21 Broadwood Road, Happy Valley HK.jpg

Peter - what super photos you've just posted of The Towers, 20 Broadwood Road, and of your parents' home, 21 Broadwood Road. I would love to have copies if that's at all possible. Your grandparents must have known my grandfather, Charles Warren well, as he built nos. 20 & 21 and owned them until his death in June 1923. In fact they must have known my entire family: my grandmother, Hannah, my Aunt Evelyn and my uncles, Leslie and Arthur Warren, none of whom I met myself. What was your grandparents' name and how long did they live at no. 21? I posted a little piece about no. 21 at https://gwulo.com/node/36587  I've done quite a lot of research into Broadwood Road's history in the last eight years or so that I've been able to come to Hong Kong. My grandfather built eight houses in the plot I.L. 1947, of which 20 and 21 were the last. My Warren cousins lived at the bunglalow, 19 Broadwood Road until 1938 and seemed to have the run of The Towers, which was often empty. Perhaps David would let you have my email if you want to know more.

Jill

I was thrilled to see this photo - many thanks, Peter. My father was living here in 1941 with his friend the engineer Tommy Waller.

I know that one of his pre-war homes was hit by a bomb during the hostlities. Do you know what happened to Number 21?

Alas, my grandparents, uncles and father were all either dead or departed by the time of the Japanese invasion. My feeling is that no. 21 would have survived the war, as no. 20 was supposedly used as a Japanese officers' mess and the proximity of the two houses probably would have saved it. HK Tramways, who were the last to purchase no. 21 before the war, might have something on the house in their records. Nona Pio-Ulski, with whom you put me in touch - thank you, has posted lovely photos and film of the area from the early sixties, as you know. I think that nos. 19, 20 and 21 were probably demolished just before Nona and her family moved in to no. 22. Maybe it was Tommy Waller's other house that was hit. 

Jill

Thanks, Peter.

Hi, Jill - sorry what I wrote was unclear - it was one of my father''s lodgings that was bombed. Before number 21 he was living in a Lane Crawford flat at 82, Morrison Hill Road. Good idea about HK Tramways - I'll try to get in touch with the archivist.

Hi Brian

I’ve just seen the gwulo postings about no. 21 Broadwood Road and I can definitely confirm that it survived the war as I lived there with my parents and brother Ken from 1947 until about 1949 when we moved down to no. 4 Broadwood Rd., also owned by HK Tramways at the time. As you may recall we exchanged some correspondence via gwulo on the subject last year and I also heard from Jill on her family connection.

I too loved seeing this new photo of number 21 – it brought back many memories!

Frank Waller

Thanks, Frank. I now know it was the Morrison Hill Road building that was hit by a bomb.

I hope all's well with you.

Brian