Rowing Club Members | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Rowing Club Members

Rowing Club Members
Authors: 

Raymond Smith hands on hips, Maurice Arnold first left. John Lander, Olympic rowing medallist, in background. Others unknown.

Connections: 

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May be taken at the old Yacht Club at North Point as seen here

The photo was taken In front of the RHKYC clubhouse in Oil Streeet, North Point. This building still exists and is administered by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for art exhibitions. In the centre of the group, at the back, is John Lander, who was the club's Rowing Captain from 1929 to 1930. He was a distinguished oarsman who stroked the British coxless four to a gold medal in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games. As there are nine people in the picture it is possible that they, including a coxswain, were the crew of an eight. Working for the Asiatic Petroleum Company, Lander was transferred to Manila in August 1930 and through the 1930s was a leading light in the Manila Boat Club. He returned to Hong Kong to help defend it against the Japanese, was killed at Stanley on Christmas Day 1941 and is buried in the Sai Wan War Cemetary. He was the only British Olympic gold medallist to die in the second world war.

Thank you for sharing.

Yes, thanks for the extra information - it's always good to learn more about the people in these old photos.

I've made a page for John Lander at https://gwulo.com/node/47600 under your account.