What did the Governor's "Custodian" do? | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

What did the Governor's "Custodian" do?

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Submitted by David on Tue, 2015-02-03 12:30

Each year's Blue Book lists the Governor's staff. The entries for 1918 begin:

  • Governor and Commander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral
  • Private Secretary
  • Aide-de-Camp
  • Custodian
  • ...

(See page J24 in http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkgro/view/b1918/51918016.pdf)

Does anyone know what the Custodian's duties were?

In 1918, John Deakin was the Custodian, though a footnote says he was "Seconded for Military Service on 17th May".

Regards, David

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Submitted by 1314 on Wed, 2015-02-04 21:18.

Having gone through some HK Govt Reports on Line and looking at various other sites,it appears that the Custodian,who had a flat in Govt House,was something in the order of  a Housekeeper or Butler,albeit a rather grand one.He had charge of the GH Servants (numerous) and possibly duties of a security nature.John (William) Deacon (b 1885),in his comings and goings to Europe and mentions in published works was always described as a " Civil Servant "and apparently had a long career;he was in Stanley and returned to the UK on the Highland Monarch arriving November 1945.

His being seconded for Military Service in May 1918 is puzzling, a bit late for the Great War,possibly to the local Military ?