Thomas Neil DAVIS [1895-1978]

Submitted by Anthony Davis on Sun, 01/29/2017 - 22:51
Names
Given
Thomas Neil
Family
Davis
Sex
Male
Status
Deceased
Born
Date
Birthplace (town, state)
Liverpool, Lancs.
Birthplace (country)
United Kingdom
Died
Date

Thomas Neil Davis joined the Royal Navy and was awarded an Albert Medal for helping to sail a burning ammunition barge out of Halifax Harbour in 1917.

After WW1 in the 1920's he joined the Chinese Customs Service.

more to follow...

 

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Photos that show this Person

Thomas Neil Davis
1920s

Comments

Hello David,

Yes, they are the same person. All we know, so far, is that after my GF resigned from the Service he remained in China until 1928. Part of that time was spent in Hong Kong. We believe he was involved in tracking and hunting pirates and looters around the coasts of China and HK.

My GF was fluent in spoken and written Chinese. The story told is that while with the Customs Service he fell in love with a Chinese girl who was beheaded by the Communists. Her head was hung on some railings. Then my GF became involved with Chiang Kai Shek. My Father said that about 30 years ago he saw a photo of my GF in a Taiwanese Museum with Chiang Kai Shek but can't remember anything else.

We are hoping that the photo might provide some clues as to what my GF was doing after he left the Customs Service. The other photos we have of my GF are definitely of him in the Customs but this photo is different.

Thanks

Hi David,

How very interesting. Do the records indicate how long my GF worked for the Prison Department?

Was the name of the prison mentioned?

Did you manage to find any useful clues from the photograph?

I appreciate all your help.

Thank you.

Hi David,

I have found the listing in the Blue Book. He was only with the prison service until May the following year. Very interesting and too much of a coincidence for it not to be my GF.

I have sent an email to the HKMemory website as they have a lot of information about Prisons on there. It would be good to find some actual proof it is him.

I am so grateful that you found that information - I never would have!

The question is "What did he do next?"

Thanks again.

The Blue Books show him working as a prison officer from December 1924, and the last Blue Book that shows him there is the one from 1929. The prison at the time was the Victoria Prison (http://gwulo.com/node/14271). Several of the buildings your grandfather would have known are still standing today.

Any chance you have any passports or other documents that show when he left Hong Kong, and where he went to next?

No clues from the photo yet.

Regards, David

The big words on Chinese sign says 德惠慈祥.  It seems to relate to some connotations of being generous, righteous and mellow.  Basically, it sounds very much like some stuff that ancient (Qing?) Chinese scholars or government officials will write for the front doors of buildings. 

I had suspected that it may be taken near the Shanghai Customs House, but that building was only the customs house since 1929, so if Thomas was already in HK by 1924, then it could not be that place.  A wild Google search for the Chinese words yielded nothing.         

breskvar

Hi David,

You are right. I got the dates wrong. It looks like he resigned in May of 1928. I don't have anything of my Grandfather's. I have however just found a ship's passanger list. The "Malwa", port of Embarkation - HK. It arrived london, UK 11th Jan 1929.

Passenger name Davis, Tom Neil (he has always been known as Thomas!) Age 33 (my GF was born 18 May 1895) so slight age discrepency.

Profession - Warder

Now that ties in nicely with Thomas Neil Davis resigning in May 1928

Now I just need to try and verify whether or not it was my GF. I had an email back from the HKMemory website and they had no records of him and they said to try the HK Correctional Services Museum to see if any trace of him could be found in the Daily Log Books. I am hoping that some sort of job application form, letter of reference or something can be found or a staff photo. I need to hunt for an email address as I couldn't see one on their website or I shall have to resort to snail mail!

Thanks for all your help. I am still very keen to discover more about that photo!

All the best.

Hi breskvar,

Many thanks for trying to help ID the photo. It looks like it should be easy with the Chinese writing and the different uniforms etc.

I am wondering if it has anything to do with the China Fleet.

I appreciate your help.

Hi there,

I  someone from another forum make the following suggestions:

The architecture of the building is a typical British  Imperial style used widely in Hong Kong for government and police buildings.(Some still exist). It might be the Central Police Station. 

 

The ratings, but not the officers',  uniforms are similar to  the Water Police ( they patrolled extensively around the Hong Kong and provided anti-piracy armed guards for passenger ships). The stokers' caps and cap badges and the sergeant's chevrons look like the Hong Kong Police insignia - though it is hard to see. They were organised on quasi-RN lines and their launches were - due to piracy- classed as warships. The Europeans and Chinese in summer western style white suits would also suggest Hong Kong rather than one of the other Treaty Ports as it was more westernised.

Some sort of presentation seems to be  going on and in Hong Kong it could well involve RN and other dignitaries attending. (US Navy officers attended the final parade of the RHKP in 1997).The Hong Kong police  had a lot of cups bowls and shields awarded for policing , sports, shooting and so on sponsored by local groups of both races.The traditionally dressed Chinese may be representatives of a Kai Fong (good public works group).

Does anyone know anything about the Water Police uniforms - I have searched but come up with nothing.

Thanks

Anthony