Hong Kong Gallantry Awards prior to 1997

Hi guyshirra,

May I ask what the sources of your information are?

There are a couple more that I know of:

Captain Mateen Ahmed ANSARI of the 5th Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment was awarded the George Cross posthumously in 1946.  He was executed by the Japanese in 1943 while being a prisoner of war in Hong Kong.

Mr. NG Hung-shek, immigration assistant, Immigration Department, Hong Kong, was awarded a George Medal posthumously in 1994.  I believe he was shot dead while trying to apprehend some robbers in a robbery in 1990.

Here is the obituary of the Falkland veteran and George Medal recipient Mr. CHIU Yiu-nam: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9129584/Chiu-Yiu-Nam.html

hello all

There were six George crosses awarded in Hong Kong including Ansaris

regards

GaryLiddell

George crosses awarded in Hong Kong

Ansari  Ford  Grey  Newnham  Hughes & one other whose name escapes me

Gary Liddell

Thank you guyshirra

I must admit I over looked that link

I think perhaps we are drifting away from the original posting which related to awards to HK residents

I posted to Davids email last night the gallantry awards that were awarded to members of the HKVDC(both during & post war)

The members of the HKVDC would have certainly been local residents

The list of recipients is more than impressive

There was certainly more acts of bravery that went unrecognised

Guy,

You could search this site for words like medal / medals / award / awards, etc., to check the results are already in your list.

A search for similar terms at HKGRO could also unearth some. eg a quick skim through a couple of  these results: http://hkgro.lib.hku.hk/exhibits/show/hkgro/home?the_key=new+year%27s+honours&the_field=any&fromYear=1842&toYear=1941&collection=&the_no_result=20&the_sort=d shows shows a King's Police Medal awarded to Chief Inspector Peter Grant on 2nd Jan, 1933.

Similarly, a search for relevant words in the local newspapers, https://mmis.hkpl.gov.hk/web/guest/advanced-search, might turn up some more and also give the story behind the medal.

Do you plan to update the list at the head of this page as you get more results, or just keep the Wikipedia list updated? If you're going to update this list, I suggest setting it up as a table so it can be sorted by date, name, etc.

Gary, thanks for the lists. I have a couple of questions about them I'll ask by email before posting.

Regards, David

Thanks to Gary for pointing out that Appendix IV of Hong Kong Volunteers in Battle (2005 edition) by Evan Stewart lists awards made to HKVDC members:

Good morning all

If I may suggest you contact the manager /curator at the police museum in Coombe road for an honour roll of all police recipients of gallantry awards since 1840I am sure he would be forthcoming

All the best

Gary Liddell

Guy, not sure if you're including these or not, but the awards look to have been given to recognise acts of bravery, eg see http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/1947-01-01;1948-01-01/all=hong+kong;exact=british+empire+medal/start=1

Elizabeth Ride notes that the search on the London Gazette site isn't always accurate, eg the above search missed this list of six BEM recipients in Hong Kong in 1947: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/1947-01-17/page=403/start=1

Regards, David

The George Medal awarded to Chiu Yiu Nam,a Hong Kong citizen serving on board the Royal Fleet Auxilliary vessel ' Sir Galahad ' for his gallantry during the Faklands conflict,along with his South Atlantic medal will be auctioned at D.N.W (London) on the 20th September this year.The pair are estimated to realise GBP40,000 to GBP60,000.

HK Govt Gazette May 19th 1939

GN 1170     CPM for conspicuous gallantry to Chief Inspector Frederick Edward Evelyn BOOKER and Superintendent Jack Cooper Fitz-Henry.

Guy, are you including awards related to events in Hong Kong, even if the recipient wasn't a Hong Kong resident? If yes, Henry Ching notes Osborn's VC should be mentioned too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Robert_Osborn

Regards, David

Hello Guyshirra

Here is another addition for your list:

On 18 July 1925 a landslip occurred at Po Hing Fong - destroying many houses and causing 73 deaths. For his exceptional courage in rescuing victims Henry Tom Brooks, who had been appointed Superintendent of the Hong Kong Fire Brigade in 1922, was awarded the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem Medal. Henry Brooks was instrumental in restructuring the Hong Kong Fire Brigade.  As a source for this you can refer to the book "The Great Fire of Hong Kong" by Adam Nebbs (page 112) and the medal is now held at the Auckland War Musuem, New Zealand.  

Also:

You mention Roland Brooks as having received the King's Police Medal for Gallantry (KPM) - this is correct, but it would be appropriate to put his full name of Roland Henry John Brooks. (RHJ Brooks is the son of HT Brooks - they are my father and grandfather).

Suziepie

Staff-Sergeant Patrick John Sheridan, an RASC baker posing as a civilian, was awarded a Military Medal (Gazetted November 10, 1942) for an escape beginning at the French Hospital in Causeway Bay on June 4, 1942.

http://gwulo.com/node/13915

Henry Ching writes:

Here are more possibilities, though I do not know if their awards were for gallantry:

 - Captain Arthur John Dewar, RASC received the DSO. 

 - Sister Elizabeth Mosey, employed as a nurse at the Repulse Bay Hotel, received the MBE.

 - Sister E.A.Hills of the Nursing Detachment, HKVDC was Mentioned in Despatches.

Incidentally, in the list above, W.G.Poy is mentioned twice for his MM – perhaps an error?

The Lee Yiu-pui mentioned in connection with the award of the Military Medal in 1946 should be identical to Francis Lee Yiu-piu (No.75) of the British Army Aid Group.  In his book on the BAAG, Edwin Ride devoted a chapter to Franics Lee under his pseudo-nickname "Chicken Lee" (Lee Kai).

In January 1942, Francis Lee stayed on as a PoW at Shamshuipo even when he could have been freed.  He made the arrangement and led the escape of Lindsay Ride Party of 3, over the hills of Kowloon to Saikung where they were aided by the Kong Kau Independent Brigade of the Communist Guerrillas to sail from the Three Fathoms Cove to Dapeng Bay; from where they made it overland to frontline town of Wai Chow of Free China.

Lindsay Ride conceived the idea of forming the BAAG in consultation with Francis Lee during the trip.  At its nascent formation, Francis Lee returned to Hong Kong to do recce and lay groundwork for the underground operation.  He was arrested by the Kempatei, tortured and sentenced to death.  He was transferred to Shenzhen where he made good his escape.  

Not withstanding that torture & near death plight, Francis Lee returned to occupied-Hong Kong with the recce team led by Ronald Holmes in the summer of 1942.  He came down from the Lion Rocks and went to the urban areas in furtherance of his tasks.

In the autunm of 1942, Francis Lee again returned to occupied HK to set up Post Y at Chek Keng, Saikung.  Post X at Shayuchung, Dapeng Bay; Post Y at Saikung; and Post Z (Kwong Hang Store at Shamsuipo) formed a special communication line in co-operation with the Kong Kau Guerrillas, between AHQ at Wai Chow and underground operatives in HK.  Francis Lee was stationed most of the time at Post Y (relieved periodically by Thomas Osler).

The liaison work with the guerrillas was challenging as it would be under the strong suspicion of both the Communist and Nationalist Government authorities.  During his posting at Post Y, Francis Lee made trips to urban Kowloon including meeting agents and taking photographs.  Post Y was closed down in July 1943.  Post Z in Shamshuipo was raided earlier by the Kempatei along with the demise of Group B which establshed initial contact with Shamshuipo Camp and the Indians at Ma Tau Chung Camp.    

In October 1944, Francis Lee led a Recce Team to set up an Observation Post for enemy shipping at Koling in Dapeng Penninsular.  Operation 'FRIGATE BIRD' did not materialise because the team was captured by the local Communist Guerrillas and held hostage at Tung Peng Chau until December when a ransom was paid after negotiation by Ronald Holmes.

Apart from the MM, the courageous, resourceful and very dedicated Francis Lee was also awarded the MBE (military division) and received his commission during the War.  He was a founding member of the BAAG.  However, the Francis Lee I knew as a kid was a meek & mild man whom we called, somehow but rather deservedly, 'Uncle Lion'.  He passed away in the early 1960s with a young family who are now living in Toronto.

CPM(G) for 1967 disturbances to Edward John Stevenson, should read Edward JOSEPH Stevenson.

Gordon Cleaver is another potential name for this list. He was awarded the BEM for his actions during the Pearl River incident in 1953:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3418527/Leading-Seaman-Gordo…

Inspector Les Burton got his CPM for swimming out to rescue workmen in the Aberdeen Harbour when the Jumbo Seafood Restuarant was engulfed in flames during installation.  He said he was at the Aberdeen Boat Club and swam in his Jockeys.  The SCMP got a photo of him in his undies with a brown stain he added. 

I think it was Inspector John Reid who told that Inspector O'Brien & himself got their award for chasing after a gun weilding robber in the Wan Chai Bar area.  The robber turned and shot at the chasers.  One of them caught the bullet on the chest which bounced off a ballpoint pen.  They continued the chase and caught the culprit.

Guy,

Another one you could add to the list.Kings Commendation for Valuable Service

In the Air....awarded 1st Jan 1947 to Gerald Walter (Paddy) Cussans  BOAC

in Hk.I have a photo of the presentation at Government House and also a paper cutting of the same, sent to me by Barbara Anslow after I had visited her.

Mike Cussans

....I worked with/opposite Ted in Police HQ in 1970-72...gained much from our association...

Well spotted David. Leading Seaman Gordon Cleaver was awarded his medal for bringing one of our Patrol Launches back to Tai O Harbour in 1953 after a Chinese Patrol Vessel opened fire on ML 1323, killing seven military personnel ( 6 Sailors of the Hong Kong Flotilla and a soldier from the HKDF) Gordon passed away a few years ago and was the Chairman then of our Hong Kong Flotilla Association. A link to our website you have recently posted. Thankyou. We have returned on our pilgramage to the graves in 1953 the 50th and also 2005 and this last year the 60th relatives of one of the seaman killed Able Seaman Ralph Shearman Mentioned In Despatches attended that 60th ( Sept 9th 2013)  anniversary of the Pearl River incident as it is known.

Peter Yeates

Hi
I have amended the records in Wikipedia under Mentioned in Despatches by adding the names of Ralph Shearman (posthumous ) and Eric Milner both awarded in 1953 for their bravery during the Pearl River Incident on 9th September 1953

I am not sure if this counts, but Able Seacat Simon (?1947 - 28 Nov. 1949) from Stonecutters' Island, Hong Kong was awarded the Dickin Medal, Blue Cross Medal and Amethyst Campaign Ribbon for his services on board HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident.  See http://www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/famous/simon.html

There is a minor error on the Military Medal listing.  My father, David William Yee was awarded MM in 1946. The listing shows W. D. Yee.  The First name and middle name is reversed. 

http://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/208635_1018675…

I'll let Guy know, as he is maintaining the Wikipedia page.

Regards, David

The Military Cross was awarded to James Ford (Lieutenant, D Coy 2nd Batt Royal Scots) for his action in re-taking Golden Hill, which was lost again very shortly after. He was wounded twice. He was also the younger brother of Capt. Douglas Ford, who was awarded the George Cross. He was in one of the first parties of prisoners sent to Japan. He did survive the war.

In the 31st March 1932 edition of the Edinburgh Evening News, there is a photo and an article mentioning that.....Sergeant James R Hunter (an Edinburgh man) serving with the Hong Kong Police had been awarded the Police Medal for conspicuous service during rioting of September last......and the Life Saving Medal last May by the Governor of Hong Kong. There is also mention in the article of him having previously served in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and in the photo published; he is clearly wearing the uniform of that regiment.   

(Presumably the anti-Japanese riots of 1931). 

The birth/marriage./death records of Scotland do record him having been born in Edinburgh in 1905 and passing away (in Edinburgh) in 1975.  The geneology type websites contain documents recording him as a passenger on various ship manifests to/from HK between 1928 and 1938. 

Good morning all.

I think (subject to correction) that Michael Denys Clinton CMG was awarded the George Medal twice during the War, for bomb disposal bravery. He came to Hong Kong soon after the War, and served in the Administration in several senior posts, retiring in about 1973, and sadly, dying soon afterwards. He retired as Deputy Chief Secretary.