100 years ago on Monday five policemen, at least 2 members of the public and two bandits lost their lives in a shoot out that quickly became known as the Gresson Street Affray. A month before the catastrophic Race Course fire, Hong Kong had been receiving daily news of the fighting in Europe for the past four years. This unprecedented massacre of policemen in the course of their very ordinary duty shocked Hong Kong. Two days later it was said that half the colony - some 250,000 people - were on the streets to see the funeral procession that resulted. <Read more ...>
A thread on the The Royal Irish Constabulary Forum has more information about him, starting with him sailing from London on 14 June 1913, aged 24, to enlist in the Hong Kong Police as L/Sgt A 153.
After the Japanese surrender in August 1945, Admiral Harcourt of the Royal Navy set up a Military Government in Hong Kong. Mr Pennefather-Evans left for Britain citing health reasons and the British Government appointed Colonel C H Sansom as Commissioner of Police. Colonel Sansom's appointment was a transitional measure in war-ravaged Hong Kong. <Read more ...>
