16 Apr 1944, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Submitted by brian edgar on Thu, 04/17/2014 - 00:08

Death of Mrs Edith May Henson, formerly of 6, Gun Club Hill, Kowloon, at the age of 65.

She and her husband Joseph, who had worked for the RASC Barrack Department at Shautakok, were helped by Charles Barham to escape to Hong Kong Island on December 8, 1941, the start of the fighting.

Some time in 1944 he sent his wife a postcard from Shamshuipo which ended with the injunction to 'Keep on smiling'. It's not known if she received it before her death.

 

Sources:

Address: http://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/civilians/html/h.html

Escape: Charles Barman, Resist to the End, 2009, 7

Card: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONG-KONG-c1944-POW-MAIL-CAMP-TO-CAMP-P-OF-CFS-TO-STANLEY-HASEGAWA-CENSOR-/131018883809?pt=UK_Stamps_CommonwealthStamps_GL&hash=item1e815582e1

Book / Document
Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Date(s) of events described

Comments

It seems from Barham's book that Joseph Henson was in Shamshuipo (pages 221-222) but in a card offered for sale on Ebay (thanks to Moddsey for the link on the comments page to Barbara Anslow's entry for today) he describes himself as 'P. of C. F. S.', followed by what looks like the close of a bracket that hasn't been opened.

Barham says that both the Hensons were about 65 (she was presumably closer to 63) and although Barham was asked to help them escape as he left Gun Hill Barracks, as this was on the first day of fighting, it's unclear what role he was expected to play in the defence. However, he seems to have still been in the RASC and so likely to end up a POW. But, assuming 'P. = Prisoner, what does C.F.S. stand for? All I can find on Gwulo or elsewhere is 'Central Fire Station', which seems unlikely.

 

Moddsey and David:

How about if we take the reading P. of C (s) and interpret thus:

Prisoner of (Shamshuipo) Camp (south).

When Barham and the other officers were sent to Shamshuipo from Argyle Street they were kept in a separate camp called Camp 'N' for North, making the original camp Camp S for South. Henson was in Camp S.