I was very pleased to meet John and his wife last month. With their permission, here are a few notes about John's experiences here in December 1941, during the fighting against the Japanese:
At that time, John was a young boy living with his family in Peak Mansions on the Peak. He remembers the demolition of 10 & 11 The Peak, where the residents were given 30 minutes notice to evacuate the building before it was demolished by the British forces. Many of those residents ended up staying with families in Peak Mansions.
Soon after they had to move again, as Peak Mansions was shelled by the Japanese. John moved to live in Altadena on Barker Road. He remembers Japanese shells landing in the building, but they didn't explode. The men there drew lots to decide who would dispose of them. Four men each took one corner of a sheet, and carried the shell outside and deposited it into the swimming pool!
After the British surrendered, John was interned together with his family at Stanley Camp.
John Paterson Whiteside of Chineside, Maxwell Road, Canford Cliffs, Poole , Dorset died 3 August 1965 at 3 Owls Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth. Probate to Florence Edith Irene Whitefield widow
Comments
John Whitefield
I was very pleased to meet John and his wife last month. With their permission, here are a few notes about John's experiences here in December 1941, during the fighting against the Japanese:
At that time, John was a young boy living with his family in Peak Mansions on the Peak. He remembers the demolition of 10 & 11 The Peak, where the residents were given 30 minutes notice to evacuate the building before it was demolished by the British forces. Many of those residents ended up staying with families in Peak Mansions.
Soon after they had to move again, as Peak Mansions was shelled by the Japanese. John moved to live in Altadena on Barker Road. He remembers Japanese shells landing in the building, but they didn't explode. The men there drew lots to decide who would dispose of them. Four men each took one corner of a sheet, and carried the shell outside and deposited it into the swimming pool!
After the British surrendered, John was interned together with his family at Stanley Camp.
Regards, David
John Paterson Whitefield 8 May 1902 - 3 August 1965
Scotlands People Births
John Paterson Whitefield born 1902 Catrine Scotland and John Paterson Whitefield born 1902 Cardross Scotland
1939 Ration Book Census UK 15 Fairway Grays
Lewis H Gunton 12 February 1878 Grocery and Provisions dealer
Florence Gunton 25 October 1851
John P Whitefield born 14 May 1902 Civil Servant Hong Kong
Florence E J Whitefield [nee Gunton] 12 August 1907
John Whitefield born 8 May 1932
Passenger List Hong Kong to Liverpool arrival 26 October 1945
Queenie Florence Whitefield 36 15 Fairway Grays Essex
John McArthur Whitefield 13
Yvette Irene Whitefield 12
Probate Calendar 1965
John Paterson Whiteside of Chineside, Maxwell Road, Canford Cliffs, Poole , Dorset died 3 August 1965 at 3 Owls Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth. Probate to Florence Edith Irene Whitefield widow