David Robert FYFFE [1914-1971]

David Robert Fyffe's daughter wrote the following notes on the Stanley Camp discussion board:

David was born on February 13, 1914 in Montreal. His parents were originally from Dundee, Scotland. They moved to Montreal for a number of years, but returned to Dundee when David was a youngster. 

According to the Archivist with the Royal Hong Kong Police Association, David enlisted on September 22, 1938, and became a Lance Sergeant on September 23, 1939. The other D.R. Fyffe was Donald Read Fyffe who was born in England. I have attached a picture (year unknown) of David and his mates. He is in the front row with his hands in his pockets. They would have all been together in Stanley.  

David married Dorothy Anne Charlton Wong on December 31, 1941 at Cathedral of St. John in Victoria. Their daughter Elizabeth Mary Fyffe was born on July 31, 1942. An immigration record shows mother and daughter returning to Britain from Hong Kong via Sydney in October 1945. Dorothy’s father was a music hall artist, and records show that her second husband was also in this profession. We have found that Elizabeth is presently living in Somerset near London, and we believe that Dorothy is still living. 

As you know, David was repatriated to Canada in 1943. I have attached copies of some documents that were passed on to me by Chief Superintendent Richard Morgan, which I know you will find interesting. He says that the original documents are contained in the file CO 129/590/22, which are in the Public Records Office in Kew, London, and are available on microfilm in Hong Kong. These are public records, not HKP material. 

I have David’s police identity card from 1945, which identifies him as an Inspector. He resigned from the force in 1948 to follow my mother (a Canadian) to Vancouver. 

Last year, my brother Stewart and I found out that David settled in Lowell, Massachusetts and died there at the age of 57 in 1971. In late August we will be meeting in Boston to visit his grave. He apparently attributed the heart flutters that he was experiencing to malaria, when in fact it was heart problems, which led to his fatal heart attack.