William Herbert ALTON [1907-1995]

DoB from John Black's list, which gives Mr Alton's occupation in 1941 as "Minister".

He was the Assistant Methodist at the English Methodist Church on the corner of Kennedy and Queen's Roads:

The Japanese Invasion
The occupation took place on Christmas Day 1941 and the Home and the English Church were closed forthwith. The Church was in fact used to stable horses for the Japanese officers, which is why it may have taken until 1947 to be ready to open again! The home had various uses but was ransacked at the end of the war. The ministers, significantly Revd Joseph E. Sandbach, were interned at Stanley with many of the leaders of Hong Kong society. Sandbach was appointed to the management committee for the prisoners and his ministry was greatly admired. He had come in 1937 and remained until his retirement in 1960. The selfless service of Revd Sandbach and his Assistant Minister Revd Alton were an effective and admired ministry among the 3000 prisoners. Man Kwok Wai notes, ‘Their selfless service and witness gave credit to Methodism. One of the internees, Mr N.L. Smith became the Colonial Secretary after the liberation and he was extremely helpful when Sandbach approached the Government to apply for a plot of land to build a church and school in Kowloon (1947-8).’

See http://gwulo.com/sites/gwulo.com/files/misc/MIC-120-Anniversary-Booklet.pdf