Albert Iveson CASH [1902-????]

I first became interested in Cash when I saw references to Cash's Bungalow at Redhill in war diaries but who was Cash ?  I found there was a Carl Smith card for him (not yet seen) and a file for him at National Archives in UK relating to SOE service during WW2. I looked at the file on a recent trip to London and discovered that Albert Iveson Cash was born in November 1902 in Birkenhead, Cheshire. At the age of eighteen he joined the Army (1920-23) and became a  Sergeant in the Weslsh Guards. After leaving the Army in 1923 he joined the Birkenhead Fire Service from 1923 to 1930. After this he was posted as Divisional Officer Hong Kong Fire Service (1930-1938). He apparently built up the local fire service to a professional standard and commanded and trained some 200 Chinese as firefighters.

He was married to Stella Ada.  In 1938-40 he took on a new role as Inspector of Works in Hong Kong Public Works Dept (PWD). It was probably then that he lived in Cash's bungalow (and as per a reference from Tony Banham may also have lived at Taitam Bungalow).  At about this time (1940) he appears to have transferred to PWD in Sierra Leone.

He spoke fluent Cantonese and on the strength of this appears to have joined SOE (Special Operations Executive) rising to the rank of Captain. He was employed on SOE duties in India from 1943. He was still engaged in military activities in 1946. I don't have any idea what happened him after this.

There is a mention of Cash's Bungalow in Evan Stewart's "A record of the Actions ......." 

"Captain Penn took his LGs forward to where he could bring fire to bear on Cash's Bungalow, from which the enemy were quickly driven."  This was during the battalion level counter attack by East Infantry Brigade on 21st Dec with the objective of first seizing the Tai Tam X-Roads and then turning left into Guage Basin to tie up with beleaguered West Brigade troops ......a rather overly ambitious target given that Wong Nei Chung and Stanley Gap Road and the surrounding hills were in enemy control .

Another reference to Cash's Bungalow is found in the Brigade (East Infantry) Diary.  "The left Platoon of "D" Bn (Royal Rifles) were working very slowly up Notting Hil."  They were coming under "fire from Cash's Bungalow" .

In another reference to the 21st Dec Counter Attack at Tai Tam  the Brigade Commander (Cedric Wallis) writes "he found Major Macauley trying to get his troops on and working hard. He was operating two 3-inch mortars against enemy holding Cash's Bungalow and the X-Roads.

These references suggest Cash Bungalow was on Redhill facing Bridge Hill quite close to Erinville (at Turtle Cove) the home of Albert and Delores Simmons who was Benny Proulx's parents in law. Albert Simmons died in Camp and Delores and her two sons were released on grounds of Irish nationality. Benny Proulx was caught up in the seige of Repulse Bay Hotel and later escaped from POW Camp.

 In a 1939 map (revised from a 1930 edition) I can see Erinville with a track leading to it.  This house was also home to Bill Anderson who served in HKVDC Sigals Coy during WW2 with whom I still maintain periodic correspondence

A little further along on the pre-war map there is another house at war time grid reference 257489 and I think this is what is referred to as Cash's Bungalow. At this point there is a junction of three paths one leading to Erinville, and one to Cash's Bungalow and the third to the crest of Red Hill. 

Both these two houses were caught up in the fighting on 21st Dec. and battle damaged  - Erinville was said to be haunted after the war. Now there are 3 or 4 town houses on the site of Erinville  (I probably won't mention the ghost to the tenants) and what's left of a coastal PB on the beach below.

Philip Cracknell