James MCCUTCHEON [1904-????]

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Names
Given
James
Family
McCutcheon
Sex
Male
Status
Deceased
Born
Date

Tony Banham notes that McCutcheon was a member of the Stanley platoon.

McCutcheon also appears on the 1940 list of Prison Officers, having started service on 24th April 1928.

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Comments

Something is not quite right here. We are told that Mr. McCutcheon's year of birth is 1917, and that he started his service with the HK Prisons Department in April 1928. Which would have him joining the Govt. at the grand age of ELEVEN!

I know that some people started work at an early age - but an 11 year old Prison warder does tend to stretch credibility somewhat.

Well spotted. I double-checked John Black's list, which is derived from the CWGC list of internees. It shows date-of-birth as 1917, and occupation as "Prison Officer".

McCutcheon is mentioned on page J90 of the 1933 Blue Book:

  • James McCutcheon
  • Warder
  • First appointed 24th April 1928

So there's clearly a mistake in John Black's list. I've deleted the DoB from this page, and hopefully we'll hear from someone with an accurate date.

James was my Great Aunts husband.  He married her in 1932 when he was 28 and she was 21.  They married in Wigtownshire, Scotland.  On the marriage certificate it list his usual place of residence as Victoria Prison Hong Kong, South China and list his occupation as Prison Warder.  So he was born in 1904 

Thanks Steve, I've put in the correct date of birth. If you can add any information about his time in Hong Kong and his wartime experiences, we'll enjoy reading them.