Patrick VAN DER LINDE [????- ]

“This officer was posted as MO i/c Advanced HQs in Nov 1943 and remained there from that time till the Japanese surrender.  The Chinese forces in that area were notoriously badly off for any sort of medical service and Major Van De Linde readily put all his energy into setting up a scheme to supply their needs;  medical posts were established and staffed in guerilla areas and two hospitals were run in Waichow.  To these hospitals – the only ones in that area – came all the Chinese sick and wounded from the East River forces as well as all the civilian air raid casualties.  In addition to this Major Van de Linde undertook the intensive work necessitated by a cholera epidemic and a famine.  Working long hours under most primitive conditions he was responsible for saving the lives of scores of Chinese, both soldiers and civilians.

For 2 years without a rest of any sort Major Van de Linde gave the whole of his time and unbounded energy for the benefit of the needy and the suffering and in order to increase the value of his services he, at the same time, mastered the Cantonese language.  This exemplary devotion to duty not only saved many lives but it paved the way towards the successful conclusion of many intricate negotiations with the Chinese concerning BAAG operations.”   (signed) L T Ride, Colonel.