Harry Sidney George HALE (aka Sid) [1915-1999]

Submitted by Admin on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 04:14
Names
Given
Harry Sidney George
Family
Hale
Alias / nickname
Sid
Sex
Male
Status
Deceased
Born
Date
Birthplace (town, state)
Romsford, Essex
Birthplace (country)
England
Died
Date
(Day & Month are approximate.)

Barbara Anslow:

In 1941 my sister Mabel had a serious boyfriend in the Royal Scots Band, a pianist and clarinetist named Harry Hale (known by his second name 'Sid').

Sid survived the sinking of the Lisbon Maru, and subsequent years as a POW in Japan.

Tags

Photos that show this Person

July 9th 1921. Age 6 Harry 'Sid' Hale.Harold Sidney George HALE (aka Sid) [1915-1999]
1921
Harry 'Sid' Hale.Dover 1934.
c.1934
june 1935 20 years old. Dagshai IndiaHarry 'Sid' Hale.Harold Sidney George HALE
1935
See more photos of this person

Comments

Born as Harry Sidney George Hale  26 May 1915 Romford Essex

From Prisoners of War, Far East: Hakodate POW Camp, Japan; Name List as of 15 August 1945

Harry Sidney George Hale Corporal Royal Scots Fusilier 305186

Taken prisoner 25 December 1941

He married Elizabeth E White Isle of Wight 1946

He died 1999 Isle of Wight

Harry Sidney George Hale.Bandsman and NCO served with  2nd Battalion Royal Scots Guards.(The Royal Regt) in India and Hong Kong. 1/1935 - 12/1941.

NCO ,2nd Battalion Royal Scots Guards,Kowloon Infantry Bde during the battle of Hong Kong. 8/12/1941 - 25/25/1941.

POW in Hong Kong Hotel Relief Hospital 12/1941 - 2/1942.

POW Sham Shui Po Camp,Hong Kong 2/1942 - 9/1942.

POW selection transfer to Japan, on board the SS Lisbon Maru. 1st October 1942, survived the ships sinking,  after being torpedoed by the USS Grouper in the South China Sea.

POW Woosung Camp, China 11/1942 - 5/1945.

POW Hakodate Branch Camp No 2-B, Akahira, Japan, 7/1945 - 8/1945.

 

Enlistment and training with the Royal Scots Guards at age 19, in 1934.Harry joined the band of the Royal Scots at Dover Castle Barracks.He was transferred to India 1/1935 - 1/1938, where he was promoted to Lance Corporal.He also played in dance bands and piano at a striptease for extra money.He was transferred to Hong Kong 1/1938.

While in Hong Kong, Harry played and sang with the Choir of St John's Cathedral and also received voice training from a famous Italian Opera Coach.Harry regularly played piano for a Russian Ballet Master, Gontrov, who had taught Margot Fonteyn out in Hong Kong.Harry would play many Chinese and British functions, which included, tea dances, weddings, church services and sporting events. He would also play on ZBW Radio broadcast from the Gloucester Hotel in Hong Kong.Harry would find out Britain had entered WW2,  while at the radio station.

In 1982 Harry made a series of recordings for the Imperial War Museum in London.

Harry tells of his journey into music, as a boy growing up on the Isle of Wight.His enlistment and training with the Royal Scots Regiment in Dover,at the Dover Castle Barracks. His time as an NCO and bandsman for the 2nd Battalion the Royal Scots Guards out in India and his  journey, pre war experiences and lifestyle as a bandsman in Hong Kong.

Harry tells of effects of hearing the declaration of war and how it lead to life dramatically changing.His operations as an NCO during the battle of Hong Kong leading to his capture. His life as a POW and his time spent at Sham Shui Po Camp and also surviving the sinking of the SS Lisbon Maru.Harry tells us of his involvement in a sabotage mission at Woosung Camp and then his move onto Hakodate Branch Camp No 2B, Akahira Japan and hearing the news of WAR IS OVER.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80005953