Brigadier C.K.H. Begley, Second-in-Command of the Salvation Army in Hong Kong and South China is booked for Australia in S.S. “Bonaventure” on a well-earned holiday.
During his twenty-five years service in China, the Brigadier has worked in North, South, West and Central China where his breezy versatility has made numerous friends. Coming to his present appointment in 1941, he, with Mrs. Begley, was interned in Stanley for about a year. With the assistance of International Red Cross they were transferred to Shanghai and interned in Yangchow, where they were joined by their three children, whom the Japanese allowed to come from Peking. Prior to internment in Hong Kong Brigadier Begley worked in connection with Food Control and during the “blitz” was in charge of Communal Food Kitchens, feeding something like 100,000 people per day. The Kitchens were under Salvation Army Officers and staff who remained at their work until the position became untenable.
Immediately after his release from Yangchow, the Brigadier returned to Hong Kong where he has been engaged in Relief Department with the Salvation Army Relief Team.
Mrs. Begley with their daughter and two sons went to Australia in November, 1945.”
S.S. “BONAVENTURE” is expected to leave for AUSTRALIA on the 3rd April, 1946.
The undermentioned are listed for embarkation:-
Major C.K.H. Begley, Mr. V.M. Benwell, Mr. E.M.G. Hanlon, Mr. W. MacFarlane, Mr. J.R. Sykes, Mr. Tang Ying Lam, Mr. C.E. Wong, Mr. F.V. Wong, Mrs. I.L. Law and three children, Dr. & Mrs. K.C. Yeo and three children, Mr. Geo. Mar, Mr. Geo. P. Mar and Master Jas Mar, Mr. Ellis Joseph.
H.K.V.D.C.:
Lt. & Mrs. R. Sleap, Cpl. I.G. Sullivan, Spr. A.D. Wong Yee, Miss Rose Gock Honson, and Mstr. Guy Gock Honson, Sgt. N. Vargassoff.
HONGKONG passengers will assemble at Queen’s Pier at 8.00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3rd 1946, and KOWLOON passengers will assemble at Pier No. 5 at 8.15 a.m. to await Embarkation Officer.
Passengers must NOT board the vessel without first obtaining their embarkation cards, which will be issued at assembly points.
Many years ago I had the pleasure of meeting with one of Brig. Begley's sons, when we visited Stanley Military Cemetery. The Begley children were interned in Shanghai during the war, while their parents were in Stanley until the family were reunited.
I believe the children were interned in the same came as J G Ballard of "Empire of the Sun" fame. The younger Begley was also involved with the Salvation Army, like his father.
A small point but one which I (and I think others) have failed to mention in comments about the Brigadier; he came to Hong Kong with his wife, ahead of the Japanese invasion of the Colony, to run the "rice kitchens" - relief for the local people. I'm not sure of the exact details of this arrangement; there is one located in the Tai Koo area accessible from Mt. Parker Road.
I'm sure I've seen somewhere that Major (as he then was) Begley was heavily pressured by the Japanese to help them in their plan to invade Australia by making radio broadcasts to undermine the will to fight. He resisted steadfastly and the Japanese moved on to other Australians in Stanley Camp.
Major Colin Keith Henry Begley was born in Mt. Gambier, South Australia.
Timeline
1. Went to China in 1921.
2. Married Salvation Army woman officer, Edith May Doherty in Peking in 1922.
3. Left China in 1927 and returned to Australia on leave.
4. Assigned to India between 1928 and 1931.
5. Went to Shanghai in 1932.
6. Transferred to Chungking in 1939.
7. Arrived in Hong Kong in 1941.
Major Begley recounted the siege of Hong Kong in "The Border Watch" newspaper on 24 August 1946. See here
The Salvation Army under Major Begley was responsible for the administration of the seven communal kitchens set up by the government for the feeding of the population. One hundred thousand people a day were fed at these kitchens during the peak of the siege. See "The Shepparton Advertiser" newspaper on 19 September 1947 here
Comments
“LEAVING FOR AUSTRALIA
“LEAVING FOR AUSTRALIA
Brigadier C.K.H. Begley, Second-in-Command of the Salvation Army in Hong Kong and South China is booked for Australia in S.S. “Bonaventure” on a well-earned holiday.
During his twenty-five years service in China, the Brigadier has worked in North, South, West and Central China where his breezy versatility has made numerous friends. Coming to his present appointment in 1941, he, with Mrs. Begley, was interned in Stanley for about a year. With the assistance of International Red Cross they were transferred to Shanghai and interned in Yangchow, where they were joined by their three children, whom the Japanese allowed to come from Peking. Prior to internment in Hong Kong Brigadier Begley worked in connection with Food Control and during the “blitz” was in charge of Communal Food Kitchens, feeding something like 100,000 people per day. The Kitchens were under Salvation Army Officers and staff who remained at their work until the position became untenable.
Immediately after his release from Yangchow, the Brigadier returned to Hong Kong where he has been engaged in Relief Department with the Salvation Army Relief Team.
Mrs. Begley with their daughter and two sons went to Australia in November, 1945.”
Source: The China Mail, page 5, 3rd April 1946
S.S. Bonaventure
“REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 69
----------------------------------------------------
S.S. “BONAVENTURE” is expected to leave for AUSTRALIA on the 3rd April, 1946.
The undermentioned are listed for embarkation:-
Major C.K.H. Begley, Mr. V.M. Benwell, Mr. E.M.G. Hanlon, Mr. W. MacFarlane, Mr. J.R. Sykes, Mr. Tang Ying Lam, Mr. C.E. Wong, Mr. F.V. Wong, Mrs. I.L. Law and three children, Dr. & Mrs. K.C. Yeo and three children, Mr. Geo. Mar, Mr. Geo. P. Mar and Master Jas Mar, Mr. Ellis Joseph.
H.K.V.D.C.:
Lt. & Mrs. R. Sleap, Cpl. I.G. Sullivan, Spr. A.D. Wong Yee, Miss Rose Gock Honson, and Mstr. Guy Gock Honson, Sgt. N. Vargassoff.
HONGKONG passengers will assemble at Queen’s Pier at 8.00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3rd 1946, and KOWLOON passengers will assemble at Pier No. 5 at 8.15 a.m. to await Embarkation Officer.
Passengers must NOT board the vessel without first obtaining their embarkation cards, which will be issued at assembly points.
REPATRIATION OFFICE
Hong Kong, April 4, 1946.”
Source: The China Mail, page 7, 3rd April 1946
Brigadier Begley
Many years ago I had the pleasure of meeting with one of Brig. Begley's sons, when we visited Stanley Military Cemetery. The Begley children were interned in Shanghai during the war, while their parents were in Stanley until the family were reunited.
I believe the children were interned in the same came as J G Ballard of "Empire of the Sun" fame. The younger Begley was also involved with the Salvation Army, like his father.
Strathmore
Is the vessel Bonaventure or Strathmore? Page 7 has a long list of passengers on the Strathmore.
As per the typed text, it's
As per the typed text, it's the 'S.S. Bonaventure' for Major C.K.H. Begley
'S.S. Strathmore' is under repatriation notice number 70 on the same page but different column (2).
Many thanks
Many thanks.
Brigadier Begley
A small point but one which I (and I think others) have failed to mention in comments about the Brigadier; he came to Hong Kong with his wife, ahead of the Japanese invasion of the Colony, to run the "rice kitchens" - relief for the local people. I'm not sure of the exact details of this arrangement; there is one located in the Tai Koo area accessible from Mt. Parker Road.
Rice kitchens
I've heard of two different types of kitchens around that time.
There were Salvation Army kitchens running pre-war, eg this one on Hennessy Road: https://gwulo.com/node/30174
Then there were the 'shelter areas' that the government set up that were only for use in wartime, eg the one in the valley behind Taikoo: https://gwulo.com/Wartime-Stoves-above-Quarry-Bay
I'm not sure if the Salvation Army worked on this second type.
C. K. H. Begley
I'm sure I've seen somewhere that Major (as he then was) Begley was heavily pressured by the Japanese to help them in their plan to invade Australia by making radio broadcasts to undermine the will to fight. He resisted steadfastly and the Japanese moved on to other Australians in Stanley Camp.
Major C. K. H. Begley
Major Colin Keith Henry Begley was born in Mt. Gambier, South Australia.
Timeline
1. Went to China in 1921.
2. Married Salvation Army woman officer, Edith May Doherty in Peking in 1922.
3. Left China in 1927 and returned to Australia on leave.
4. Assigned to India between 1928 and 1931.
5. Went to Shanghai in 1932.
6. Transferred to Chungking in 1939.
7. Arrived in Hong Kong in 1941.
Major Begley recounted the siege of Hong Kong in "The Border Watch" newspaper on 24 August 1946. See here
The Salvation Army under Major Begley was responsible for the administration of the seven communal kitchens set up by the government for the feeding of the population. One hundred thousand people a day were fed at these kitchens during the peak of the siege. See "The Shepparton Advertiser" newspaper on 19 September 1947 here
Source
1. https://www.chinafamilies.net/internees/7268-begley-colin-keith-henry/
2. Australian Journal of Salvation Army History, Vol. 1, Issue 1 March 2016 at https://issuu.com/salvos/docs/ajsahvol1iss1
3. Short biography in the "Victor Harbour Times" on 10 May 1957. See here