What's new and updated on the Gwulo website:
General
- Martin notes that the Cenotaph has just had its 100th birthday. It was first unveiled on 24 May 1923:
- The unveiling of the Cenotaph is a clue I'd missed for last week's photo.
I dated it to 'some time in 1923', but it must have been taken around the time of the unveiling, as I can see the temporary grandstand that was set up for the ceremony.
- Here's a happy photo with lots of connections to Gwulo:
Susann (on the left) is the great-granddaughter of C.F.W. Petersen [c.1832-1896] (proprietor of the German Tavern) and Jill is the great-granddaughter of John Olson [1838-1918] (proprietor of the National Tavern) The two men must have known each other well, as Petersen was appointed as executor of Olson's will.
Susann first "met" Jill here on the Gwulo website, and they have now been corresponding for ten years. They finally met in person a few days ago.
- With Hong Kong temperatures climbing past 35C, it's time for a Popsy!
- Readers ask:
- Are there any Japanese wartime tunnels above Mid Levels?
- What was this large, temporary building in the the New Territories in 1955 used for?
- Do you remember 'Curly' Watson? He writes:
I served in HK from April 1954 to September 1956. I was an RAF Police Dog Handler and friends knew me as 'Curly Watson'. It could be that anyone seeing that name might remember me but, as I'm almost 88, it's unlikely that there are many still around.
My first posting was to RAF Kai Tak but, after some months, I was sent to RAF Sek Kong. There, I did night patrols with my police dog Flash and also at the sub-site radar unit, RAF Ping Shan (this as about 10 miles down the road from Sek Kong and on the oposite side of Yeun Long). Finally I was posted to RAF Mount Davis, which was a radar site on a hill at the far west end of the island, above Kennedy Town and overlooking Green Island.
- Are there any Japanese wartime tunnels above Mid Levels?
- Thank you to everyone who came along to my talk at the HK Maritime Museum last weekend. It's a great venue for this type of illustrated talk, as the high ceiling and large screen mean everyone gets a clear view of the photos. Many thanks to the Museum for hosting the event.
Places
- Hong Kong Island
- AA Hall Bar [????-????], nightclub in Wanchai
- The Cottage [c.1901-????]
- Edgehill [c.1909-????]
- North / West Blocks of St. Joseph's College, 7 Kennedy Road [1921- ]
- Sunbeam Theatre [????- ]
- AA Hall Bar [????-????], nightclub in Wanchai
- Kowloon
- Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier (2nd generation) [1931-1979]
- Sharp & Co.'s building, Kowloon Point [1891-1912]
- Sham Shui Po Ferry Pier (2nd generation) [1931-1979]
- New Territories & Islands
- Chi Lok Fa Yuen [1981- ]
- Shatin floating restaurant (multiple locations) [1963-1984]
- Chi Lok Fa Yuen [1981- ]
People
- Interned in Stanley Camp
- John BECHTEL [c.1900-????], missionary
- Henry DANBROWSKY [1903-????], policeman, interned with his wife Marjorie Sophia DANBROWSKY [1905-????], and son Henry DANBROWSKY [1939- ]
- Francis Storry ELLIOTT [c.1900-????], dock police
- Dorothy Emily FORROW / PRATT / BAILEY (née KEENE) [1896-????]
- James Porter ROBINSON [1873-????], godown superintendent
- John BECHTEL [c.1900-????], missionary
- POWs
- George BRASS [????-????], Leading Aircraftman in the RAF
- Dr John DURRAN [????-????]
- George BRASS [????-????], Leading Aircraftman in the RAF
- Other
- Francis Harold ARMSTRONG [????-????], merchant
- José Pedro BRAGA (aka JP) [1871-1944], businessman, member of Legco
- Irene CHENG (née HOTUNG) [1904-2007]
- Iris CRITCHELL [????-????], missionary. She was one of the three ladies who kept the Babies Home at Fanling in operation throughout the Japanese occupation.
- Margery HOOK (née BENNETT) [????-????], missionary
- Paul O'REGAN [????- ], policeman
- Molly ODELL (née RUBIN) [1931- ]
- George Reinhold LAMMERT [1831-1897], auctioneer
- Francis Harold ARMSTRONG [????-????], merchant
- Organisations
- Lammert & Co. [c.1862- ], auctioneers
Photos
Click to see all recently added photos.
Jill Olson
I was delighted to see a photo of Jill Olson because I know the Olson family were great friends of the Lesbirels.
I am the great granddaughter of Charles John Francis Lesbirel and would love to contact Jill to share what knowledge I have.
Regards Hilary Fearne