Japan marched into Hong Kong at the outbreak of the Pacific War on December 8, 1941. On the same day, Graham Heywood was captured by the invading Japanese near the border while carrying out duties for the Royal Observatory. He was held at various places in the New Territories before being transported to the military Prisoner-of-War camp in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon. The Japanese refused to allow Heywood and his colleague Leonard Starbuck to join the civilians at the Stanley internment camp.<Read more ...>
I have just uploaded two photographs sent to me soon after the 75th anniversary of VJ Day by a cousin of mine. Her father, Air Commodore Gilbert Bartholomew the original owner of both photographs, was present at the ceremony, representing the Royal Air Force. <Read more ...>
Date picture taken (to nearest decade for older photos):
1945
This photograph is one of two sent to me soon after the 75th anniversary of VJ Day by a cousin of mine. Her father, Air Commodore Gilbert Bartholomew, was present at the ceremony, representing the Royal Air Force (he is marked with the small 'X'). The ceremony was held in the entrance lobby area of Government House on 12 September 1945. <Read more ...>
Date picture taken (to nearest decade for older photos):
1945
This photograph is the second of two sent to me soon after the 75th anniversary of VJ Day by a cousin of mine. Her father, Air Commodore Gilbert Bartholomew, was present at the ceremony, representing the Royal Air Force. The ceremony was held in the entrance lobby area of Government House on 12 September 1945. <Read more ...>
Date picture taken (to nearest decade for older photos):
2018
I believe this is the location of the Japanese surrender ceremony at Government House on 12 September 1945. Coincidentally, I took this photograph standing in roughly the same spot as the photographer who took the 'Hong Kong Japanese Surrender 2' image. It was taken on a Government House open day in less turbulent times than in 1945. <Read more ...>
