That night, in a fin de siecle atmosphere, parties are the mode. Int he Peninsula Hotel, the Tin Hat Ball, attended by the Governor amongst others, is in full swing, hoping to raise GBP 160,000 toward the purchase of bombers for the RAF. A noted beauty of the time, Hilda Yen, sings, but then at nearly midnight T. B. Wilson, the president of the American Steamship line, appears on the balcony above the dance floor, announcing: 'any men connected with any ship in the harbour - report aboard for duty. 'At once'
Not the slightest chance: the defence of Hong Kong, 1941 By Tony Banham
I've just seen this. I know the Portuguese/Macanese community held some sort of ball/fundraiser some time after Britain declared war on Germany, or possibly were a big presence at events like this one. (Being in Kowloon that is entirely possible). My mother remembered that there was an auction of kisses and that the men were not content with a chaste peck, so very fin de siecle compared to the usual social norms for the Catholic Portuguese/Macanese at that time.
The character in the advertising graphic depicts "Old Bill"
Old Bill is a fictional character created in 1914–15 by cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather. Old Bill is depicted as an elderly, pipe-smoking British "Tommy" with a walrus moustache.
The character achieved a great deal of popularity during World War One where he was considered a major morale booster for the British troops.
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Tin Hat Ball - more than one ?
6 Dec 1941,
That night, in a fin de siecle atmosphere, parties are the mode. Int he Peninsula Hotel, the Tin Hat Ball, attended by the Governor amongst others, is in full swing, hoping to raise GBP 160,000 toward the purchase of bombers for the RAF. A noted beauty of the time, Hilda Yen, sings, but then at nearly midnight T. B. Wilson, the president of the American Steamship line, appears on the balcony above the dance floor, announcing: 'any men connected with any ship in the harbour - report aboard for duty. 'At once'
Not the slightest chance: the defence of Hong Kong, 1941
By Tony Banham
I've just seen this. I know…
I've just seen this. I know the Portuguese/Macanese community held some sort of ball/fundraiser some time after Britain declared war on Germany, or possibly were a big presence at events like this one. (Being in Kowloon that is entirely possible). My mother remembered that there was an auction of kisses and that the men were not content with a chaste peck, so very fin de siecle compared to the usual social norms for the Catholic Portuguese/Macanese at that time.
The character in the…
The character in the advertising graphic depicts "Old Bill"
Old Bill is a fictional character created in 1914–15 by cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather. Old Bill is depicted as an elderly, pipe-smoking British "Tommy" with a walrus moustache.
The character achieved a great deal of popularity during World War One where he was considered a major morale booster for the British troops.