Mr Middlecoat was repatriated with a small number of other Canadian trade officials in the 'American' repatriation of 1942. In his debriefing he gave Canadian intelligence details of shipping movements he'd observed from the roof of the hotel where he was incarcerated January 5-c.January 21 before going to Stanley. This must have been one of the earliest acts of civilian resistance!
He also provided information as to shipping he'd observed from the Stanley camp and his impression that about half the crew of the Asama Maru were still being trained. He's described as a 'traffic agent, CNR' - I think that must be the company usually called CPR or Canadian Pacific.
Source
RG 24 Intelligence, West Coast, Volume 11923, 09-6, 'Interrogation of Canadian Repatriates Aboard Grispholm'
Although he gave his nationality as "Canadian", Jack Harper Middlecoat was born in London, England. He returned to Hong Kong after the war had ended and was appointed General Agent of Canadian National Railways at Hong Kong in 1946.
The Gripsholm passenger list gives his age as 41 in 1942.
A slight discrepancy regarding his age. Moddsey has mentioned the Gripsholm passenger list showing him aged 41 in 1942, which would mean he was born in 1901 (or thereabouts).
The year of his birth at the top is given as 1895, although I appreciate that that is approximate.
He was also known as John or Jack Middlecoat and described as J. H. A. Middlecoat. At some point in time prior to his career with Canadian National Railways (C.N.R.) in 1927, he may have resided in Australia or at least his mother did.
In 1938, his engagement to Dorothea Florence Harvey as seen here was copied to the Singapore and Australian newspapers.
After release from Stanley Camp, Jack Middlecoat was repatriated to the United States on the Asama Maru and Gripsholm and then by train to Montreal, Canada. On the voyage home on the Gripsholm, he was reunited with his wife, Dorothea and daughter, Patricia as they also appear on the passenger list. See The Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury below. During the war, Middlecoat worked in Montreal with C.N.R..
He was appointed General Agent of C.N.R. at Hong Kong at the end of 1946. A C.N.R. press release appears in The Glengarry News below.
Comments
Mr Middlecoat was repatriated
Mr Middlecoat was repatriated with a small number of other Canadian trade officials in the 'American' repatriation of 1942. In his debriefing he gave Canadian intelligence details of shipping movements he'd observed from the roof of the hotel where he was incarcerated January 5-c.January 21 before going to Stanley. This must have been one of the earliest acts of civilian resistance!
He also provided information as to shipping he'd observed from the Stanley camp and his impression that about half the crew of the Asama Maru were still being trained. He's described as a 'traffic agent, CNR' - I think that must be the company usually called CPR or Canadian Pacific.
Source
RG 24 Intelligence, West Coast, Volume 11923, 09-6, 'Interrogation of Canadian Repatriates Aboard Grispholm'
Jack Harper Middlecoat
Although he gave his nationality as "Canadian", Jack Harper Middlecoat was born in London, England. He returned to Hong Kong after the war had ended and was appointed General Agent of Canadian National Railways at Hong Kong in 1946.
The Gripsholm passenger list gives his age as 41 in 1942.
Mr. Middlecoat
A slight discrepancy regarding his age. Moddsey has mentioned the Gripsholm passenger list showing him aged 41 in 1942, which would mean he was born in 1901 (or thereabouts).
The year of his birth at the top is given as 1895, although I appreciate that that is approximate.
Harper Alfred Middlecoat 22 April 1901 - 29 October 1971
UK Birth Records
Harper Alfred Middlecoat born 1901 Lewisham London UK
US Index to Alien Case Files
Harper Middlecoat ( Jack H Middlecoat) born 22 April 1901 in UK
Arrived Port Huron Michigan 25 November 1948
Naturalized 25 August 1965 in SanFrancisco USA
Passenger List Michigan Arrivals
Jack Harper Alfred Middlecoat born 22 April 1901
Origin Quebec Canada
Arrival 20 September 1948 Port Huron
US Social Security Index
Harper Middlecoat born 22 April 1901 died October 1972
Residence (Before 1951 Railway Board)
UK Royal Air Force Airmen Records 1918 - 1940)
Harper Alfred Middlecoat aged 16 born 22 April 1901
Son of George Nicholas Middlecoat
UK Outward Passengers 16 July 1925
Harper Middlecoat
Arrival Quebec Canada
California Arrivals 21 September 1948 San Francisco from Hong Kong
Jack H A Middlecoat
California Death Records
Jack H Middlecoat died 29 October 1971 in Contra Costa
Marriage 25 May 1957 Reno Nevada as Harper Alfred Middlecoat
Born as Harper Alfred and died as Jack H
He gives his birth name on official records
Further to J. H. A. Middlecoat
Thanks annpake for the above.
He was also known as John or Jack Middlecoat and described as J. H. A. Middlecoat. At some point in time prior to his career with Canadian National Railways (C.N.R.) in 1927, he may have resided in Australia or at least his mother did.
In 1938, his engagement to Dorothea Florence Harvey as seen here was copied to the Singapore and Australian newspapers.
After release from Stanley Camp, Jack Middlecoat was repatriated to the United States on the Asama Maru and Gripsholm and then by train to Montreal, Canada. On the voyage home on the Gripsholm, he was reunited with his wife, Dorothea and daughter, Patricia as they also appear on the passenger list. See The Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury below. During the war, Middlecoat worked in Montreal with C.N.R..
He was appointed General Agent of C.N.R. at Hong Kong at the end of 1946. A C.N.R. press release appears in The Glengarry News below.
Source
1. https://www.chinafamilies.net/internees/8994-middlecoat-jack-harper/
2. The Straits Budget dated 27 October 1938.
3. The Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury dated 8 October 1943. See here
4. The Glengarry News, Alexandria, Ontario dated 6 December 1946. See here