Here is my father's postwar citation for Archibald Hunt:
HUNT, ARCHIBALD, Lieutenant/Capt (Force 136)
“This officer served throughout the hostilities in Hongkong in the ranks of No.3 MG Coy HKVDC. After the surrender he evaded imprisonment and made his way into Free China where he joined the BAAG in a civilian capacity. In March 1944 he was commissioned by Force 136 and seconded to the BAAG for duty.
From early 1943 till the cessation of hostilities Lieut. Hunt served in the forward areas, the last 8 months being behind the enemy lines. He took part in operations in the China – New Territories border area in 1943 as the result of which over 100 Indians were brought out of the enemy occupied area; later he was sent to the area just North of Canton to set up an escape and evasion post; this post was situated so close to the enemy that on a number of occasions he was forced to evacuate at but an hour or so’s notice, but these enemy columns never succeeded in dislodging Lieut. Hunt from the area; his tenacity of purpose was directly responsible for the good evasion net work in and around the North of Canton that resulted in the saving of a number of American aviators, one from the very perimeter of an enemy aerodrome.
From March 1945 onward Lieut. Hunt was in charge of evasion operations in the Hopo area West of Swatow.
I personally visited the whole of this area and can testify to the excellent evasion network he set up throughout this difficult guerilla country, and I am convinced that had the Allied landing planned for that area taken place, the whole of this area would have been perfectly safe for evaders.
Through much of his service Lieut. Hunt had been alone in isolated posts and had always shown commendable initiative and bravery and the manner in which he was able to persuade guerilla leaders to support and implement our evasion plans reveals a tenacity of purpose and devotion to duty of a very high order.”
In another document my father adds:
"Hunt’s record does not make very spectacular reading, but the work he did was most valuable indeed, especially in his dealings with the Chinese in which line he was easily our best officer."
He was the brother of Douglas Hunt, who Colin McEwan describes as "one of Jardines' bright boys". Whether Archie was also Jardines or not I do not know.
According to the 1951 List of former BAAG Members in Hong Kong (of Paul Tsui), Capt. A. Hunt was listed as a Draughtsman pre-War and returned to be a Draughtsman at Chau & Lee Architects Post-War. A M-in-D (Mentiom-in-Despatch) was recorded.
His brother, Lt. D. Hunt, was working at the Chinese Shipping Dept of Jardine Matheson & Co Post-War, and served in the RHKDF. There was no mention of his Pre-War employment.
Just looking through an old diary/scrapbook of my great auntie who was a teacher in Hong Kong and there is a drawing of Chinese Minister man Tin Cheung drawn by Archie Hunt, Hong Kong 20.11.22
Douglas Hunt and his brother - presumably Archibald - were planning to escape from Hong Kong with R. B. Levkovich and Marie da Roza in July 1942. Their two companions - who had been sent on a mssion by Dr Selwyn-Clarke - were arrested before they could leave, but while he was in prison Mr. Levkovich heard that the Hunt brothers had managed to leave Hong Kong. This information probably came from Dr. Parrin Ruttonjee by way of Indian warders at the Suprreme Court Gendarmerie.
One has him age 25 on 18 July 1938 departing Honolulu occupation architect.
The other has date of birth 30 Jan 1913
By 1942 he would have been 29
Passenger List 1947 out by two years.
I will try to find another source.
Archie Hung Chee Leong born 30 January died 12 August 1952 aged 39 and was buried in Nuuanu Memorial Park Hawaii Married Mildred Misao Towata 30 April 1938 in Honolulu
He had a brother born 1920 Hung Yun Leong Both born in China (US Census 1920) Could Hung Yun Leong be Douglas Hunt?
His funeral was reported on page 6 of the South China Sunday Post - Herald on 07 Nov 1954:
Many prominent local residents attended the funeral, at the Honkong Funeral Parlour yesterdny, of the late Mr Archibald Hunt who died on Friday ((i.e. 5 Nov)) at the age of 43 years.
The remains will be cremated.
Mr Hunt was educated at the Diocesan Boys School and Queen's College. During the last war he joined the British Army Aid Group in 1942. He travelled far and wide in China for the BAAG and was mentioned in despatches.
The deceased was a member of the Hongkong Victory contingent to London and played cricket for Craigengower Cricket Club.
At the time of his death he was with Messrs Chau and Lee, the architects.
Chief mourners at the funeral were his sisters Mag (Mrs M. W. Lo), Flo and Winifred and his brothers Herbert, Harold, Willie and Dougie.
Also present were the Hon. Sir Man-kam Lo and Miss Rita Lo, Mrs W. C. Hung, Messrs Kenneth Lo, T. Lo, E. Hung, Maurice Hung, Ronald Ho, Eric Ho, Leo Choa, F. V. Wong, A. C. Greaves, A. G. Sufiad, Paul K. C. Tsui, E. J. M. Churn, A. Zimmern, Oswald Cheung, S. V. Gittins, K. O'Hoy, Eric Wong-tape, Dr H. N. Wong, Dr Wong Man, Dr Fung Fa-hui, Col L. T. Ride, Col J. D. Clague, Miss B. Greaves, Mrs Roy Ma, Mr and Mrs T. A. Johnston, Mr and Mrs. Hung Hing-fat, Miss. Y. Hung, Dr and Mrs R. H. S. Lee, Mrs P. Bliss, Miss V. Churn, Mrs Enid Litton, Mrs Eileen Choa, Mrs Edna Ho and Miss E. O’Hoy.
Comments
Thanks to Elizabeth Ride for
Thanks to Elizabeth Ride for these notes from her BAAG collection:
Here is my father's postwar citation for Archibald Hunt:
HUNT, ARCHIBALD, Lieutenant/Capt (Force 136)
“This officer served throughout the hostilities in Hongkong in the ranks of No.3 MG Coy HKVDC. After the surrender he evaded imprisonment and made his way into Free China where he joined the BAAG in a civilian capacity. In March 1944 he was commissioned by Force 136 and seconded to the BAAG for duty.
From early 1943 till the cessation of hostilities Lieut. Hunt served in the forward areas, the last 8 months being behind the enemy lines. He took part in operations in the China – New Territories border area in 1943 as the result of which over 100 Indians were brought out of the enemy occupied area; later he was sent to the area just North of Canton to set up an escape and evasion post; this post was situated so close to the enemy that on a number of occasions he was forced to evacuate at but an hour or so’s notice, but these enemy columns never succeeded in dislodging Lieut. Hunt from the area; his tenacity of purpose was directly responsible for the good evasion net work in and around the North of Canton that resulted in the saving of a number of American aviators, one from the very perimeter of an enemy aerodrome.
From March 1945 onward Lieut. Hunt was in charge of evasion operations in the Hopo area West of Swatow.
I personally visited the whole of this area and can testify to the excellent evasion network he set up throughout this difficult guerilla country, and I am convinced that had the Allied landing planned for that area taken place, the whole of this area would have been perfectly safe for evaders.
Through much of his service Lieut. Hunt had been alone in isolated posts and had always shown commendable initiative and bravery and the manner in which he was able to persuade guerilla leaders to support and implement our evasion plans reveals a tenacity of purpose and devotion to duty of a very high order.”
In another document my father adds:
"Hunt’s record does not make very spectacular reading, but the work he did was most valuable indeed, especially in his dealings with the Chinese in which line he was easily our best officer."
He was the brother of Douglas Hunt, who Colin McEwan describes as "one of Jardines' bright boys". Whether Archie was also Jardines or not I do not know.
Archie Hunt
According to the 1951 List of former BAAG Members in Hong Kong (of Paul Tsui), Capt. A. Hunt was listed as a Draughtsman pre-War and returned to be a Draughtsman at Chau & Lee Architects Post-War. A M-in-D (Mentiom-in-Despatch) was recorded.
His brother, Lt. D. Hunt, was working at the Chinese Shipping Dept of Jardine Matheson & Co Post-War, and served in the RHKDF. There was no mention of his Pre-War employment.
Drawing of Chinese Minister
Just looking through an old diary/scrapbook of my great auntie who was a teacher in Hong Kong and there is a drawing of Chinese Minister man Tin Cheung drawn by Archie Hunt, Hong Kong 20.11.22
re: Drawing of Chinese Minister
It looks as though his drawing ability started an an early age!
I haven't found any mention of Archie or Douglas Hunt in the records immediately before the war. The 1941 Jurors List only has one entry named Hunt:
And the only Hunt mentioned in the 1939 Blue Book is Elsie Gertrude Hunt, a stenographer at the Land Office.
Hunt / Hung
Thanks to Henry Ching for explaining why I couldn't find the Hunt brothers:
They are there – try Hung instead. Hung was their correct Chinese name.
And there they are!
Douglas Hunt and his brother
Douglas Hunt and his brother - presumably Archibald - were planning to escape from Hong Kong with R. B. Levkovich and Marie da Roza in July 1942. Their two companions - who had been sent on a mssion by Dr Selwyn-Clarke - were arrested before they could leave, but while he was in prison Mr. Levkovich heard that the Hunt brothers had managed to leave Hong Kong. This information probably came from Dr. Parrin Ruttonjee by way of Indian warders at the Suprreme Court Gendarmerie.
Source:
Ride Papers, WO-343-1-176_1, pp. 49, 51
Archibald Hung ? c 1913
Could this be him?
Passenger List departing Honolulu 18 July 1938 bound for Manila and wayports
Archie Hung age 25 born Hong Kong architect
Date of birth circa 1913
Well spotted, Chau & Lee were
Well spotted, Chau & Lee were architects, so highly likely.
Archie Hung Chee Leong/Archibald Hunt
Archie Hung Chee Leong Born 30 January 1913 Honolulu Hawaii
Passenger List May 1947 Liverpool to Hong Kong
Archibald Hunt 36 architectural student UK address 13 Nevern Square London SW5
Ages do not match. Are they one and the same?
A coincidnce if not, but that
A coincidnce if not, but that's a big age discrepancy!
Archibald/Archie Hung/Hunt birth year
One has him age 25 on 18 July 1938 departing Honolulu occupation architect.
The other has date of birth 30 Jan 1913
By 1942 he would have been 29
Passenger List 1947 out by two years.
I will try to find another source.
Archie Hung Chee Leong born 30 January died 12 August 1952 aged 39 and was buried in Nuuanu Memorial Park Hawaii Married Mildred Misao Towata 30 April 1938 in Honolulu
He had a brother born 1920 Hung Yun Leong Both born in China (US Census 1920) Could Hung Yun Leong be Douglas Hunt?
probaly no
OK, Archie's Chinese name remains unknown after reading David's new post
Douglas was 洪淳釗
They were Mrs Man Wai Lo's brothers
I've added years of birth and
I've added years of birth and death from p.203 of In the web by Peter Hall.
His funeral was reported on
His funeral was reported on page 6 of the South China Sunday Post - Herald on 07 Nov 1954:
Many prominent local residents attended the funeral, at the Honkong Funeral Parlour yesterdny, of the late Mr Archibald Hunt who died on Friday ((i.e. 5 Nov)) at the age of 43 years.
The remains will be cremated.
Mr Hunt was educated at the Diocesan Boys School and Queen's College. During the last war he joined the British Army Aid Group in 1942. He travelled far and wide in China for the BAAG and was mentioned in despatches.
The deceased was a member of the Hongkong Victory contingent to London and played cricket for Craigengower Cricket Club.
At the time of his death he was with Messrs Chau and Lee, the architects.
Chief mourners at the funeral were his sisters Mag (Mrs M. W. Lo), Flo and Winifred and his brothers Herbert, Harold, Willie and Dougie.
Also present were the Hon. Sir Man-kam Lo and Miss Rita Lo, Mrs W. C. Hung, Messrs Kenneth Lo, T. Lo, E. Hung, Maurice Hung, Ronald Ho, Eric Ho, Leo Choa, F. V. Wong, A. C. Greaves, A. G. Sufiad, Paul K. C. Tsui, E. J. M. Churn, A. Zimmern, Oswald Cheung, S. V. Gittins, K. O'Hoy, Eric Wong-tape, Dr H. N. Wong, Dr Wong Man, Dr Fung Fa-hui, Col L. T. Ride, Col J. D. Clague, Miss B. Greaves, Mrs Roy Ma, Mr and Mrs T. A. Johnston, Mr and Mrs. Hung Hing-fat, Miss. Y. Hung, Dr and Mrs R. H. S. Lee, Mrs P. Bliss, Miss V. Churn, Mrs Enid Litton, Mrs Eileen Choa, Mrs Edna Ho and Miss E. O’Hoy.