W 2
Find a Grave
George S Ladd born 1908 Died 2006
Burial Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery and Mausoleum Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery and Mausoleum, Surrey, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada
Shortly after leaving Hong Kong sometime in April 1943, Yeo Tak Yee known also under the nom-de-plume of 'VAGRANT’ wrote a letter to Jimmy E. Kotwal asking for information about Ginger Hyde and several other people who have been arrested by the Japanese Authorities for trying to get Capt. Ansari of the Indian Army out of Hong Kong. Jimmy E. Kotwal wrote a reply giving what information he could obtain regarding the matter and handed the reply to Mrs. Yeo for remittance to Waichow. Shortly after this, Kotwal received a note from 'Vagrant' telling him of his (kotwal's) appointment to the staff of the British Army Intelligence and giving him his Number 120. Several other persons were also appointed including the undersigned G. S. Ladd and Saleh C. Ebrahim. These two names were given as 'Fat Boy Next Door' and 'Shanghai Taipan' respectively and as far as we could remember, the numbers 128 & 130 were given to us respectively. The note was shown to us by Kotwal. We appreciated the appointment and the confidence reposed in us. But in our opinion the purpose could better be served by having only one direct contact instead of several, so we agreed to work together the three of us as a team with Kotwal making the contact with Waichow.
Kotwal sent his first direct message to Waichow through Tam Shiu Wah - one of the ARP wardens under him during the war and received a reply from Major H.P. Willim congratulating Kotwal for accepting the work and wishing him best of luck.
In order to avoid detection should the message fall into the hands of the enemy, it was decided to use cipher code. Information given to Waichow included: Damage after bombing, Movements of ships, Local conditions, India Independence League affairs, Stanley Interment Camp news, Gun positions and any other news which in our opinion would be of interest to Waichow. It was apparent to us that the above was the information required by Waichow as evidenced by the following in one of their early messages: "Good work carry on along same lines."
This exchange of messages continued satisfactorily until December 1943 when Tam Shiu Wah failed to return to Hong Kong at the time expected. This caused us anxiety and we sent Lau King Sing, Kotwal's servant, to Waichow with a message to ascertain whether Tam had arrived with the message. Before Lau King Sing's return with Waichow's reply of Tam's non appearance at Waichow or of the arrival of the message carried by Tam, we were informed by Tam's wife whom Kotwal had been supporting during this time, that Tam had met with, an accident over the border and was not able to proceed.
Immediately on Lau King Sing’s return, another message was despatched to Waichow requesting the search of Tam over the border and relieving him of the message he was carrying. Waichow’s reply of their fruitless search for Tam was a great disappointment to us and caused us no little apprehension of the danger ahead of us.
One fine day in February 1944 Tam turned up with a story that be broke his ankle in escaping from the Japanese when he was chased on the way to Waichow. While having his ankle attended to in some village over the border, he contracted malaria and was unable to proceed and decided to return to Hong Kong on his recovery. He further told us that he was arrested on the border by Japanese on suspicion and was detained for three weeks before being released. He assured us that he had swallowed the message in the meantime. We however decided not to use Tam anymore. As it was not possible for him to earn a living here, we asked Waichow to take him over which Waichow agreed. He was then instructed to proceed to Waichow with his wife but he preferred to go alone first and send for his wife when he was settled.
Tam applied for the usual exit permit and when granted, instead of going by the official route, he went by the way he carried to and fro messages. This aroused — suspicion in our mind, however that was the last he heard of Tam.
As a result of apprehension, Kotwal decided to send his family away and sought Waichow's advice and we were thankful for Waichow's assent to receive the family at Majestic Hotel, Macau and assuring Kotwal that in case of need "we could extracate you".
Before we could make any move to send Kotwal's family away, the three of us were arrested together with some others on the 26th March, 1944. Under extreme torture which was humanly impossible to endure, all the three of us confessed the part we has played and what we know about the organisation. Lau King Sing was also arrested and he too was tortured and admitted the part he took. It was during our questioning, the message which Tam had assured us that he had swallowed was produced to our great astonishment and also an indicment dated 8th January 1944 from Waichow against Tam and other Indians was seen by Mr. Ladd.
The production of the message confirmed our suspicion that Tam had sold us and that the alleged accident was a fake. We were told on our release that Tam had called at Ebrahim's residence to inquire of Kotwal and had also obtained money from Mrs. Kotwall. Since Tam was at large whilst we three were going through, hell, we have not the slightest doubt that he gave the game away. Tam's wife too now confirms that he was a 'bad egg' and she further tell us that he is dead.
The Gendarmes completed their investigations in our alleged crime and handed us over to the Military Authorities in Stanley gaol on the 3rd May, 1944 i.e. after 38 days of cruel and inhuman treatment.
In the Stanley Gaol, the Remad Period of 119 days was of mental torture and suspense during which time we were twice called for questioning by a Military Prosecuting Attorney. On the 29th August, 1944, we were brought before the Military Tribunal where we were not given an opportunity to defend ourselves and were sentenced: Kotwall to death, Ladd & Ebrahim 8 years and Lau King Sing to 3 years imprisonment. Kotwall was executed on the 31st August, 1944 at about 2.30 in the afternoon. Lau died in Prison Hospital on September 4th, 1944.
On Japan's surrender, we were released on Thursday the 23rd August, 1945.
Kotwall gave his like for his country and is survived by his widow and 2 very young children for whose sake, we appeal for generous help and all that is due to him. Lau King Sing's widow & a child too deserves sympathies.
Comments
George Samuel Ladd
George Samuel Ladd was born in 1908 or 1909. He was a member of the Portuguese/Macanese community:
https://jonmarkgreville2.wordpress.com/2021/06/14/macanese-roll-of-hono…
George Samuel Ladd
Voyage of the Queen Elizabeth departed Southampton 16 September 1948 arrived New York 19 September 1948
George S Ladd 39 Single Nationality Portuguese Destination 106 Wall Street New York
Passenger List Southampton to Hong Kong October 1952
George Samuel Ladd 43 Accountant 62 Queensborough Terrace London W 2
Find a Grave
George S Ladd born 1908 Died 2006
Burial Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery and Mausoleum Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery and Mausoleum, Surrey, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada
G S Ladd statement 15 Sep 1945
Statement made by G S Ladd on 15 September 1945:
Shortly after leaving Hong Kong sometime in April 1943, Yeo Tak Yee known also under the nom-de-plume of 'VAGRANT’ wrote a letter to Jimmy E. Kotwal asking for information about Ginger Hyde and several other people who have been arrested by the Japanese Authorities for trying to get Capt. Ansari of the Indian Army out of Hong Kong. Jimmy E. Kotwal wrote a reply giving what information he could obtain regarding the matter and handed the reply to Mrs. Yeo for remittance to Waichow. Shortly after this, Kotwal received a note from 'Vagrant' telling him of his (kotwal's) appointment to the staff of the British Army Intelligence and giving him his Number 120. Several other persons were also appointed including the undersigned G. S. Ladd and Saleh C. Ebrahim. These two names were given as 'Fat Boy Next Door' and 'Shanghai Taipan' respectively and as far as we could remember, the numbers 128 & 130 were given to us respectively. The note was shown to us by Kotwal. We appreciated the appointment and the confidence reposed in us. But in our opinion the purpose could better be served by having only one direct contact instead of several, so we agreed to work together the three of us as a team with Kotwal making the contact with Waichow.
Kotwal sent his first direct message to Waichow through Tam Shiu Wah - one of the ARP wardens under him during the war and received a reply from Major H.P. Willim congratulating Kotwal for accepting the work and wishing him best of luck.
In order to avoid detection should the message fall into the hands of the enemy, it was decided to use cipher code. Information given to Waichow included: Damage after bombing, Movements of ships, Local conditions, India Independence League affairs, Stanley Interment Camp news, Gun positions and any other news which in our opinion would be of interest to Waichow. It was apparent to us that the above was the information required by Waichow as evidenced by the following in one of their early messages: "Good work carry on along same lines."
This exchange of messages continued satisfactorily until December 1943 when Tam Shiu Wah failed to return to Hong Kong at the time expected. This caused us anxiety and we sent Lau King Sing, Kotwal's servant, to Waichow with a message to ascertain whether Tam had arrived with the message. Before Lau King Sing's return with Waichow's reply of Tam's non appearance at Waichow or of the arrival of the message carried by Tam, we were informed by Tam's wife whom Kotwal had been supporting during this time, that Tam had met with, an accident over the border and was not able to proceed.
Immediately on Lau King Sing’s return, another message was despatched to Waichow requesting the search of Tam over the border and relieving him of the message he was carrying. Waichow’s reply of their fruitless search for Tam was a great disappointment to us and caused us no little apprehension of the danger ahead of us.
One fine day in February 1944 Tam turned up with a story that be broke his ankle in escaping from the Japanese when he was chased on the way to Waichow. While having his ankle attended to in some village over the border, he contracted malaria and was unable to proceed and decided to return to Hong Kong on his recovery. He further told us that he was arrested on the border by Japanese on suspicion and was detained for three weeks before being released. He assured us that he had swallowed the message in the meantime. We however decided not to use Tam anymore. As it was not possible for him to earn a living here, we asked Waichow to take him over which Waichow agreed. He was then instructed to proceed to Waichow with his wife but he preferred to go alone first and send for his wife when he was settled.
Tam applied for the usual exit permit and when granted, instead of going by the official route, he went by the way he carried to and fro messages. This aroused — suspicion in our mind, however that was the last he heard of Tam.
As a result of apprehension, Kotwal decided to send his family away and sought Waichow's advice and we were thankful for Waichow's assent to receive the family at Majestic Hotel, Macau and assuring Kotwal that in case of need "we could extracate you".
Before we could make any move to send Kotwal's family away, the three of us were arrested together with some others on the 26th March, 1944. Under extreme torture which was humanly impossible to endure, all the three of us confessed the part we has played and what we know about the organisation. Lau King Sing was also arrested and he too was tortured and admitted the part he took. It was during our questioning, the message which Tam had assured us that he had swallowed was produced to our great astonishment and also an indicment dated 8th January 1944 from Waichow against Tam and other Indians was seen by Mr. Ladd.
The production of the message confirmed our suspicion that Tam had sold us and that the alleged accident was a fake. We were told on our release that Tam had called at Ebrahim's residence to inquire of Kotwal and had also obtained money from Mrs. Kotwall. Since Tam was at large whilst we three were going through, hell, we have not the slightest doubt that he gave the game away. Tam's wife too now confirms that he was a 'bad egg' and she further tell us that he is dead.
The Gendarmes completed their investigations in our alleged crime and handed us over to the Military Authorities in Stanley gaol on the 3rd May, 1944 i.e. after 38 days of cruel and inhuman treatment.
In the Stanley Gaol, the Remad Period of 119 days was of mental torture and suspense during which time we were twice called for questioning by a Military Prosecuting Attorney. On the 29th August, 1944, we were brought before the Military Tribunal where we were not given an opportunity to defend ourselves and were sentenced: Kotwall to death, Ladd & Ebrahim 8 years and Lau King Sing to 3 years imprisonment. Kotwall was executed on the 31st August, 1944 at about 2.30 in the afternoon. Lau died in Prison Hospital on September 4th, 1944.
On Japan's surrender, we were released on Thursday the 23rd August, 1945.
Kotwall gave his like for his country and is survived by his widow and 2 very young children for whose sake, we appeal for generous help and all that is due to him. Lau King Sing's widow & a child too deserves sympathies.
HONG KONG 14th, September, 1945
G S Ladd
He appears on the list of DBS students, first registered in 1917.
His entries in the pre-war Jurors Lists are as follows...
1934:
1935:
1936:
Samuel
& Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co.
Road
1937:
Samuel
& Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co.
premises
1938-40:
1941: