[click] on the map and locate some of the photos below ...
An aerial view of part of the camp, showing the single room family accomodation.
This picture was taken from the tower of Block-23.
The approach to Weihsien Camp over a rough muddy road.
The Church / Assembly Hall
The bell which called the internees to Rollcall twice a day. Notice the moongate and the garden beyond including the Adminitrative building shared by our Japanese captors as well as by the members of the Commitee elected by all the internees.
A family outside their small room
The Hospital and a Japanese watchtower, taken from outside the camp.
The top two floors housed the pupils of the Chefoo School.
The Hospital .
Tania (the mother) and Sylvia Tchoo standing in front of the hospital.
The top two floors housed the pupils of the Chefoo School.
Tania Tchoo standing outside Kitchen 1, which fed about 700 people. The food was cooked in large caldrons, but the quantity was quite inadequate.
One of the success stories of the internement period was the formation of groups of Scouts, Guides, Brownies and Cubs..
One of the success stories of the internement period was the formation of groups of Scouts, Guides, Brownies and Cubs..
A watchtower taken from outside the camp ...
AIR DROPS ON POW/INTERNMENT CAMPS, SEPTEMBER 1945
Yangchow C members may remember Peter Jewell, who was interned there with his mother and cousins, June and Keith Martin. During visits to USA, as an RAF pilot, he researched the POW Supply flying missions by USAAF in September 1945.
Their most perplexing problem was to determine the exact number of camps, as early lists were incomplete. The Japanese finally produced a list of 73 camps but reconnaissance located an additional 57. The report from the Yangchow aircraft described "women and children in the yard went wild with joy and jumped up and down" as well as a huge British flag.
The drops were carried out from Saipan, Tinian and Guam by B29 Super Fortresses, and B24 Liberators. Between 27 August and 20 September, 1066 planes were airborne on POW missions of which 900 sorties were successful. They dropped 4470 tons of supplies, serving an estimated 63,500 prisoners using 63,000 parachutes. Eight aircraft were lost with 77 casualties. When the stock of parachutes was exhausted, supplies were dropped free-fall and in some cases prisoners running out to get supplies were killed by falling packs.
Many of us will recall welded double fuel drums crashing through the roof or burying themselves in the ground to end up a large tin of mixed groceries, soup, meat, fruit, tin and cardboard.
Dedication of Eric Liddell Memorial Stone at Weifang, China, June 9, 1991
Left to right: Charles Walker, Norman Cliff, David Michell, Peggy Judge, a niece of Eric.Liddell.
2005
Weifang, June 13, 2005.
Norman Cliff writes:
I went by bus to Weifang, and was met by Mr. Sui Shude, a government official who is in charge of the forthcoming celebrations. This relates to the former Weihsien internment camp's liberation by Americans in 1945. For this the government has set aside R12 m.
I had interviews all day, and was taken to the former camp, which was being renovated for the delegates who would be coming. The Eric Liddell moongate garden, built in 1990, has been broken up to make way for a larger garden. Gardeners were still working on the new one.
I was taken up to my single room on the top floor of the hospital building, which is being reconstructed for the reunion. The room was full of dust and broken bricks. In 1945 I had moved from this room to a bachelor dormitory in Block 23 when Eric Liddell died, and had taken his place in the corner of the room.
The planning committee want to involve, not only prisoners but all who had a part in the life of the camp. I was taken to meet Zhang Xihong, whose father and uncle were "cesspool coolies". These brave men came daily into the camp to remove the night soil and they also helped with the escape of two men from the camp.
... in September of the same year:
September, 2005 in England ---
Joyce Cliff, Nicky Pander and Norman Cliff --- a visit to London --
September, 2005 in England ---
Joyce Cliff, Norman Cliff and Leopold Pander --- a visit to London ---
September, 2005 in England ---
Joyce Cliff, Norman Cliff and Leopold Pander --- a visit to London ---
September, 2005 in England ---
Norman Cliff, September 12, 2005
--- a visit to London ---
The planning committee want to involve, not only prisoners but all who had a part in the life of the camp. I was taken to meet Zhang Xihong, whose father and uncle were "cesspool coolies". These brave men came daily into the camp to remove the night soil and they also helped with the escape of two men from the camp.
