John PRETTEJOHN [1915-1988] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

John PRETTEJOHN [1915-1988]

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Submitted by micar on Wed, 2020-12-16 01:51
Names
Given: 
John
Family: 
Prettejohn
Sex: 
Male
Status: 
Deceased
Birth
Date: 
c.1915-01-01 (Month, Day are approximate)
Birthplace (town, state): 
Hong Kong
Birthplace (country): 
Hong Kong
Death
Date: 
c.1988-01-01 (Month, Day are approximate)

John Prettejohn Pte 2681 Wounded 19 Dec 1941 at Wong Nei Chong Gap.  Interned as POW at Shampshuipo, transported on Toyama Maru 1943 to Nagoya #2 Branch Camp (Narumi) working in locomotive factory.  Repatriated to HK after war.   DBS Senior Prefect 1934-35.  Reporter for SCMP to 1973.

Tags: 
HKVDC 3 Eurasian (MG) Coy
SCMP
pow
DBS
HKVDC
Connections: 
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Photos that show this person

1940
1940
1940

Comments

Submitted by eurasian_david on Wed, 2020-12-16 14:36.

Full Name: John Percival Prettejohn

Father: Henry Edward Prettejohn

Mother: Hung Sheung Ying

Date of Birth: 14th April 1915

Birth town: Hong Kong

Nationality: British/Eurasian

Fate: Wounded 19th December 1941

Date of capture: 25th December 1941

Date of Liberation: 4th September 1945

Rank: Private

POW Camp: Shamshuipo

Other POW camps: Nagoya 2b

Camp Prisoner Number: 6322

Service Number: 2681

Duty Location: Hong Kong

Next of Kin: Mrs. W. Sinclair, 17 Waterloo Road, 1st Floor, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Service: British Army

Primary Unit: Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps

Source: National Archive References WO392/25 and WO345/42. Information courtesy of Ron Bridges collection. The former internee died recently

Submitted by micar on Thu, 2020-12-17 01:53.

Thanks for posting the details eurasian_david.   I hadn't realised that these particulars were available in the National Archives.  Presumably, they were details for each member of the HKVDC.  Mike  

Submitted by eurasian_david on Thu, 2020-12-17 04:27.

Hi Mike 

They come in little cards. If you would like I can email the images of your father's details to you.

David

Submitted by micar on Fri, 2020-12-18 01:49.

Hi David,

Yes, I would appreciate it.  Many thanks,

Mike

Submitted by eurasian_david on Fri, 2020-12-18 21:34.

Death: John Percival Prettejohn, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada 18th April 1988 Age 73

 

Mike, I have forwarded the images of your Dad's POW records to David Bellis, admin for gwulo.com who will forward them on to you.

 

Submitted by micar on Sat, 2020-12-19 00:52.

Thank you kindly,

Best Regards,

Mike

Submitted by chowy54 on Tue, 2021-09-21 20:42.

Dear Mike,

I'm wondering if you are the Michael Prettejohn I know from Clearwater Bay, Kowloon. Your mother's name was Joan.

Our mothers had us around the same time and we grew up together; went to St Jude's together for a few years. I left for Australia in 1963 and we corresponded briefly.

Would appreciate a reply either way.

Regards,

Michael

Submitted by micar on Wed, 2021-09-22 03:04.

Greetings! 

Yes, you've got the right person -from your post, I'm guessing you must be Michael Chow!  I remember you quite well and still have photos of times when our families got together.  Wow, its been a long time!  Glad we connected, wonders of the internet.  Hope you and family are well.  

Best Regards,

Mike

Submitted by chowy54 on Wed, 2021-09-22 06:40.

Dear Mike,

This is fantastic - glad to have found you after all these years! I've emailed David from Gwulo to pass on my email to you so hope it happens and we can continue to correspond. There's a lot of water under the bridge and a lot  to catch up on.

All the best to you and yours and hope this finds you in good health.

Your old friend,

Michael