William John WHITE [1903-1943]

Submitted by Admin on Sun, 08/30/2015 - 14:38
Names
Given
William John
Family
White
Sex
Male
Status
Deceased
Born
Date
Died
Date
Cause of death
Executed by the Japanese

William White was one of the people executed by the Japanese on 29th October, 1943.

The Japanese court-martial documents include these mentions of White:

Domicile: PORTUGAL
Residence: HONGKONG, HONGKONG Area, East Ward, Wanchai Rd.,No.197 Portuguese. William John WHITE, age 40 years.

The accused  William John WHITE was employed as a chauffeur and mechanic by the Public Health Section of the Governor General’s Department after the capture of HONGKONG by the Japanese.  In 1943 he was contacted by LOIE FOOK WING, whom he already knew, and urged to co-operate in espionage on behalf of the British organisation in China.  He agreed to this and set up a wireless post in his own house at 97 Wanchai Road, HONGKONG.  From February to May 1943 he several times received orders for LOIE FOOK WING from the British organisation at WAICHOW and passed them on to him.  At the beginning of May of the same year he made a report to LOIE FOOK WING on the organisation of the Public Health Section of the Governor General’s Department.  He was also instructed by LOIE FOOK WING to get into secret contact with the STANLEY Enemy Aliens Internment Camp. Through the intermediation of an Englishman named "SHINTON" who was employed by the Public Health Department, he was able to make use of LEUNG HUNG, the head coolie of the truck which brought supplies to the camp.  He was thus able to maintain liaison between the camp and the British organisation at WAICHOW, getting in messages to the former HONGKONG Government Police superintendent EVANS and the Police Chief SCOTT.  From December 42, when requested by the accused SOUZA, who was employed in the liquidation of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank to listen for the London broadcasts, he did secretly listen to the said broadcasts and report on them.

Henry Ching writes in his Occasional Paper #33 that William White was an Old Boy of the Diocesan Boys' School.

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Comments

In the court martial document, the age of William John White was stated as 40 years old. So his birth year should be 1903. 

There was a William John White listed in the Hong Kong Government Blue Book and Civil Service List 1937, employed by the Harbour Master's Department from 1926 as Second class Lighthouse Keeper. His date of birth was 21 October 1903. Could this be the same William John White?

That does seem very likely they are the same man. I've updated the date of birth.

He is mentioned in the DBS School Register:

1912 White Wm. J

And also on a couple of Carl Smith cards:

White, William John

Marriages St. Johns Cathedral
7 Aug 1935 William John White, 31 bachelor, Light House keeper. ?97 Wanchai Road, ??? James Sinclair White, marine engineer, m/? May Chan, 24 spinster, Hospital Nurse Govt. Civil Hospital, ??? Chan Wing Fat, merchant.
Card# 152227

White, William John

SCMP, Aug. 8, 1935, married St. John’s Cath., May Chan, dau. of Mr. and Mrs. Chan ?ing-fat, merchant in Pakhoi, to William John White of Harbour Master’s Dept. son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. White. Bridesmaid Miss Helen Tam.
Card# 152225