Lady May’s “Our Day” Rose Fund 1916 | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Lady May’s “Our Day” Rose Fund 1916

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Submitted by eurasian_david on Sun, 2019-02-17 06:32

I came across a list of doners from the Hong Kong Muslim community to the above fund dated 23rd October 1916.

I am trying to find out what the event was.

 

In the China Mail 23rd October 1916 page 4

https://mmis.hkpl.gov.hk/coverpage/-/coverpage/view?_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_actual_q=%28%20dc.publicationdate_dt%3A%28%5B1916-10-23T00%3A00%3A00Z+TO+1916-10-24T23%3A59%3A59Z%5D%29%20%29&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_sort_field=dc.publicationdate_bsort&p_r_p_-1078056564_c=QF757YsWv59VIEI8XZM1x0kDyKxOZJcC&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_o=0&_coverpage_WAR_mmisportalportlet_sort_order=asc

There seemed to have been various community events/fairs/raffles/films/plays/dances etc raising money to what appeared to be the Allied cause for World War I, including an auction of roses.

Who was Lady May? (Governor’s wife?)

What exactly was ‘Our Day’ all about? What was the symbolism of roses all about?

Who organised “The Fund” and who benefited from the donations from different sections of the community of Hong Kong?  

If anyone comes across any photos, pictures, postcards, social history material etc related to the event please post them here.

 

 

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Submitted by David on Sun, 2019-02-17 11:18.

Who was Lady May? (Governor’s wife?)

Yes, Lady Helena May was the wife of the governor, Sir Henry May.

What exactly was ‘Our Day’ all about? Who organised “The Fund” and who benefited from the donations from different sections of the community of Hong Kong?

It was an appeal for funds from the Red Cross in England to the countries of the British Empire. eg here's an announcement in New Zealand:

WELLINGTON, June 28

The Governor has received a telegraphic appeal from the Marquis of Lansdowne and the Earl of Plymouth, representing the British Red Cross Society in England, asking the people of New Zealand to participate in a collection in aid of the Red Cross funds on “Our Day" which has been fixed for the 19th of October. The money received will be devoted entirely to wounded soldiers and sailors at the various seats of war.

And newspapers in other countries have similar reports.

What was the symbolism of roses all about?

The rose is England's national flower.

Submitted by eurasian_david on Sun, 2019-02-17 16:50.

Thanks David! 

Now I understand it a bit better. There seemed to have been a similar event on the Shameen in Canton so it wasn’t just restricted to Hongkong at the time. 

Submitted by Tideswell27 on Sat, 2019-02-23 00:56.

Lady Helena May, (née Helena Barker), was the daughter of Major General Barker who commanded British forces in HK during the Great War.

She married the Governor, Sir Henry May, and founded the “Institute” (although that word was dropped I believe in 1974) which bears her name and still stands in Garden Road, Central. It opened in 1916.

The Helena May has been well-documented and with some research you will be able to discover a great deal about its history and that of its founder.