Childhood memories of Hong Kong in the late 1950s
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My father was posted to Hong Kong Naval Base in 1956 to lead the work associated with Gyro Compasses. As a three year old, I travelled with my Mother, Father and seven year old sister on the P&O ship The Chusan, leaving Southampton on 28th December 1956 and returning two years later (instead of three), due to the closure of the dockyard. Given my young age at that time my own memories are very limited, and my parents and sister have now died. However, I have drawn on slides and written notes to piece together some information which I would like to pass on to my own children.
Our outward journey took about one month. We had to avoid the Suez Canal due to the crisis at that time, and so we called at Las Palmas, Cape Town, Durban, Bombay, Colombo, Penang and Singapapore before arring at Hong kong. On the return journey we called at Singapore, Penang, Colombo, Bombay, Aden, Suez Canal, Port Said, Gibraltor, before arriving in the UK at Tilbury. I have the little booklets provided on board ship that describes each place.
We lived in a flat on MacDonnell Road, about half way up the peak and use the peak tram a great deal. We had a much loved Amah, Ah Peng, who was very much part of the family. I started the army school while we were in Hong kong and travelled on the Army bus with my sister, Jenny. Like many other families, I am sure, we took loads of photos to send home and many of these were taken in Victoria Park, Sheko Beach, the Tiger Balm Gardens and other favourite spots. There are some views that I can't recognise that perhaps others can. Also, I thought some of my photos may be of interest ot other people.
My parents' names were Eleanor (Girlie) and Peter Bullock. We had many friends who were in a similar position to ourselves whilst we were in Hong Kong. The only names I remember were Beryl and Loyal Freeman, whose children were called Roger, Norman and Carol. I think my Mum may have been godmother to one of the children. The other family name I remember is Mrs and Mrs Scutt, and I think their son was called John.
I am going to post a few of my photos to see if anyone can help with identifying paces. I hope they may of interest to others.
Chris Addison (nee Bullock)
Chris's photos can be seen in
Chris's photos can be seen in the gallery: 1950s Bullock family's photos
Closure of Naval Base
Hello, when you say the Naval base closed in 1958 did you mean the (fleet?) maintenance part of it rather than the whole base? HMS Tamar was still there when I lived there in 1959-1962 & 1982-1984 & my wife lived there, as an Army Nurse in 1972.
Hi,
Hi,
Thank you so much for your communication which has caused me to double check the information that I have.
My father was an electrical engineer working in Chatham Docyard, Kent. He specialised in radio engineering, and was posted to Hong Kong in December 1956 to lead the radio section, fire control section, instrument section and the gyro compass section in the Dockyard. The intention was that he should be there for three years, but we returned after two years, and I have always understood that the Dockyard was closed in late 1959.
I do have a newspaper cutting from 1957 that my parents kept that refers to the planned closure of the of the dockyard. It says' the rundown was expected to extend over two years, and would end by November 30th 1959'. This is backed up in Hansard, but I think I confused the Dockyard with the Naval base - which remained open as you say.
My apologies for the error and thank you for the clarification. I have altered the reference in my initial account.
HK Navy Dockyard
Hello Dibsy,
Thanks for your response. That's the great thing about this website. You & I were lucky to see places like Hong Kong when we were children & Armed Forces were much bigger etc. I live in Kent & visit Chatham Dockyard regularly. That really is a great naval base. Best wishes. Guy.
Hello Guy,
Hello Guy,
We were very lucky indeed to have such experiences (if only I coulld remember more), and I have been thrilled with the feedback I've had since I finally got round to putting our frail old slides onto this website. After our time in Hong Kong, my Dad returned to work at Chatham Dockyard and was there until his retirement. Although he gradually went blind he still managed to lead all the electrical work on boats and submarines there and received an MBE for his work.
Although I now live in the north west, I visit my Aunt in Kent periodically. She lives near Wigmore, where I was born, and we have revisited the dockyard several times together. It is a very atmospheric place and I can remember attending a lot of launches there.
Best wishes, Chris