Private G. C. Jitts of the HKVDC was killed in action in the Battle of Wong Nei Chong Gap. His heroics are mentioned in the China Mail dated 1 January 1946. See here .
He was the second son in the large family of Oh Seng Jitts (1887 Straits Settlements - 1949 Australia) and Ethel Emily Roberts (1891 West Ham Essex UK - 1986 Australia)
The letter writer referred to in the newspaper might have been his mother Mrs O S Jitts.
I have no idea but it may be a colonial admin quirk. For example my aunt is Eurasian (half English, half Chinese) but in the 1960s during the apartheid era, when she visited South Africa she would have been classed as 'Black' administratively when filling out forms. Basically non 100% White = Black (despite then having 'Cape Coloureds'). Jitts was Eurasian, don't know if that had anything to do with it as he has nothing to do with Africa as far as I can tell.
Comments
Geoffrey Clayton Jitts 1919 - 19 December 1941
He was the second son in the large family of Oh Seng Jitts (1887 Straits Settlements - 1949 Australia) and Ethel Emily Roberts (1891 West Ham Essex UK - 1986 Australia)
The letter writer referred to in the newspaper might have been his mother Mrs O S Jitts.
Geoffrey Clayton Jitts 1st April 1919-19th December 1941
Birth: 1st April 1919
First Name: Geoffrey Clayton
Initials: G C
Surname: Jitts
Nationality: British
Date of Death: 19/12/1941
Rank: Private
Service: British Army
Regiment: Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps
---------------------------------------------------------------------
First Name: G C
Surname: Jitts
Nationality: African
Rank: Private
Gazette Info: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37521/supplement/1672
Gazette Date: 04/04/1946
Gazette Page: 1672
Duty Location: Hong Kong (including the defence of Hong Kong in 1941)
Regiment: Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps
Service: Army
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Gravestone at Stanley Military Cemetery
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Geoffrey Clayton Jitts in UK Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects under RG33: Foreign Registers and Returns
Serial Number: 127
Rank: Private
Christian Names: Geoffrey Clayton
Surname: JITTS
Regiment or Firm etc: H.K. Vol. Def. Corps
Date of Death: 19th December 1941
Locality: Hong Kong
Cause of Death: Killed in action
Date of Certificate: 14.3.46
Signed by: M.A. WILLIS
Source of Information: S.B.2687
Reference No.: 10033/2c/42
Verified by: R.C.C.
Jitts, Geoffrey Clayton, Private, 3 Coy HKVDC
Died of wounds received in action (DOW) defending JLO 2 in catchwater. Commendation
Source: Page page 154 Tony Banham's "Not the Slightest Chance: The Defence of Hong Kong, 1941"
Also on Page 132 Tony Banham's "Not the Slightest Chance: The Defence of Hong Kong, 1941"
1941 Jurors List
Pte. Geoffrey Jitts
Nationality "African??"
I wouldn't have thought so!
Me too, but that is not a
Me too, but that is not a typo error.
I have no idea but it may be a colonial admin quirk. For example my aunt is Eurasian (half English, half Chinese) but in the 1960s during the apartheid era, when she visited South Africa she would have been classed as 'Black' administratively when filling out forms. Basically non 100% White = Black (despite then having 'Cape Coloureds'). Jitts was Eurasian, don't know if that had anything to do with it as he has nothing to do with Africa as far as I can tell.