Lewis William BUSH [1907-1987]

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 02/10/2014 - 10:31
Names
Given
Lewis William
Family
Bush
Sex
Male
Status
Deceased
Born
Date
Birthplace (country)
England
Died
Date
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Is this the same Lewis Bush who apparently (according to Wikipedia) had a Japanese wife, and was used as a translator by the Japanese Army? Apparently negotiating the surrender at Little Hong Kong.

Lewis Bush served on MTB 08 as No1 under Lt Kilbee HKRNVR. Lewis spoke fluent Japanese and had a Japanese wife, Kaneko whom he called Kane. He had been a teacher in Japan..There is a photo of Sub-Lt Bush on my site at www.hongkongescape.org/Bush.htm Lewis was the author of two books detailing his activities in Hong Kong and beyond, He was also featured in the the acclaimed documentary "The World at War" 

Lewes remained in Aberdeen when the 2nd MTB Flotilla escaped with Admiral Chan Chak on Christmas Day and liased with the Japanese for the surrender of Aberdeen. Lewis, along with his wife Kane were interrogated as spies by the Japanese and in late January 1942 Lewis was sent to the civilian camp at Stanley where he remained until March 1943 when he was taken to Samshuipo camp, Kowloon, and put in charge of the Naval unit. Lewis was not there long as he was sent to Japan on the Manryu Maru with a draft of 300 Canadian and 200 imperial POWs sailing on  August 15th 1943. They arrived at Osaka on September 1st 1943. All survived the voyage. Following the Japanese surrender in 1945 Lewis remained in Japan and was a columnist for "The Japanese Times"

UK Allied Prisoners of War Japanese Card

Lewis Bush (sic)  born 6 May 1907 Sub-Lieutenant (Teacher) RNVR MTB Flotilla,  Son of Charles and Elizabeth Bush. Notification to Mrs Kane Bush  c/o Tujimura Shin 189 Chome Tajima Machi Osaka

Baptism Lewis William Bush 19 June 1907 St Anne's Church Limehouse London

Passenger List London to Shanghai 17 June 1927

Lewis Wm. Bush age 20 Police Constable

Passenger List Dec 1937 London to Kobe Japan

Kaneko Bush 32 UK address 66 Electric Avenue Westcliff on Sea Essex

Passenger List Hong Kong to Southampton arriving 12 March 1946

Kaneko Bush age 40 Stenographer UK address 66 Electric Avenue Westcliff on Sea Essex

Death Index Quarter 1 1987

Lewis William Bush  age 79 born 6 May 1907 died Haywards Heath West Sussex 1987

Probate Calender UK

Lewis William Bush of 33 Savill Road Lindfield Haywards Heath Sussex died 14 February 1987

A very small point, but I have always found it interesting that Lieut. Bush asked or requested to be sent to Sham Shui Po from Stanley Camp, as he felt that that was were he "belonged," i.e. alongside his Naval colleagues. Life there as a military POW was probably even more unpleasant than life as a civilian in Stanley, although as we know he was sent off to Japan 'ere too long.

Does anyone know what happened to Kane, his wife, during the occupation?

Interesting to note that between 1927 and 1929 he served as a Coonstable in the Shanghai Municipal Police.On enlistment he gave his previous occupation as  Merchant Seaman. 

Lewis lived just a stones throw from my father in Lindfield, Haywards Heath in his last years. My father served on MTB 07 and Lewis on 08 but neither knew of their proximity in Haywards Heath. I also knew Lewis's C/O Lt L D Kilbee as he also lived locally and again he had no idea that Lweis was local either. This small world can be so big at times.