I am trying to find information about my grandfather Alexander Kinnear. This is what I know:
He was born in Dundee in 1898
His full name was Alexander Kinnear
He was known as Sandy
He joined the Hong Kong Police Force in c. 1927
He was interred at Stanley Camp
After the war he returned to Dundee and remained there until his death in 1954.
100 years ago on Monday five policemen, at least 2 members of the public and two bandits lost their lives in a shoot out that quickly became known as the Gresson Street Affray. A month before the catastrophic Race Course fire, Hong Kong had been receiving daily news of the fighting in Europe for the past four years. This unprecedented massacre of policemen in the course of their very ordinary duty shocked Hong Kong. Two days later it was said that half the colony - some 250,000 people - were on the streets to see the funeral procession that resulted.
Chief Detective inspector Albert Collett front and centre:
A thread on the The Royal Irish Constabulary Forum has more information about him, starting with him sailing from London on 14 June 1913, aged 24, to enlist in the Hong Kong Police as L/Sgt A 153.
Read the full thread at: https://irishconstabulary.com/the-hong-kong-police-force-t2027-s30.html
Notes from Offbeat, the Police magazine:
After the Japanese surrender in August 1945, Admiral Harcourt of the Royal Navy set up a Military Government in Hong Kong. Mr Pennefather-Evans left for Britain citing health reasons and the British Government appointed Colonel C H Sansom as Commissioner of Police. Colonel Sansom's appointment was a transitional measure in war-ravaged Hong Kong.
Michael Martin writes:
Leo Borisoff was a White Russian Policeman in HK and in Stanley Camp and he was friends with my grandfather and his cousin Vitaly 'Vic' Veriga.
