James Edulji KOTWALL (aka BAAG Agent No. 120) [????-????]
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Hadley Thomas, SCMP 21.8.1995: "... Perhaps because of the execution of his brother George and 32 others by the Japanese in October 1943, for providing Military Intelligence to the British Army Aid Group, Jimmy bravely followed in his brother's footsteps, aware he would have to pay with his life if uncovered ..."
"After the occupation of Hongkong by the Japanese, my husband and I were staying at Happy Valley. My husband wa
Statement by Mrs Doris Kotwall to Captain Rudy Choy BAAG in Macao, Octobeer 1945..s carrying on a brokerage business in a small way. I did not have any knowledge whatsoever of his real motive regarding the connection with the British Army Aid Group. I did have the suspicion of him doing some work for the British Government. Just before his arrest, his movements were most mysterious. He had frequent callers at the house and used to chat with them for hours in private.
One early morning, I was awakened by strange sounds and voices. I looked out of the window and saw our house surrounded by Japanese Gendarmes and Chinese Constables. I at once woke up my husband and informed him of what was happening outside. He at once got up and started to dis-connect the radio set etc. Before he could do very much, the Japanese Gendarmes started to bang on the doors and we had to open the door almost at once. Some time before, my husband had instructed me that should there be anything wrong or the house was searched, we must destroy a marked match box lying near our bed. Owing to the excitement that early morning, I did not do so and at the same time thinking J. must have destroyed same before opening the door for the Japanese to enter. After they got us all into one room, I suddenly saw the match-box in question lying in the room, so I asked permission to enter my bedroom in order to see my two children who were then crying. The Japanese Gendarme gave me permission but accompanied me into the room. When I got inside, I ordered my maid servant to go and collect the match-box; she being an old servant and rather excited did not dare to collect the match box until after her third attempt. She eventually got the match box but was so frightened that she threw it out of the window. Within a few minutes another Japanese Gendarme who was waiting outside the house came in and handed the match box to the Officer in charge and informed him he had already got the evidence against J. J. was then very sad, knowing he had been caught red handed. They took J. away at about 11 a.m. after a thorough search of the house, turning everything upside down. At 2 p.m. in the same afternoon, J. came back to the house and asked me to hand him the Bridge Card Table for scores. I did not know where he put that paper and J. had to look for it himself. After a while he found the paper and it appeared to me to be some timetable with lots of squares on it. J. and the Gendarmes left right after and my house was guarded by Chinese Constables for 4 days after their departure.
After the fourth day of J’s arrest, I was asked to go to the Happy Valley Gendarmerie Headquarters and was interviewed by a Japanese Officer. He questioned me and asked me many questions, family affairs and also who were the friends of J. and who visited him. I answered the best way I could. Then the Japanese asked about the runner from Waichow and whether I had ever seen that person. I answered that I did not know. Then he asked me about the match box and who threw it out of the window. I replied I didnt know. At this stage he tried to frighten me by saying if I didnt tell the truth he would give me water torture etc. I again replied I didnt know. Then they kept me inside the office until 7 in the evening. In the meantime, I found out later when I got home, this Japanese officer went to the house and made inquiries from my maid servant and she confessed.
On May the 3rd I was asked through the telephone to call at the Happy Valley Gendarmerie again and this time I saw J. for the first time since his arrest - he was looking awful. J. asked me to be good and to look after the children and to have them educated and not to worry. We could not talk very much for the Japanese Officer was present. J. was worried about me getting no money and asked me to sell both the house and office furniture in order to obtain cash. The total time I was together with J. was about 20 minutes.
J. was taken out to Stanley Jail after my seeing him and I never saw him again. I was sending food parcels, medicine, etc. in to J. all the time until the 2nd September 1944, when I was asked to see an Officer in charge of the Law. He informed me that my husband was executed on the 31st August 1944, because he was a spy for the British Government. I was very shocked and inquired what proved J. was a spy. The Japanese Officer replied that they had all the proof and that J. had confessed. He further said that J. was responsible for the sinking of many ships in the harbour.
A few weeks later I was sent again to see this Officer in question. He handed me back J’s clothing, etc. I was also asked to leave the Colony and that he would do all he could to get me and my children away. I then decided to leave for Macao, where I was looked after by the British Consulate.
J. sent me a letter through the Japanese Gendarmerie written just before his death asking me to look after myself, the children and to get the children educated and also to turn Christian. In that letter he also stated he would leave all his possessions and all he had in this world to me. He said he is now leaving this world and that he is proud he is dying for the sake of his country. J. asked me to forgive him and not to get hurt or sore for what he did for all his actions were very honourable. ..."
