What did the Governor's "Custodian" do?

Submitted by David on Tue, 02/03/2015 - 12:30

Each year's Blue Book lists the Governor's staff. The entries for 1918 begin:

  • Governor and Commander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral
  • Private Secretary
  • Aide-de-Camp
  • Custodian
  • ...

(See page J24 in http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkgro/view/b1918/51918016.pdf)

Does anyone know what the Custodian's duties were?

In 1918, John Deakin was the Custodian, though a footnote says he was "Seconded for Military Service on 17th May".

Regards, David

Having gone through some HK Govt Reports on Line and looking at various other sites,it appears that the Custodian,who had a flat in Govt House,was something in the order of  a Housekeeper or Butler,albeit a rather grand one.He had charge of the GH Servants (numerous) and possibly duties of a security nature.John (William) Deacon (b 1885),in his comings and goings to Europe and mentions in published works was always described as a " Civil Servant "and apparently had a long career;he was in Stanley and returned to the UK on the Highland Monarch arriving November 1945.

His being seconded for Military Service in May 1918 is puzzling, a bit late for the Great War,possibly to the local Military ?