Help identifying wartime locations in Causeway Bay and Happy Valley
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On April 4, 1945, American B-24 heavy bombers from the 22nd and 43rd Bomb Groups of the 5th Air Force bombed Hong Kong. It seems they hit a number of civilians targets in error, including the following:
1.) The Sikh temple (corner Stubbs and Queens Rd. East)
2.) The Indian cemetery (Happy Valley)
3.) The typhoon shelter at Tunglowan/Causeway Bay
4.) The Anglo-Chinese School (next to the Sikh Temple?)
5.) The French hospital
6.) The French convent (may be part of the hospital?)
7.) The Home for the Destitute (may be part of the hospital or convent?)
8.) The Orphan's Home (may be part of the hospital or convent?)
I am familiar with 1-3, but need help with 4-8. In particular, I am interested in the location of 4-8, and any alternative names these places may have been known by. Any additional details would be helpful. I believe that all of these locations are in the following areas: Wanchai, Happy Valley, Causeway Bay, North Point.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
--Steve
5-8 Sound like today's St
5-8 Sound like today's St Pauls complex between todays Leighton Road, Caroline Hill Road, Cotton Tree Path & Tung Lo Wan Road.
See here, here & possibly here
No 8 could be the Po Leung Kuk complex on Caroline Hill Road but I have not heard of the building suffering any wartime damage. (It dates form the 1930's) However if you draw a line between the Sikh temple and St Pauls it crosses the Kuk.
Re: Indian Cemetery (Happy Valley)
Hi there,
I think that would be on the slopes behind the Hindu Temple in Happy Valley.
T
If you look at this photo
If you look at this photo dated to 1947, the section of the St Paul's complex at bottom right looks to show wartime damage, which I guess was the bombing described above:
Read more about that day's events at: http://gwulo.com/70-years-ago?field_book_doc_page_date_value%5Bvalue%5D%...
Gap Road School
There was an Anglo-Chinese School on Gap Road called the Gap Road School. Not sure of the exact location but guess the school was close to the Sikh Temple.
SCMP Articles
Some great articles published by SCMP following the bomb found during the construction of the Emporer Hotel (next to Sikh temple) last year. Although it doesnt help identifying sites 4-8, it definitely confirms that sites 1 (and possibly 2) were heavily hit.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1422151/hundreds-evacuated-su...
-The article mentions that this was an AN-M66 bomb, the largest used by the US Navy at the time.
Although a different bombing raid. There is an interactive map of some sites bombed here.
http://www.scmp.com/infographics/article/1423431/what-were-targets-us-bo...
re: Gap Road School
Henry Ching lived in Happy Valley during WW2. He writes:
Gap Road was a relatively short stretch of road and I cannot recall a school located on it other than, perhaps, a small school for the children of those who attended the Sikh Temple. I wonder if moddsey could please tell us a little more.
The Anglo-Chinese school that was bombed in April, 1945 may have been the school in the French Convent complex in Causeway Bay popularly known as the French Convent School.
Re: Gap Road School
Information on Gap Road School appears in HKGRO and HKPL. The school moved from Praya East as a result of the Reclamation to Gap Road in the early 1920s and became known as Gap Road School. It was a primary school. Some pupils went on to Wantsai (Wanchai) School and Queen's College. That said, war damage to the school in the French Convent compound is more likely, given the newspaper accounts from 4 April 1945.
Where is Gap Road
Thanks, all. Your posts have been very helpful.
One additional question: Where is (or was) Gap Road? I assume this is not shorthand for Magazine Gap Road.
Thanks,
Steve
Re: Gap Road
Today's eastern extremity of Queen's Road East between Kennedy Road and Morrison Hill Road. See here