Cuthbert O'GARA [1886-1968] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Cuthbert O'GARA [1886-1968]

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Submitted by brian edgar on Thu, 2015-03-26 17:02
Names
Given: 
Cuthbert
Family: 
o'Gara
Sex: 
Male
Status: 
Deceased
Birth
Date: 
1886-04-01
Birthplace (town, state): 
Ottawa, Ontario
Birthplace (country): 
Canada
Death
Date: 
1968-05-13

Cuthbert O'Gara, the son of a judge, took vows as a (Roman Catholic) Passionist in 1914 and was ordained a priest in 1915. He taught theology in the USA until 1924 when he was sent to China and after a misunderstanding ended up on mission in Yuanling (Hunan). In 1934 he became a Titular Bishop. 

During the Sino-Japanese War he established 13 refugee camps and two hospitals and helped house, feed and clothe up to 100,000 people. One writer called him 'the Stretcher-Bearer Bishop' because of his personal involvement in this work.

At the time of the Japanese attack on Hong Kong he was in the colony for dental treatment and he shared the experiences of the Maryknoll Fathers. He was guaranteed out of Stanley or May 26, 1942 to live with Bishop Valtorta. Before long he left for China and then the United States.

After the war he returned to Yuanling and was imprisoned by the Communist regime in 1951, being carried into Hong Kong on a stretcher on his release in 1953. He became a miitant anti-communist and anti-secularist and supported Senator Joseph McCarthy's 'witch hunt' of the American left.

Sources:

http://www.cpprovince.org/archives/heritage/fall94/fall94-3-1.php

http://archive.org/stream/passionistbullet81955unse/passionistbullet8195...

Note: Some sources give September 12, 1942 as the date he left Stanley. Investigations continue.

Tags: 
WW2: Interned at Stanley Camp
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Comments

Submitted by emride on Fri, 2015-03-27 19:30.

Bishop O'Gara was interviewed by Col Ride in Hengyang, China, on 17th August 1942.  The interview is reported fully in the BAAG papers, giving his views on food, health,morale and general treatment of prisoners in Stanley, atrocities at the Maryknoll Mission and the murders of Col Black, Capt Whitney, 3 VADs and others.  This interview is filed under 21.8.1942 in the collection in HKHP. 

Submitted by brian edgar on Sat, 2015-03-28 18:00.

Thanks for this - it settles the question of when the Bishop left Stanley. Sounds a very interesting interviw too.

Submitted by David on Sun, 2015-04-19 18:29.

Elizabeth has kindly sent a copy of the interview, which I've transcribed and posted at: http://gwulo.com/node/24167

Regards, David