WJ Carrie.jpg | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

WJ Carrie.jpg

WJ Carrie.jpg
Submitted by David Batchelor
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David Batchelor
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W J Carrie

This is a newspaper article dated April1935 about my grandfather WJ Carrie. Having read the publicity regarding Barbara Anslow (nee Redwood)'s new book Tin Hats and Rice "A Diary of Life as a Hong Kong Prisoner of War" I contacted Barbara to see if she remembered my grandfather and to let her know that I have his own wartime diary that he started on 08/12/1941 when Hong Kong Island was first shelled by the Japanese. I am happy to say she instantly remembered him from their days in Stanley Internment Camp.

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1930s Hong Kong
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Submitted by David on Thu, 2019-05-02 14:54.

Full text of the article:

Hong Kong Personalities

MR. W. J. CARRIE.

This is the twenty-fifth of the exclusive scries of sketches of leading Colony residents by Mr. A. S. Konya, the talented Hungarian artist.

THE subject of this week’s “personality” sketch is Mr. William James Carrie, M.A., B.Sc. (Edinburgh).

Mr. Carrie, who was born on April 4, 1891, was educated at Watson’s School, Edinburgh (of which his father, who died in 1916, was at one time Headmaster), and at Edinburgh University.

He sat for his Civil Service examination in 1914 and was sent out to Hong Kong the following year as a Cadet. His next two years were spent in learning Cantonese. In May, 1918 he was seconded for military  service and proceeded homewards via America. He had completed about half his training when the War came to an end.

Passing his law examination in 1920, he became Assistant Colonial Secretary and Clerk of Councils. Since then he has served in a multitude of capacities, including that of Postmaster General, 1933. This is his second term as head of the Sanitary Department.
 
Mr. Carrie proudly refers to the fact that he is the only Cadet ever to hold the position of First B.F. of Hong Kong, but is careful to explain that these initials stand for “Botanical and Forestry” Department.
 
The work of popularising Hong Kong as a tourist resort has been placed in the hands of Mr. Carrie, who has already received instructions to form a committee to formulate a detailed scheme. The task could not have been entrusted to better hands; Mr. Carrie is an enthusiastic lover of Hong Kong and last summer gave an illustrated lecture on its attractions and beauties at the Imperial Institute, London.
 
The twenty-four previous sketches were of Sir William Shenton Kt., the Hon. Mr. W. H. Bell, Sir William Hornell. Kt., C.I.E., LL.D., M.A., the Hon. Dr. R. H. Kotewall, C.M.G., LL.D., Commodore F. Elliott. O.B.E., the Hon. Dr. S. W. T’so, O.B.E., LL.D., Mr. Eric Mitchell O.B.E., Mr. T. B. Wilson. M Soulange Teissier, the Marquis de Facalho, Mr. Louis H. Gourley, the Hon. Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe C.M.G., Herr H. Gipperich, Sir Shou-son Chow, Kt. M. D. Drummond, Cav. Uff. A. Biancom, Mr. H. B. L. Dowbiggin, O.B.E.. Mr. G. C. Pelham, Senor Fernando Alegre, H.E. Sir Wm. Peel, K.C.M.G., K.B.E., H.E. Major-General O. C. Borrett C.B.,C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., Mr. J. T. Bagram, Major V. E. Duclos M.C., and Lt.-Col. G. D. R. Black O.B.E.