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In 1939, prior to sailing with the boys to join George in Hong Kong, and who had begun his posting to the colony six months earlier, Hilda put their furniture into storage and arranged for their home – 37, Randolph Road, Portsmouth – to be rented. The family also left behind in Portsmouth friends, relatives,Continue reading “Everybody safe so far, and No. “37” still going strong – George, January 1941”

When war broke out in Europe in September 1939, life in Hong Kong remained little altered. Six thousand miles from Britain – and two years before war would come to the Far East – day-to-day living continued very much the same. But, whereas work, sport and socialising carried on pretty much as usual, thoughts wereContinue reading “Worries for home as Britain suffers during the Blitz”

On 1 July 1940 the first of the evacuation ships left Hong Kong harbour. On board were 1,500 of the 3,500 women and children that would leave the colony that week, due to threats of invasion by the Japanese. Among those on board were George’s family – his wife, Hilda, and two young sons, DavidContinue reading “80 years ago …”