John Gerard Heath LANDER [1907-1941] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

John Gerard Heath LANDER [1907-1941]

Names
Given: 
John Gerard Heath
Family: 
Lander
Sex: 
Male
Status: 
Deceased
Birth
Date: 
c.1907-01-01 (Month, Day are approximate)
Death
Date: 
1941-12-25

John Lander the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Rowing Captain from 1929 to 1930. He was a distinguished oarsman who stroked the British coxless four to a gold medal in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games.

Working for the Asiatic Petroleum Company, Lander was transferred to Manila in August 1930 and through the 1930s was a leading light in the Manila Boat Club. He returned to Hong Kong to help defend it against the Japanese, was killed at Stanley on Christmas Day 1941 and is buried in the Sai Wan War Cemetary. He was the only British Olympic gold medallist to die in the second world war.

Photos that show this person

Comments

There's a good write-up of John Lander's life from his son at:

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1155361/my-life-gerry-lander

UK Birth and Baptisms Records

Birth 7 October 1907 and baptism 10 October 1907 at St Cyprian's Church Edge-Hill Lancashire

Andrews Cards Aug 23 1944

LANDER In loving memory of Peter R.A.F. killed Aug 23 1941 and his brother John killed in Hong Kong  Dec 25 1941

Where can I get a copy of the card? I already have considerable information about John Lander in preparation for writing a mini-biography of him as part of my research into the past Commodores and Rowing Captains of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. I am in touch with John Lander's son, who would be interested in anything new concerning his father, John, and his uncle, Peter. 

Not sure how you could get a copy. I get my information from Ancestry as a I have a subscription.

 

About England, Andrews Newspaper Index Cards, 1790-1976

This unique card index was compiled in England from the 1790s until about 1970 and features a collection of notices from newspapers and various official sources, such as the London Gazette. Approximately 250,000 cards include announcements of births, marriages, obituaries, and deaths abroad; notices of wills, unclaimed estates, and filings under the Colonial Probates Act of 1892 (which recognized probates from courts in British possessions); and advertisements for missing persons and people seeking next of kin. The original newspaper clippings on the cards sometimes include annotations referring to additional information from other sources.

Original data: Andrews Collection. Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies, Canterbury, Kent, England.

Lander is standing in the centre of the group of rowers in front of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's Oil Street, North Point, clubhouse.

Rowing Club Members
Rowing Club Members, by Raymond Smith

"The Rowing Section of the Yacht Club is experiencing a distinct boom. A good number of keen recruits have recently joined up. At the present two 'fours,' senior and junior, are in training to compete against Canton next month. If anyone's name is to be mentioned it is that of Mr. Lander, the Stroke of the Senior Four. He had a very successful rowing career in England, and his style is one to be copied, if possible." HK Daily Press 27 March 1930 refers.