Bay Chaleur Military Museum shares a handkerchief previously owned by Dr. Chak Po-tin (1922-2021), who served as a member of St. John Ambulance during the Battle of Hong Kong.
The handkerchief had 99 names on, and a close inspection shows that the handkerchief probably commemorates the release of Asian POWs from Sham Shui Po Camp in September 1942.
This is possibly the only artifact about the event and the often-overlooked on Asian POWs in Sham Shui Po Camp.
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The Bay Chaleur Military Museum (Musée militaire Baie-des-Chaleurs) is located at 351A Perron Boulevard West in New Richmond, Quebec, in the Gaspésie region.
Date picture taken
1942
Shows person / people
Comments
The handkerchief - 99 names POW Sham Shui Po Camp 1942
Some of the names are:
Maximo Cheng Chi Ping (1921-2014): 4th Battery, HKVDC, number 4616. After he was released, he reported to the British in Waichow and then fought in Burma as part of the Hong Kong Volunteer Company (Chindits) His interview with the Imperial War Museum (IWM) mentioned his life in the POW camp.
David Lam (1923-2007): 4th Battery, HKVDC, number 4675. After he was released, he joined the British Army Aid Group (BAAG) and engaged in intelligence activities against the Japanese in Hong Kong and South China. He was awarded BEM. He too was interviewed by the IWM.
Raymond Mok (1920-2012): Field Ambulance, HKVDC, number 2923. He also joined the BAAG after being released and served as in the medical branch throughout the war. He continued to practice after the war. His interview can also be found in the IWM.
Sim Beck Hoe, Leow Hock Yew, Chiang Lei Tin (all ? – 1943)
Field Ambulance, HKVDC, 5013, 5056, and 5006
They were Hong Kong University Medical School students and were interned in May Hall after their released. When they tried to escape in 1943, they were all captured. Sim died in prison and Lew and Chiang were executed.
Lew Kay Sang (1921- ?): Hong Kong Chinese Regiment, number 2038; he narrowly escaped during the Overbays massacre during the Battle of Hong Kong. His brother Lew Ah Loy also survived the battle. The two brothers reunited in China in 1943 and then joined the Hong Kong Volunteer Company to fight in Burma again in 1944. After the war, they lived in Singapore.