DoB from John Black's list, which gives Mr Alton's occupation in 1941 as "Minister".
He was the Assistant Methodist at the English Methodist Church on the corner of Kennedy and Queen's Roads:
The Japanese Invasion
The occupation took place on Christmas Day 1941 and the Home and the English Church were closed forthwith. The Church was in fact used to stable horses for the Japanese officers, which is why it may have taken until 1947 to be ready to open again! The home had various uses but was ransacked at the end of the war. The ministers, significantly Revd Joseph E. Sandbach, were interned at Stanley with many of the leaders of Hong Kong society. Sandbach was appointed to the management committee for the prisoners and his ministry was greatly admired. He had come in 1937 and remained until his retirement in 1960. The selfless service of Revd Sandbach and his Assistant Minister Revd Alton were an effective and admired ministry among the 3000 prisoners. Man Kwok Wai notes, ‘Their selfless service and witness gave credit to Methodism. One of the internees, Mr N.L. Smith became the Colonial Secretary after the liberation and he was extremely helpful when Sandbach approached the Government to apply for a plot of land to build a church and school in Kowloon (1947-8).’
See https://gwulo.com/sites/gwulo.com/files/misc/MIC-120-Anniversary-Bookle…
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William Herbert Alton 1907 - 1995
1939 census living at Boroughbridge Road Knareborough clerk in Holy Orders date of birth 5 February 1907. His wife Ethel Muriel nee Spilman born 14 April 1906
He appears on various passenger lists such as 1 March 1940 when he travelled from Southampton to Hong Kong.William H Alton minister age 33, Ethel Muriel Alton age 33. Eric Alton age 3 and Patricia Alton age 2.
1950 he travelled from London to Hong Kong. Address in UK 55 Boroughbridge Road, Knaresborough, Yorkshire
He died in 1995 and is buried at West Tanfield Methodist Chapelchyard
Rev W H Alton in 'Too Hot For Comfort' by Bill Ream
Rev Bert Alton, Assistant Minister to Joseph Sandbach at the English Methodist Church, gets several mentions in Bill Ream’s account, Too Hot For Comfort, of the war years in China.
In the 1930s, Bert Alton worked the North River Circuit in Kwantung and became well known in Kukong and Fatshan.
In 1941 when the Wa Ying Boys’ School from Canton was based in Shatin, Alton came over from Hong Kong to deliver Religious Instruction lessons.
After the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in December and occupation of Kowloon, Alton, who was on Hong Kong island collecting coal for the Nethersole Hospital on 18th December, witnessed the Japanese sending boats to land men on North Point to the east of the city. He phoned Army Headquarters but was told he was imagining things.
In Stanley Camp, early on, the internees organised some self-government. Each block elected a committee and a “Blockhead.” A general election formed a British Communal Council, chaired by Ben Wiley of the South China Morning Post, with two ministers, Bert Alton and Joseph Sandbach, and heads of large companies among its members. They were both clearly held in some esteem by the community.
In the days that followed Japan’s surrender, confusion reigned across Hong Kong. Most people wisely stayed in camp, obeying instructions, while a few, like Bert Alton, with his fluent Cantonese, were sent out on assignments, Alton on a number of occasions; the first being with two others to arrange for supplies of fish to be sent into the camp as part of the rations. In addition, he re-established contact with the Chinese Methodist Church. Joseph Sandbach also took part in these early tentative missions.
On board the repatriating ship Empress of Australia, Bert Alton conducted Sunday services.
After the war, Alton returned to Hong Kong to continue his work there.
In 1949 in the last months of the civil war, Alton returned to the North River area to give valuable help and support to Bill Ream in Kukong as he sought to hand over responsibility for management of the hospital to the Chinese and to simplify the stores and the accounting processes.
Then in June 1949, when the Board of the Canton Union Theological College met to decide on a new building, and all prospect of it happening seemed impossible, the mood of the meeting changed dramatically and it was voted that the building should begin at once. Alton later wrote, ‘I have never been so conscious of the Holy Spirit taking hold of a body of people and drawing them to an unexpected decision.’
In his life of service, Bert Alton’s reliability, adaptability, and faith left a lasting mark on the communities he served. His legacy is one of dedication and service amidst times of both peace and upheaval.
Later on in the 1980s when Bill Ream was writing his book, Bert Alton assisted by reading or checking part or all of the original typescript and making helpful suggestions or corrections. He was clearly a trusted personal friend.