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Pity The Man With the Dhobie-Itch |
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A short time after we arrived in Hong Kong I developed an itch in my, uhum, private parts that had me greatly worried. Had I caught some dreaded tropical veneral disease? With out the benefit of contact? Were my privates going to fall off? You can understand my concern. I went to the first sick parade, certain I was headed for the hospital for a series of treatments graphically described by my comrades as VERY painful and requiring the use of instuments that would have been at home in a torture chambre.
Dr. Banfill smiled benignly at me following a brief, non-painful, inspection that required no instruments, and informed me that I had a case of "dhobie itch". "Dhobie itch?", I asked. "Yes," he said, "It's caused by washing your underclothes in strong soap." Whew!!!! |
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Home |
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Disclaimer |
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I Join the Army |
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Page 4 |
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Page 5 |
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Night Life Was Something Else |
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Page 6 |
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Night life was something else. Passes to leave the barracks were required and good until 23:59. They were easy to obtain and the Canadian troops swarmed out into the night to seek the pleasures of the cities of Kowloon, and Victoria on the island. |
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Page 8 |
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Page 9 |
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The SunSun Cafe was located in Kowloon, if I remember correctly, and attracted troops of all stripes. There was a famous fight when Canadian and British troops tangled in a bone-crushing brawl. Eveyone you ask about it was there, though I doubt it. I was there just briefly because as I was going up the stairs a Wurlitzer was coming down. I wisely preceeded it out the door and did not join the "party".
In addition to the written pass, good until 12:59 hours, a second pass was required before you could get past the guard at the gate. It was a small, round, latex device, issued at the nearby dispensary that called attention to itself with a small blue light bulb mounted above the door.
I have a dim recollection of a taxi dance club somewhere in the amusement area. I remember meeting Lieut. Elmer there, and his words to me were: "Philp, what would your mother say if she knew you were here?" My answer to him was:, "Sir, I shudder to think of it."
Our fun filled nighs were short-lived. Military Intelligence must have functioned to some degree because, on December 8, most of the Canadian troops were in position in the hill on the Island of Hong Kong short hours before the Japs opened the war. In my ignorance of the situation I neither thought, nor cared, about what was to happen next. |
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Page 11 |
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Page 12 |
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Page 17 |
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Page 18 |
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In My Memory |
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Photo Gallery |
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Click Here To Go To Part One
Home |
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The Japanese Attack |
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On the night of December 7, we were positioned at a place called Obelisk Hill, so named because of a tall obelisk on the side of the hill, facing Tai Tam Reservoir. On December 8th, the same morning they attacked Perl Harbour, the Japanese planes came over Kai Tak Airport knocking out the meager air defence of the Colony. They also bombed Sham Shui Po Barracks, and many other installations in Kowloon and on the Island of Hong Kong. A few bombs landed near our shelters on Obelisk Hill, but with no damage to anything except a few shrubs. |
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Click Here
To Go To
Part Two
Home |
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From December 8, until a landing effected by the Japanese Forces at Lye Mun on the night of December17-18, we at "D" Coy Headquarters remained in position on Obelisk Hill. "D" Coy Headquarters was composed of Major Maurice Parker, Captain Charlie Price, Sgt. Major Frank Ebden, CQMS Tommy Smith, Cpl. L.T.S. Bill Doull, Rfm. Jim Darrah, L/Cpl. Graydon Heath, Rfm. Bob Boudreau, Byrron Willett, and myself. |
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Links |
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From December 8, until things warmed up, not much happened. Except for dodging the odd Jap bomb, things were pretty quiet on Obelisk Hill. One night Rfm. Noseworthy, a Newfoundlander we had recruited when we were posted there, and I were out on guard duty just up wind from the shelter. We got to talking about our fellow defenders and I asked him what he thought about our English friends. Noseworthy said, in perfect Newfoundlandese, "Dem Goddam Limey's. Dey pack dere blind aunt and give dem bad money." I fell on the ground laughing. Poor Noseworthy didn't make it. He was killed in action. |
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The Japanese Make a Landing on the Island |
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On the night of December 17/18, the Japs finally made a landing on the Island inspite of the best efforts of "C" Coy, Royal Rifles of Canada, under the command of Major Wells Bishop. Much can be told about the gallentry of ourlads in the opening hours of the war. Their bravery was outstanding. |
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Please View My Guestbook |
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Please mail me |
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Please sign my Guestbook |
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