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" ...it was not until the news of the sinking of the battleship Prince of Wales and the battle cruiser Repulse off Singapore on the 10th December 1941 was flashed to Hong Kong that the fate of these capital ships presaged our fate, devoid of air cover. Our faith in our requirement to hold out for 90 days was based on our relief by such ships, and now they were gone, it began to dawn even on the most optimistic of us that our position was hopeless. It was against this background ...  that the battle of Hong Kong island was fought, and it is against this backcloth ... that the record of the garrison should be judged. To be able to maintain any fighting morale at all under these conditions was only possible on a foundation of general heroism, and this made all those separate acts to which I have referred all the more heroic."

((Source L.T. Ride))

On Sunday 14th December there came an urgent message from General Maltby for the setting up of a fortress observation post on the north face of the Peak which could dominate the mainland.  Information regarding the movements of the enemy was vital and the post came under the direct control of General Maltby himself and his GSO1.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

"The night was the darkest I have ever seen.  ... overcast, cloudy, rain at intervals, otherwise mostly drizzle.  In addition, the enemy had set alight the oil tanks near North Point, and the smoke drifted over the island. ... Three landings were made, each in two waves, and seven battalions, or about 7000 men, landed in all during the night.  On the East, Colonel Tanaka with two battalions landed in the Shaukiwan area.  He sent one battalion against Lyemun and Sai Wan, the other over Quarry Gap into Tytam Valley.  Colonel Shoji with three battalions landed somewhere near North Point and plugged straight inland for Jardine’s Lookout and Wongneichong Gap.  Another two battalions, under Colonel Doi, landed west of the docks.  Their job was to take care of the bridge-head, and when possible push troops forward to support Shoji’s men."

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

In the meantime, Colonel Tanaka was sending his advance party along the Wongneichong reservoir catchwater, above the Ridge.  They reached a point above Repulse Bay Hotel soon after dawn on the 20th;  they attacked, and by 9.30 the same morning, the hotel was surrounded and the garage was in enemy hands. 

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

In the northern sector, the Japanese had pushed forward vigorously at Mount Nicholson and Black’s Link, and by 8.15 on the morning of the 21st, were dug in on the Eastern slope of Mount Nicholson.   

The enemy followed up this success by attacking strongly down King’s Road while they directed a heavy mortar fire on to the Naval Yard.  Another enemy landing in force was made at Causeway Bay (and a section of No 6 Portuguese Company HKVDC, in Watson’s factory, was cut off).  By noon the enemy had made considerable headway along the north shore and every gun in the Naval Yard had been knocked out.

On the 21st, an attempt was made by troops in the Stanley sector to link up with troops in the northern part of the island.  No 1 company HKVDC formed the vanguard of the attack, with their carrier platoon ahead, and Canadian Rifles in support.  They moved out along Island Road at 9 a.m. towards Tytam Crossroads, the first objective being Red Hill, the peninsula separating Tytam Bay and Stanley Bay.

On the night of the 21st a message from Repulse Bay Hotel said the troops there were retiring that night on Stanley and if those on the Ridge could join them by scouting the hills they should do so before midnight.  The main body of troops on the Ridge left after dark but the majority failed to reach Repulse Bay.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

On the 22nd an artillery attack on the Ridge was commenced and our sandbag defences and walls of the houses began to crumble.

No 6 Platoon of the Scottish Company were assigned to hold the area of the bridge over the Lido Road on the night of 22nd December to protect the evacuation of troops in the Repulse Bay Hotel area from enemy troops who were penetrating down the valley to the east of Violet Hill.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

On the 23rd, at Leighton Hill, the withdrawal of the Rajputs had exposed the flank of the garrison holding the Hill ...

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

On the 24th, heavy enemy artillery fire was directed on the Central District, the Naval Yard and Victoria Barracks, and there were many fires in the town.  Leighton Hill was in enemy hands, and the defence line ran from Canal Road in Wanchai, to the Lee Theatre, thence to Morrison Hill, Mount Parrish, Wanchai Gap to Bennett’s Hill.  The Stanley force was concentrated on to the Peninsula and awaited the final assault.   Two platoons of No 3 Company HKVDC were holding Chung Am Kok peninsula.  The first line of defence at Stanley ran from the village to Tytam Beach, and was held by the remainder of No 2 Company, the “Stanley Platoon” (the European warders of the gaol), “C” Company Middlesex and “B” Company Royal Rifles.  South of St. Stephen’s College was the second line, held by the gunners of First Battery HKVDC and “A” and “C” Companies Royal Rifles.  The residue of the Stanley force was manning the third line – from St. Stephen’s Preparatory School to Tweed Bay.             This force had been gathering since the 19th, and included survivors from Shek O, Tytam and Repulse Bay together with a large number of civilian refugees

By the 24th, the first defence line across the narrow neck of the isthmus was established and all troops not required for the operation of guns or other services in the Stanley Fort were utilized in this line.  The main attack came at ten minutes to nine on Christmas Eve.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

On Christmas Day the enemy bombardment and aerial attacks continued, but the Stanley Guns were able to answer them back. We felt the situation to be difficult but not hopeless, with 2500 men and enough ammunition, food and water.  There were many gallant actions at Stanley by Volunteers - to name only two, the Scottish Platoon at Chung Am Kok, and the men of the first Battery between Prison Road and Fort Road.

in the north, by 6.30 on Christmas Morning the defenders were fighting in O’Brien Street and Wanchai Market.  As the day wore on the enemy drive along the north shore was decisive, and at 3.15 p.m. the defending forces surrendered.

“The Garrison of Hong Kong has surrendered.  All fighting will cease and you will hoist the white flag.  All arms and ammunition will be collected and stored under guard.  Officers in charge of units are responsible for the discipline of their troops.  Officers will retain their revolvers.  Further orders will be set out dealing with dispersal areas.”

At Stanley, the news was not received until 8 o’clock on Christmas night.  The Brigade Commander there would not surrender without written instructions and so Stanley held out until the early hours of Boxing Day, when all forces in the Colony laid down their arms.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

((Stuart Braga shared this account of Christmas Day, 1941:))

This description of Christmas Day 1941 was written some months later by my uncle, Paul Braga in a letter to his brother, the Rev. James Braga, in Chicago.

“These days of defeat and fear left Father [J.P. Braga] a broken man both physically and mentally ... We all admired him for his wonderful patience and the way he 'took it' without any complaints. He often and often spoke of his devotion to each of us and repented at his aloofness in past years.”

Yet he rallied for Christmas Day. Paul told the story of an unforgettable Christmas Day spent at his house on Braga Circuit:

“He got Audrey [Paul’s wife, all the servants having fled] to cook a special ‘Xmas tiffin for the whole family, what was to be our last real feed. After being starved for the past fortnight we all agreed that it tasted better than any meal before. Two of our chickens were killed and tinned food (corn etc.) made up for the rest. Then there was a real ‘Xmas pudding which was made from ingredients Aud bought a few weeks previous. There was even a box of crackers!! And the room was decorated with ‘Xmas banners saved from previous years ... It was the first time we had showed real indifference to the blazing of artillery fire from Jap guns in the several vacant lots of the site – some of them so close to our house that the plates jumped on our tables from the concussion in the air. Nor did we leave our seats during the return shelling from British forts in Hongkong which brought direct hits on some of the Jap guns. (Most of these shells missed their targets, one hit Hughie’s house and wrecked it completely. [‘Hillview”, 18 Braga Circuit. The house was unoccupied, as Hugh’s family, my mother Nora and her children Sheila and Stuart were in Australia].

“It was the happiest and yet the gloomiest tiffin we ever had. During the fire and cross-fire we all sat still, but you could never imagine more laughter and talk from a ‘Xmas party when the guns were silent. At the end of the meal, Father gave a speech in which he told us how he really loved his family always and wanted us all to stick together through the trouble, and to have more patience with each other. When he spoke of Maude and the children [Maude was not there, her whereabouts uncertain. The children, four of them, were there in the house, facing a perilous future], he broke down in tears and it was some time before he was able to resume.”

As darkness fell on that strangest of Christmas Days, the sound of gunfire on Hong Kong Island ceased and there was silence. “We knew what that meant”, said Noel’s wife Marjory fifty years later. "Hong Kong had surrendered".  

I see that in other diaries for this date I am mentioned coming from Tsingtao.  Though I can't remember very much of the journey, what I do remember is arrival in Hong Kong and being met by my mother Veronica Weill and my Aunt Sophie Odell at the harbour waterfront who was there also to welcome her son David.  We had come from Lunghwa camp as civilian POWs and were lucky travelling on a Jap transport ship. presumably a target for US submarines.  

Best wishes,  Bernard  Weill

Extract from p. 276 of 'The Royal Naval Medical Service':

On August 10, 1942, the female nursing staff of Bowen Road Hospital were transferred to the Civilian Internment Camp, Stanley, Hong Kong. The staff involved consisted of Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval and Imperial Military Nursing Services, together with sisters and nurses of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps Nursing Detachment.

The story of the actual transfer is best told in the words of the Matron ((Olga Heather FRANKLIN)) herself:

'We were taken in buses to the waterfront in Hong Kong. We were paraded near the Law Courts. We were then addressed by Colonel Tggunaka* who told us, through an interpreter, that although he himself knew of the valuable work we had been doing for our sick and wounded, we were being sent to the civilian camp on orders from Tokyo. He told us that we should be sent back to our homes, but that we must be patient, as it would be “not very shortly”. The Army Matron made a suitable reply.’

On their arrival at the Civilian Internment Camp, these sisters and nurses were searched by the Japanese. Later they were interviewed by H.B.M’s. Representative in Hong Kong who was now acting as Commandant of the camp. Together, they now constituted a single nursing unit for work inside the camp. This unit consisted of 10 British Army, 2 Canadian Army and 3 Royal Naval Nursing Sisters. The unit was administered by the Army Matron.

"The Jail Show" is put on at St Stephens. Mabel Redwood keeps a copy of the poster:

The poster's text reads:

The Jail Show
Second Stretch

Mustered and Misled
by James Norman and Wallace Kinloch

Thursday Jan 28th
Friday Jan 29th
Saturday Jan 30th

St. Stephens Hall
6pm sharp

Mabel added a pencil note:

Two shows put on in camp by internees. The Chinese man is supposed to be Clifton.

"The White Cliffs" performance was held around this time, possibly several times as the name is mentioned in diary entries by R. E. Jones on 7 Mar, and by Eric MacNider on 12 Mar. For a more detailed description we have to wait for John Charter writing on 11 Jun and 12 Jun:

That reminds me that I should have mentioned another quite outstanding show that was put on towards the end of February. This was ‘The White Cliffs’ which is a poem about England and America written by an American woman. I believe it became very popular in America and England at the beginning of the war and was used extensively in America for propaganda purposes, being very pro British. An abridged edition, set to music, was recorded by HMV I believe, and John Sterricker, who produced it here, had possessed this set of records and had lent them to ZBW for broadcasting in Hong Kong. The poem in parts is rather heavily sentimental, but for all that it is intensely moving, particularly at a time like this. With musical background arranged by Betty Drown and provided by her choir of about 40 or 50 people, Roy Heasman, violin, drums and Betty at the piano, the whole thing lasted for 50 minutes. Winnie Cox recited the poem simply beautifully. It was a tremendous task she undertook in memorising it. She was the ‘I’ of the poem; the young American girl who comes to England and falls in love with and marries an Englishman. She stood on the stage on a low dais in front of a blue screen with the white cliffs of Dover in the background and seagulls wheeling round.

The choir and the musicians were behind the screen. The poem tells the story of how her husband is killed in the Great War of 1914-18 and ends with her son joining up at the outbreak of this war. It was therefore very moving and somewhat harrowing for those who had lost husbands and sons here. But it was splendidly done and quite unique in its way. Terrance Feltham designed the set. John Sterricker is to be congratulated on the whole thing.

In 2018, Barbara Anslow added her memories of the show:

Eric McNider's reference to 'White Cliffs' surely records the recitation by Mrs Winnie Cox of the famous wartime poem at a camp concert.
 

At a Stanley Reunion in England in 1997 I met up with Winnie and introduced her to an ex-Stanley HK policeman, as soon as he heard her name, he remembered her and proclaimed the first line of the poem!

((The Hong Kong Club's committee met just once during the internment, on this day. Vaudine England describes the meeting on page 88 of her book, "Kindred Spirits: A History Of The Hong Kong Club":))

This unique meeting, held on 5 June 1943, was chaired by Newbigging, with vice chairman Robert Young and three other men in attendance: H.J. Armstrong, D.H. Blake and John Fleming, the Club accountant, who, in the absence of Trenchard Davis, acted as secretary. Several topics were recorded from the meeting. The first was ‘casualties in hostilities', which referred to the many Club members lost in action, including J.E. Potter, their colleague on the Committee. This was followed by the issue that may have triggered the meeting: the apparently impending repatriation of Mrs Thornhill. It was resolved to give her a letter of reference...

recording her loyal and efficient service to the Club. It was further decided, as no other means of assisting her financially were possible, to give her a letter addressed to the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank London requesting the Bank to pay her One Hundred Pounds (£100) as a gratuity and to cover her undrawn December 1941 salary. Repayment to the Bank of such sum to be jointly and severally guaranteed by the undemoted Committee and other Members of the Club, who would if agreeable, sign such letter in confirmation thereof.

Attached to the Minutes is the carbon copy of this letter to the Bank, dated 15 June 1943. On it appears a long list of names of those who had signed the original — incidentally giving us an important sample of the Club’s pre-war membership still alive in the camp halfway through the war:

D.L. Newbigging, H.J. Armstrong, R.D. Gillespie, G.A. Pentreath, Robert Young, N. Croucher, Edgar Davidson, M.M. Watson, D. Morgan Richards, A.L. Shields, F.C. Hall, W.F. Suminondo, D.D. Forbes, P. Tester, E.A. Pritchard, A.N.H. Phillips, John Fleming, H. Sheldon, H.R. Sturt, M.A. Annett, A.D. MacGregor, J. Owen Hughes, Eldon Potter, Chas Terry, B.C. Hawkins, R.A.C. North, J. Finnie (the manager of Butterfield & Swire), L.C.F. Bellamy, S.T. Williamson, W.J. Ryan, R.C. Margarett, W.N. Brown, E.W. Hamilton, P.S. Cassidy, D. Clark, R.H. Wild, Denis Blake, C.C. Roberts.

Also attached was a letter of thanks from Mrs Florence E. Thornhill, dated 22 June:

I thank you [Newbigging] and the members of the Hong Kong Club for the gratuity you have so kindly arranged for me to draw on arrival in England. It will be most useful. I would also express my appreciation for the consideration shown me during my employment with your Club, and take many happy memories with me. I regret very much the circumstances which end my association with you and hope things will be back to normal soon. Yours faithfully ...

'The circumstances’ was a modest description of a devastating world war and the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong; a modest hope, too, that things would soon be ‘back to normal’.

((The meeting was held at a time when it looked as though British women, including Mrs Thornhill, would be repatriated. That didn't happen, though most of the Canadians in Camp, including one of the signatories R D Gillespie, were repatriated in September 1943.))

((On board the Gripsholm, nursing sister May Waters writes out the following report from the New Zealand Internees Association she'd been given to memorise before leaving Stanley. She attaches a covering letter and sends them both to Mr Thomson, father of one of the internees.))

M.S. Gripsholm
29.10.43

Dear Mr. Thomson,

Better introduce myself first, one of the Canadian sisters that was at Bowen Rd and Stanley Internment Camp with your daughter Kathleen.

The enclosed report is from the New Zealanders in Camp and your son, Peter, asked me if I would send it to you and ask you to send it to the New Zealand Government and to use your own judgment showing it to anyone else.

I only received it 4 days before leaving camp and had to memorise it during a very busy time. I know I haven't the exact words in two or three places but quite sure I have conveyed the same meaning.

Kae Christie ((sic.)) the other Canadian sister was going to write Mrs. Thomson but as she has a great many letters to write perhaps this one can do two duties.

Kathleen and Peter are thin but both fairly well. Everyone is lacking in energy but I must say your two keep themselves fairly busy. Believe Peter is teaching as well as the other duties there are to do, depending what squad you are in, rations, wood cutting etc.  Kathleen always seems to be busy too. If not studying she's looking after someone's child. ’’Aunty Kate” is quite a favorite.

Kathleen has received several letters from home but can't understand why you don’t tell her the names of the new nieces and nephews. Since June mail has been gradually trickling through. Very little before that and some still not getting any.

Kae and I consider ourselves extremely lucky to be on our way home and we do hope the others will get out next month. Altho' we are on the Gripsholm we still receive very little news.

I do hope all the Red Cross boxes we saw being loaded on the Teia Maru are safely delivered in Hong Kong before long. Food and medical supplies are needed badly. Kathleen does’nt expect to get home directly they are repatriated but thinks she will have to go wherever the S.A’s are sent. ?? ((right edge of page damaged, and some text not clear)) course one can never tell. Perhaps we may meet in England. Just at l??? keep in touch.

Hope you receive a letter from both Kathleen and Peter. Letter?? were supposed to of come out at the same time. Don’t worry about them, ?? sure Kathleen will be out soon and there should be food for the men.

This is a very disjointed letter but it is rather dfficult to know just what to tell you. You can really get it all from the N.Z. report. It was a great pleasure knowing and working with your daughter. She did ?? wonderful job. Both send their love to all the family.

Sincerely yours,
May Watus. ((sic.))

NEW ZEALAND.

This report is sent by the New Zealand Internees Association to supplement the private and general report of the Camp to the British Government.

We suggest that if you have not a copy of the latter report, you obtain one as soon as possible.

STATUS OF N.Z.I.A.

This Association was formed by the unanimous vote of all New Zealanders interned in Stanley.

Present officials are:- L. Thomson (Chairman) ((Possibly L O Thompson?)); R.Wild (Secretary); T. Williamson (Hon.Government Representative). ((Not sure who this was.))

There is another organisation known as the Australian and New Zealand Society but it is not representative of New Zealanders in Hong Kong or in Camp.

PERSONNEL.

The New Zealanders in Stanley now number 16 males 8 females (all adults). 4 adults and 2 children returned to Shanghai last year. There have been no deaths among New Zealanders in Stanley.

REPORT ON HEALTH AND NUTRITION OF NEW ZEALANDERS IN STANLEY INTERNMENT CAMP, HONG KONG.

A report on Health and nutrition of New Zealanders in Stanley Internment Camp, Hong Kong, as it reflects on the condition of rations of the whole Camp, requires a general introductory paragraph.

Their total caloric value has been as low as 1385 calorus per head per day with 44 grammes of protein, and never higher than 2000 calorus with 60 grammes of protein. This level was reached the 3rd quarter of 1942 and was followed by a steady fall to the present level of 1564 calorus with 44 grammes of "polished" rice and much of the other foods supplied (such as water-buffalo beef, Pacific conger-eel, Chinese "water-spinach") are of a kind not ordinarily regarded fit for human consumption.

I have examined 20 New Zealanders, all but 4 of the total number interned. According to their state of health and nutrition and with the observation that none may be classed as good, I group them as follows:-  

16 persons have lost an average of 20.2% of their known pre-war weight and a majority continue to lose, 2 only (both women) have gained a little and concerning the remaining two the facts were not available.

12 persons have required treatment for specific nutritional diseases. 5 of these for more than one "malnutrition" deficiency. 9 required Thiamen Treatment for beri beri and allied conditions; 5 required Nicotinic Acid treatment for early signs of pallagra; 1 required treatment for central blindness (Reboflavin deficiency) newly observed in Stanley; 2 required treatment for non-specific malnutrition status.

I have compared these "weight" and "malnutrition" figures with those from a recent general Camp survey and find they correspond closely, so that the findings of the small New Zealand unit are roughly representative of the state of nutrition of the whole camp.

One may fairly conclude that the rations provided to the Internees by the authorities are insufficient and unsuitable to maintain health and prevent the occurrence of potentially fatal nutritional diseases. That these have been prevented and successfully treated is due entirely to the supplementary food and vitamin factors supplied by the Red Cross authorities. Failing these our mortality and morbidity rate must have been overwhelming.

Of general diseases - There have been 5 cases of dysentery, one case of typhus, 1 of erysipelas and 5 cases of moderately serious septic conditions.

(Sgd.) John Allistair Loan. M.B., S.S'c.
17.9.43

GENERAL.

The chief anxiety is that the situation regarding food and medical supplies (especially deficiency prophylactics) may become even more critical as the blockade increases.

Therefore, failing repatriation, either under a separate scheme or in conjunction with other British Nationals, we urgently request your co-operation with, or promotion of any scheme to ensure regular relief supplies.

Financial relief, although a help, is not a solution owing to lack of supplies, exorbitant prices and restrictions on purchases by internees.

Allowances irregular, maximum M. Y. 25 buys precisely 3.12 oz tins of canned mutton.

Geographical position of Hong Kong is a big hurdle regarding provisions.

(Sgd.) L. Thomson
Chairman
New Zealand Internees Association
Stanley, Hong Kong.

((Transcribed from the copies held at the UK National Archive, their ref: CO 980/120.))

The following list shows the people who have a page on Gwulo, and who died on 29th October, 1943. This was the day that the Japanese executed over 30 people on the beach at Stanley.

Brian has more details about these people and the day's events at: 
http://gwulo.com/node/11380

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Among the papers of Mr Thomas Alwyn Hughes I found this instruction, written on the back of a cigarette packet, given to the Police members interned at Stanley on November 3, 1943:

“C. P. of one (?) Sec  Nov, 3rd 1943           I want you to put clearly before the men of your sec. the following facts:- Arriving out of the recent sentences on prisoners from this Camp, the Jap. Authorities have made it abundantly clear to the C.C. that should any unauthorized communication be made into, or out of the camp be discovered, or should any escape be attempted, or should any action against the Jap. interests be discovered, not only will the offender himself be drastically dealt with but also the arrest of the C.C. & of the B.C.C. (?) will be affected & collective punishment will be inflicted on the camp. The Jap. Authorities have made it quite clear that they mean what they say. The first duty of Police is to the Public they serve. In the circumstances therefore, I specifically direct that no member of the Police Force shall take any action which may lead to penalties of this nature being inflicted on the general Public & leaders of the Camp.”

On this day, the British mini-submarine XE-4 and its five-man crew cut the undersea communications cables connecting Singapore to Saigon, and Saigon to Hong Kong. This forced the Japanese to communicate via radio, which was easier for the Allies to intercept.

Adam Bergius was one of the divers who did the actual cutting. This extract from his obituary in the the Scottish Sunday Herald explains:

Mr Bergius, his fellow divers and their midget subs arrived in Labuan, off Malaysia, in July 1945 on board their depot ship HMS Bonaventure, which had been built in Greenock as the Clan Campbell of the Clan Line but was requisitioned for the war effort.

On July 31, in the Mekong Delta, the XE-4 snagged on its targets, the Japanese communications cables. Sub-Lieutenant Briggs dived from the sub and returned with a snippet to prove he had cut it. An hour later, they located the second cable and Sub-Lieutenant Bergius dived from the sub to snap it after four attempts at a depth of 50 feet. He was hauled back into the mini-sub in complete exhaustion but brandishing a length of cable. Mission accomplished, the war was about to be over.

For the rest of his life, Mr Bergius kept that length of cable as a war souvenir.

Thanks to Jill for the link to the obituary.