The Monument (1st location) [1908-c.1959] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

The Monument (1st location) [1908-c.1959]

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Submitted by Admin on Sat, 2009-01-03 14:28
Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
1908-05-14
Date Place demolished: 
c.1959-12-31 (Year, Month, Day are approximate)

Notes from Moddsey:

The Monument was a granite obelisk that was erected at the corner of Gascoigne and Jordan Roads in memory of the French sailors who lost their lives as a result of the foundering of the Torpeo Boat 'Fronde' near the Torpedo Depot, Kowloon during the great typhoon of 18 September 1906. During the 1950s, the Monument was re-located to the 'Colonial' Cemetery in Happy Valley.

More info in this blog about the historical connections between Hong Kong and France.

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Photos that show this place

1906
1910
1930
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Comments

Submitted by moddsey on Mon, 2012-09-03 06:57.

The Monument taken after the typhoon in August 1936.

1936 The Monument

Submitted by David on Wed, 2017-12-27 14:39.

The Monument was unveiled on 14th May 1908. The event was described on page 3 of The Hong Kong Telegraph, 1908-05-15 :

The "Fronde" Memorial
UNVEILING CEREMONY
EVIDENCE OF THE "ENTENTE CORDIALE"
 
At 5p.m. yesterday afternoon, on King's Park Range, Kowloon, the unveiling of the memorial to the sailors of the French torpedo boat destroyer Fronde, who perished in the typhoon of 8th September, 1906, took place. Shortly before 5 o’clock, a detachment of sailors from H.M.S. Monmouth, the French cruiser Alger and the gunboat Argus arrived, headed by the Band of the Middlesex Regiment, and immediately formed round the memorial, around which was a display of bright-coloured flags. There was a large number of ladies and gentlemen present to witness the ceremony, among whom were:-

Submitted by David on Tue, 2018-06-26 13:18.

Next week the Consulate General of France will have a ceremony to celebrate the recent restoration of the Fronde monument. There's an article about the restoration at: 

http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/2151272/french-navy-memorial-hong-...

Thanks to Ravi for the link.

Submitted by C on Tue, 2018-06-26 13:56.

Thanks David.  Does anyone know the time and date of the ceremony next week?  I presume it is at the monument?  There is no announcement on the consultate web site yet.  Thank you!

Submitted by David on Wed, 2018-06-27 10:00.

Hi C, I'm not sure what type of event they're planning, so I recommend you contact the consulate.

Submitted by C on Thu, 2018-06-28 16:34.
After I inquired through the web site of the French Consulate General, I received a prompt reply from Mr. Kam, the press officer, 'The ceremony will take place on Thursday 5 July 2018 at 11am at the monument in the Happy Valley Cemetery. All are welcome to join. An announcement will be posted to our website soon.'

Submitted by Klaus on Wed, 2019-10-02 21:30.

Interesting details on the ship, the typhoon, and the restoration of the monument in the SCMP (2018-06-19).