Colonial Funerals: 1911 and 1926 | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Colonial Funerals: 1911 and 1926

Primary tabs

Submitted by lizchater on Wed, 2010-04-14 15:50

Hi, Since you're all exceptionally knowledgeable on all things Hong Kong, I wonder if anyone can help me please?  When Sir HN Mody died on 16 Jun 1911 it was reported in the newspaper that "Photographs of Sir H.N.Mody’s  funeral procession were taken by the local and well known photographer Mee Cheung". Therefore I'm sure it is safe to assume that photos would have also been taken of the funeral of Sir Paul Chater (27 May 1926).  However, my efforts to fund ANY photos of these funerals has drawn a blank. 

Photos of Chinese funerals are reasonably easy to find.....but colonial funerals? A different story.  Can anyone help here please? Mody and Chater funerals required please.

Many thanks

Liz

Forum: 
General
  • Log in or register to post comments

Submitted by David on Thu, 2010-04-15 20:52.

Neither ring a bell, but I'll keep an eye out for anything related.

Submitted by lizchater on Fri, 2010-04-16 15:44.

Thanks David!  I need to get to HK and start rummaging!

Submitted by annelisec on Fri, 2010-04-16 17:07.

What religion did Chater adhere to when he was dying ?  "Colonial" funerals were mostly held at St. John's Cathedral as it was Church of England. 

Submitted by lizchater on Sat, 2010-04-17 16:07.

Hi, thanks annelisec.  I already know that Sir Paul Chater's service was held at St. John's Cathedral.  Pretty well every business stopped trading on the island, the stock exchanged closed as a mark of respect and the atmosphere in Hong Kong was one of a death of royalty.  It is for this reason that I find it extraordinary that there are no known photos of the funeral, the HK history museum or PRO do not have anything, so I am hoping that someone with a private collection might find they have one. 

Mody of course being a Parsi, had a Parsi funeral and again, being such an exceptional businessman and philanthropist at the time he died, AND being so high profile because he was in the throes of  funding the unversity building project and who was in the newspapers almost on a daily basis with reports of the latest updates on the state of the project, again strikes me as extraordinary that no funeral pictures are more readily available.

I have asked various members of the Chater/Jordan family branches and they have never seen the funeral pictures either. 

Liz