James MCCUTCHEON [????-????] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

James MCCUTCHEON [????-????]

Names
Given: 
James
Family: 
McCutcheon
Sex: 
Male
Status: 
Deceased

Tony Banham notes that McCutcheon was a member of the Stanley platoon.

McCutcheon also appears on the 1940 list of Prison Officers, having started service on 24th April 1928.

Comments

Something is not quite right here. We are told that Mr. McCutcheon's year of birth is 1917, and that he started his service with the HK Prisons Department in April 1928. Which would have him joining the Govt. at the grand age of ELEVEN!

I know that some people started work at an early age - but an 11 year old Prison warder does tend to stretch credibility somewhat.

Well spotted. I double-checked John Black's list, which is derived from the CWGC list of internees. It shows date-of-birth as 1917, and occupation as "Prison Officer".

McCutcheon is mentioned on page J90 of the 1933 Blue Book:

  • James McCutcheon
  • Warder
  • First appointed 24th April 1928

So there's clearly a mistake in John Black's list. I've deleted the DoB from this page, and hopefully we'll hear from someone with an accurate date.