Ellen Martha Doris FIELD (née FIELD, aka Ellen Lee; Ellen Banfalvi; wartime nickname: The Shadow) [1912-1977]

Submitted by brian edgar on Thu, 11/24/2011 - 01:07
Names
Given
Ellen Martha Doris
Family
Field
Maiden
Field
Alias / nickname
Ellen Lee; Ellen Banfalvi; wartime nickname: The Shadow
Sex
Female
Status
Deceased
Born
Date
(Day & Month are approximate.)
Birthplace (town, state)
Shanghai
Birthplace (country)
China
Died
Date
(Day & Month are approximate.)

After the fall of Hong Kong on December 25, 1941, Ellen Field, a British national, avoided internment by claiming to be Irish. Subsequently she worked with Medical Officer Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke and Japanese interpreter Kiyoshi Watanabe to provide humanitarian aid to the POWs in Shamshuipo Camp.

She also co-operated with Chinese operatives to facilitate escapes from Hong Kong to Free China.

Further information:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stanley_camp/message/1189

Books:

Twilight in Hong Kong, 1960, Ellen Field

Foorprints, Sir Selwyn-Selwyn Clarke, 1975

Small Man Of Nanataki, Liam Nolan, 1966

Photos that show this Person

Comments

Interesting. According to a recent article in the Sunday Morning Post magazine, Sophie Odell (née Weill), wife of entertainment impresario Harry Odell, worked with both Selwyn-Clarke and Watanabe to obtain drugs and medicine for POWs. She had to sell some of her possessions to do so.

Apparently Selwyn-Clarke was going to amputate Harry’s leg - he had been wounded whilst fighting in the battle for HK, and at one time was imprisoned in Argyle St. POW camp. Sophie pleaded with the doctor not to amputate, saying she would supply him with vital medication if he could save the limb.

Selwyn-Clarke was able to accede to her request and she kept her promise. Harry and Sophie are buried in the Jewish Cemetery in Happy Valley.

I believe that Watanabe was also a guest on “This is Your Life” when Harry Odell was the subject.

Find a Grave Canada

Headstone Memorial

ELLEN MARTHA DORIS FIELD SHANGHAI  1912 - WATERLOO 1977. 

2ND DAUGHTER OF ELIZABETH AND WILLIAM

HER ACCOMPLISHED TALENTS WERE PUT TO GOOD USE IN WWII HONG KONG WHERE SHE HELPED IN POW ESCAPES AND FAR EASTERN ESPIONAGE WORKS

NELLIE LIVED A CHARMED LIFE

Death Place Waterloo, Waterloo Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada

Burial Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada