Having seen the thread regarding HK car registrations, i thought this might be of interest. The man in the car is Charles Henry Reginald Oxlade, Chinese Maritime Customs Service from 1925, Shanghai VDC and later Capt 5th Gurkha Rifles, killed 1944 at Imphal. He was not the owner of the car, i understand it belonged to a friend of his. I cannot date the photo but it was most likely between 1926 - c.1940. it would be interesting if anyone knows of the car's present owner or whereabouts.
David Oxlade
Date picture taken
unknown
Comments
Re: Car Photo
Interesting photo. Any further details that can be provided as it is difficult to place it as a Hong Kong scene. Thanks.
Unfortunately not, all i was
Unfortunately not, all i was told was that it was in HK. i appreciate that the background is very limited and not very helpful in terms of identifying the location. If someone recognises the car or knows of its history, that might help. Thanks, David
olls Royce Reg No 3832 HK
The car in the picture is a Silver Ghost, later modernised with radiator shutters. It looks like a Barker body, but may also have been modernised.
Maybe a 1920-1922 car, but some details suggest an earlier specimen that was modernised according to taste in the later 20's
Charles Henry Reginald Oxlade…
Charles Henry Reginald Oxlade
We do know the person's identity so let’s track his movements. Going through passenger records and Asian Directories we have a shortlist:
1925 December 17th - Depart England for Shanghai
1927 - Nanking
1928 - Nanking and Shanghai
1929 - Mukden
1929 - Shanghai
1930 - Dairen
1931 - Dairen
1932 - Dairen
1932 June 17th - Depart China for England
1933 August 10th - Depart England for Shanghai
1933 - Dairen
1934 - Dairen
1939 January 18th - Arrive London from Shanghai
1939 September 5th - Married Jean Erskine Henderson at Hartley Wintney, Hampshire
1941 - Hong Kong, Marina House, 4th Floor, 15-19 Queen’s Road Central. Job in the Chinese Maritime Customs ended on 1st July 1941.
There is a lot of open space, grand buildings, seemingly wide avenues or boulevards. The distinctive building in the background has two Western towers surmounted by an architecturally Chinese-styled roof. It’s elevated as if on a hill.
Not Hong Kong as no building fits the description and no positive ID on a forum full of Hong Kong aficionados. Shanghai is pretty flat and not at all hilly. He first came to China at a youthful 19 years of age to take up a modest position of 4th Assistant at the Chinese Maritime Customs and now looks like a confident young man mixing in circles with people who own a car like this. Probably early to mid 1930s somewhere in North China but I can’t quite identify the very distinctive building atm.
Charles Henry Reginald Oxlade
thank you eurasian.david for the information on possible location of the photo and his travel. i am travelling at present but will check his papers when i get back and see if there is something that connects with his intelligence related work.
david oxlade
Now, this gets fascinating…
Now, this gets fascinating.
He seemingly goes AWOL from the records with regard his records in China from 1935 but after getting married in the UK in September 1939 he is next in Hong Kong. I note he married very soon after Britain declared war on Germany at the outbreak of European WWII but obviously by then Japan had already been at war with China for a number of years. And you mentioned intelligence-related-work. Do you have any records as to where he was from 1935 onward?
Oh yes, it's good you're still around David to just pick up from a conversation started some 7 years ago!
Charles Henry Reginald Oxlade
I am now back and feet under the desk. Thanks for the travel schedule which is helpful in filling in more background.
I have checked the only part of his diaries that still exist and, as i thought, they only cover Feb 1942 to Nov 1942 (with some periods missing). They deal with fighting the Japanese in Burma, and later his work in China, the latter with very little detail other than names. We know he had written more over the 15+ year period but what happened to them I don't know.
Regarding your question about 1935 on, i can add:
26.11.39 left UK to return to active service in China (I assume to the Chinese Maritime Customs Service where he was Acting Preventive Deputy Commissioner, given ...
1.7.41 resigned CMCS
9.9.41 joined as Private, North Staffordshire Regt in Calcutta
13.9.41 discharged for Officer training in Belgaum, India
2.1.42 received his commission, joined the 5th Gurkha Rifles
13.2.42 last day at sea enroute (from ?) to Rangoon and China. The date the diary pages begin.
23.2.42 Shrapnel wound
16.3.42 Admitted Maymo British Military Hospital
4.4.42 Returned to unit
21.9.42 on way to China, till at least Nov 1942, and presumably till June 1943
15.3.42 Killed by Japanese, Tiddim-Imphal area
For what part of the period from the 30's onwards he was formally attached to the S.I.S group i I don't know, but there was what appears to be something of a turf-war with BAAG regarding intelligence in the area at that time. There is a memo dated 30.6.1943 copied to General Grimsdale, British Military Attache in Chungking, noting that CHRO had requested to return to his unit, 5th Gurkha Rifles, and was leaving on the next convoy.
Hope this is helpful,
David