☛ ... the most recent messages are on top !
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2024 9:37 AM
To: 'Leopold PANDER'
Subject: FW: Princess Anne mentioned the memorial at Weihsien
Forwarded by:http://weihsien-paintings.org/TheGroup/messages/2024-08/2024-08.htm
Go to: MENU
Click on: CONTACT → The Group →scroll down, and → “read the AUGUST messages → ☛ ... the most recent messages are on top ! → enjoy 😊
The URL is just above.
Best regards,
Leopold
From: Rich Swingle
Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2024 8:48 PM
To: Rich & Joyce Swingle
Cc: Leopold Pander
Subject: Re: Princess Anne mentioned the memorial at Weihsien
Oh, I forgot to say that I looked for our correspondence on http://weihsien-paintings.org and couldn’t find it. Where should I be looking?
In Christ alone,
Rich
On Sep 14, 2024, at 2:47 PM, Rich Swingle
Oh, thank you for letting me know! I ran into that trouble with my own site! Now it’s https, which was free, but a hassle to set up! I’ve changed that in the video and made a note to use http: in the description for the longer url.
Those Swiss do so many things right! …says a descendant of Ulrich Zwingli’s brother. :-)
In Christ alone,
Rich
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2024 10:10 AM To: 'weihsien_camp@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: FW: Princess Anne mentioned the memorial at Weihsien
Hi,
… corrected 3 URLs. If you don’t write the http or https in front of the URLs you may get a 404-error. Some computers correct them automatically, (…) my computer doesn’t.
To your previous message, yes ! I live in the French-speaking side of little Belgium. Indeed, our 70s, 80s and 90s are said: septante, quatre vingt and nonante ― unlike in France where they like to complicate things with soixante-dix, and quatrevingt-dix.I’ll never get used to that!! Besides, in the French part of Switzerland, they say it as we do but eighty is said: huitante! ― which is more logical. Ha! Ha!
… all the best,
Leopold
PS: I transferred your recent messages to the Weihsien-paintings’ website. I checked: all the URLs work OK.
From: Rich Swingle
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2024 4:46 PM
To: Leopold Pander
Subject: Re: Princess Anne mentioned the memorial at Weihsien
Thankfully I tried it before putting it in the video! I forgot to pluralize paintings! It’s now correct: www.weihsien-paintings.org
If you are in Belgium it will be very late (6 p.m. Eastern), but you’re most welcome to join our report via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89999440237?pwd=Aja2nlYNj1hpsRksh0KYcM00c7diQg.1 Meeting ID: 899 9944 0237 Passcode: 808904
I am going to record it, and I’ll send out a link afterward.
In Christ alone,
Rich
From: Rich Swingle
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 8:23 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Princess Anne mentioned the memorial at Weihsien
Merci beaucoup!
Our report is in video form, so I think the shorter www.Weihsien-Painting.org will be best, but I’ve set an alarm reminding me to put the longer link in the description.
I’ll send you the report once finished.
When I was performing in Chantilly, France, three hours after the Olympic torch exchange there, a couple in attendance told me before the show that they had met Joyce and Joe Cotterill. So during the play I mentioned Joe as Eric’s roommate, and just before Eric slipped into the coma I added, “Joyce, can you bring me a cup of water.” Only problem is that I hadn’t warned my bride who was doing the sound effects, and her name is Joyce! Thankfully I looked in the other direction when I said it, and my Joyce stayed where she was and hit the next sound cue perfectly. But it gave us all such a laugh!
Are you in Belgium? I took a few French lessons, and I heard from someone that Belgium has a more decent approach to the number 70. He didn’t mention 80 or 90, but I just looked it up and see you also don’t have to do math on 90 before doing the actual math. I see 80 is still four-twenty. C'est la vie !
Did you ever see the play? Here’s the link: www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/BtC
In Christ alone,
Rich
+1.646.932.4890
Follow our worldwide adventures!
www.RichDrama.com
IMDb
Wikipedia
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 10:46 AM
To: 'Leopold PANDER' ; 'RichSwingle@RichDrama.com'
Subject: FW: Princess Anne mentioned the memorial at Weihsien
Forwarded by:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org
Dear Mr. Swingle,
Our website is free access and non-profit.
The picture you mention comes indeed from our website:
http://weihsien-paintings.org/70YearsAfter/Photos/LeopoldPander/Leopold(3)-web.pdf
Yes, by all means, you are free to use this picture taken in 2015 during the 70-year celebrations of our liberations and end of WWII. Just mention the source: http://www.weihsien-paintings.org or the URL just above.
Good luck with your “one-man play” and, (…) as we say in French: “Bon vent” 😊
Bien à vous,
Léopold
From: Rich Swingle
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 12:41 AM
To: Leopold Pander
Subject: Princess Anne mentioned the memorial at Weihsien
I hope this finds you well.
We were in touch years ago when I was working on a documentary about Eric Liddell in the run up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
I’m still performing my one-man play about “Uncle Eric,” and I was able to perform the play at the Scots Kirk Paris on the centenary of him preaching there the day the world expected him to run the 100m heats at the Paris Olympics of 1924. While I was there I was invited to attend a visit by Princess Anne on the opening day of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Here are the photos from the visit: https://link.shutterfly.com/2HhDhCEhGLb
She asked us how much the Chinese appreciated his story, so I was thrilled to speak of our experience performing the play in China. She mentioned the memorial to him in Weihsien. We’re putting together a video to let our supporters know about the trip, and I’d love to use this photo from your site, so people can understand what it is:
We’re sharing the video this Saturday, 14 September.
Hope to hear from you soon!
All the best!
In Christ alone,
Rich
+1.646.932.4890
Follow our worldwide adventures!
www.RichDrama.com
IMDb
Wikipedia
From: 乐道院潍县集中营博物馆
Sent: Friday, September 6, 2024 2:09 PM
To: Leopold_Pander
Subject: Dazhong Daily
September 6, 2024
Dear Mr. Leopold Pander,
September 21, 2024 is the 23rd International Day of Peace. Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum, as a symbol of the just struggle of international migrants and the Chinese people united against Japanese fascism during World War II and the spirit of internationalism, is of great value for educating the public, remembering history and cherishing peace.
We are from Dazhong Daily, the official media of Shandong province. For the purpose of cherishing peace and promoting cultural exchanges and peaceful communication between different countries, we sincerely hope that you can accept our interview and record a video or audio, and we will publicize it on our official website. If it is really inconvenient, please give a written answer to our questions in the form of an email. We will be extremely grateful for your support and cooperation.
The questions are as follows.
1、
Over 80 years ago, Weihsien the Courtyard of the Happy Way was forcibly occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army and became a concentration camp for Western migrants. More than 2000 migrants from 25 Western countries had a hard time in the concentration camp. What was it like inside the concentration camp where you were imprisoned at that time? What was the situation when you were in the concentration camp? Could you tell us briefly?
2、
Currently, the international situation is facing uncertainty. Having experienced World War II, you may have a deep understanding of the significance of peace. Could you please share your expectations for world peace?
3、
When you were imprisoned in the concentration camp, you went through a lot of hardships. How did the local Chinese people help you? What role did they play in helping you escape from the concentration camp? What kind of feelings do you have for Chinese people?
Wish you good health and a long-lasting friendship between our two countries.
Sincerely yours,
Reporters of Dazhong Daily
From: 乐道院潍县集中营博物馆
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 3:52 AM
To: 潍县绘画
Subject:
Dear Leopold
Thank you and other surivivors for the letters, we have not forgotten this unforgettable day, 79 years ago on August 17, Weihsien concentration camp was liberated! On this anniversary day, we also conducted a series of commemorative activities and vigorous publicity to let more people know about this history and cherish the hard-won peace together.
In 2019, Han Chongbin donated the iron bed used by the survior to the museum.
At present, the iron bed has been designated as a national first-class cultural relic and is displayed in the museum.
On this 79th anniversary day, he also donated a pair of glasses used by Herbert Taylor to our museum.
The Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum issued a collection certificate to Han Chongbin.
We have also organized a series of peacethemed volunteer service activities for the university students to guide the young generation to remember history and cherish peace.
In addition, we also opened the Olive Branch Peace Lecture Hall, inviting experts and scholars from all walks of life to give lectures about the Weihsien concentration camp and peace, so as to promote peace in a wider scope.
As you said, next year will be a “round” figure.
We sincerely invite you and other survivors and their descendants to come to Weifang and the former site of Weihsien Concentration Camp on the 80th anniversary of the liberation to reunite and recall that precious history.
We hope that you can put our invitation on the website and inform other survivors and their descendants.
Let us look forward to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Weihsien Concentration Camp!
Best regards,
Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum
From: Nick Laws
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 8:53 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Continuing to search!
I was not aware of this…thank you for bringing it to my attention!
Before my Grandfather came to work in Manchuria with British American Tobacco, he had worked for a few years in Helsinki, Finland.
By chance a year ago, I was contacted by a researcher in Helsinki who was writing about the role of British Intelligence in Finland before the war and post the Russian revolution.. There was a reference in his research to my Grandfather as ‘being a good man in the 'Foreign' community and the researcher wanted to know if I knew any more. I was then interested to read that apparently British American Tobacco had a reputation as a cover for ’security ‘work’. He was working there at a time when most men of his age had been called up back in Britain, which always surprised me. I can not find out any more information at this stage…but it made both my sister and I wonder why my Grandfather was in Manchuria for so long, and why he had remained there until his interment?!
I look forward to reading this book and see if it might shed any further light on my Grandfather’s life and career with BAT!
Thank you!
> On 23 Aug 2024, at 18:18, Leopold PANDER wrote:
>
> Forwarded by:
> http://www.weihsien-paintings.org
> ... by the way, did you read:
> http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/books(other)/SecretsSpies/SecretsSpies.htm
> "The Harbin Files" ...
>
> Best regards,
> Leopold
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nick Laws
> Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 10:16 AM
> To: Leopold PANDER
> Subject: Re: Continuing to search!
>
Thank you again for leading me back to previous threads, which had answered all my previous questions!
> My apologies for not understanding fully you had already answered my search.
>
> More importantly, my renewed ‘search’ has led me back to Langdon Gilkey’s book, whose extracts I have been reading on your website.
> Perhaps the time is now right in my life to fully appreciate the message and contents of the book! I am grateful that it is better to be ‘late than never’!
>
> I have now ordered the book from Amazon and look forward to reading it when it arrives next week!!
> Thank you for leading me to such an inspiring and important document!
>
> Thank you for your inspiration and important work.
>
> Respectfully
>
> Nick Laws
> Sent from my iPhone
From: Nick Laws
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 5:20 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Continuing to search!
http://weihsien-paintings.org/TheGroup/messages/2018-11/2018-11.htm
http://weihsien-paintings.org/TheGroup/messages/2017-05/2017-05.htm
Dear Leopold,
I have contacted the group previously, but wanted to check once more if there might be any record to be found of my Grandfather, Albert ‘Jimmy’ Laws who was in the camp.
He had been working for British American Tobacco when he was interned and had previously been living and working in Harbin, Manchuria.
My Father was also born in Harbin in 1928 but from an early age ( I believe after the Japanese had invaded Manchuria?) had been left with his Grandparents back in England while my Grandfather and Grandmother returned to China after their ‘leave’. My Grandmother escaped internment via Canada and then the USA. She returned to the UK in the war by convoy (1943 or 1944?) My Grandfather returned after the war by ship to Liverpool.
How I wish I had asked more questions about their experiences in my youth!!!
I would be grateful if you could shed any light on a record of my Grandfather. My Grandfather kept his camp stool, which I still have in my possession and there are some short Red Cross telegrams between my Grandparents.
My Father met my Mother after the was as a result of meeting each other from an introduction by a Russian lady in London who had also been interned in the camp!
My Father asked my Mother to marry him two days after they met in London!! Three months later she flew out to Assam to marry him where he was working as a Manager on a Tea plantation for the Jorehaut Tea Company!
I knew the Russian Lady as ‘Claudia Howard Ford’ I believe she was married either in the camp, or shortly before internment, to an American…but the marriage did not last.
Again, more stories and history I would have loved to have know and talked about.
I would be grateful if you could help to shed any light on my Grandfather ( or by chance Claudia Howard Ford) She died in London, and from my memory had no immediate family.
I recently obtained the Norman Cliff book ‘Courtyard of the happy way’ which was very enlightening,
I will try to apply the inspiring words of ‘WEIHSIEN - THE TEST’ to my own life!! ( courtesy of H Hubbard)
With respect to you, and thanks for all your work to preserve memoroes.
Nick Laws
From: Paul Hastings
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 12:00 AM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: FW: Christian testimony from Weihsien experience?
Thank you for sending the response from Maida Harris Campbell.
If anyone else replies and would be willing to be interviewed for my podcast, please let me know.
Thanks!
-Paul Hastings | Host/Producer
From: Roy Campbell
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 3:34 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Christian testimony from Weihsien experience?
I would like to correct re church services I don’t know about Catholic service but we did have Protestant services in the large building near the gate.
We had many concerts and activities in that building.
For smaller gatherings like our schools we used bedrooms.
We were part of the Chefoo schools with a British curriculum From 1942 to 1945 our teachers used old Oxford exams which were all accepted by Oxford after the war.
The class above us were writing the exams as we were being liberated!!!
I found going in to high school in Toronto I was at par or above except we had no labs for science and I had started Latin at age 10 I was 15 when we were liberated
Maida Harris Campbell
Sent from my iPad
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2024 2:28 PM
To: 'Paul Hastings'
Subject: RE: Christian testimony from Weihsien experience?
Dear Mr. Hastings,
… the best I can do to help you, is to forward your message to our “Weihsien-Group”. Any person interested will be free to contact you personally.
At the bottom of almost each page of our website is a “disclaimer” to respect the opinions of all. This website relates “facts”. Only — facts.
No politics.
No Religion.
However (…)
On the Weihsien-Paintings’ Home page, there is a link to a summary I built as a *.pdf with excerpts from all the books written about Weihsien in the years after our imprisonment. A summary organised in “chapters” — and one chapter is about: “religion” → go to page 348.
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/books/Weihsien/Weihsien-02.pdf
My mother told me, long after the war, that “they” told us, not to give too much love to our children because, in times of war and uncertainty, you never knew what could happen. I was two years old and Janette was five.
Who is “they”?
I never asked, I must admit.
We were indeed scheduled to be killed:
http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/Formosa/taiwandocs.html
Anyway, the camp was never organized neither by the priests nor by the ministers or any other religion. The Japs respected the beliefs of others and all were free to worship their own way. Those who had no religion were respected just as anyone else.
The Camp was organised by competent people such as engineers, doctors, bankers and they were elected by the camp population. Periodically.
In my résumé ― or summary as you say in English ― you must also read about our Camp organisation. Weihsien was a “Democracy” almost a (…) “Utopia” providing we had enough food to eat, no high brick walls and electrified barbed wires around us, no machine guns and search lights, no Japanese guards … no war …
Just look at the beautiful paintings on the website → the Weihsien compound could have been a holiday resort !!
Best regards,
Leopold
From: Paul Hastings
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2024 3:58 PM
To: Leopold Pander
Subject: Christian testimony from Weihsien experience?
Hello Leopold!
My name is Paul Hastings. I'm the host of the Compelled Podcast, a Christian testimony podcast. A few of our guests include:
• Gracia Burnham: a missionary to the Philippines who was kidnapped by terrorists and held hostage in the jungles for over a year, but was convicted that God wanted her to forgive her captors.
• Steve Richardson: he and his parents sailed to New Guinea and moved in with a Stone Age tribe of head-hunting cannibals to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
I have been familiar with Eric Liddell's story for many years (as a child), but only recently have I come across your Weihsien Paintings website. It's very well done and extremely informative.
I never realized that such a large number of the prisoners in the camp were missionariees.
I know you were only 4-years-old when you left the internment camp, but do you think that you, or any other survivors today would be willing and able to share their experiences in the internment camp from a Christian perspective? In particular, stories of remaining faithful in their devotion to Christ, even in the midst of hardship? (and of course, stories about day-to-day living, the rescue, the return, dealing with the emotional aftermath, etc.)
I record all of our interviews face-to-face, so preferably it would be someone in America. (but if you think the only reasonable candidates live elsewhere, then perhaps I can make longtem arrangements for a future trip)
Thank you!
-Paul Hastings | Host/Producer
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2024 11:37 AM
To: 'Leopold PANDER'
Subject: FW: Weihsien 1945
August 17, 1945 …
Sure (…) I remember, a beautiful sunny day. I was 6 years old and off, for a stroll on my little girl trip around Weihsien when suddenly all went absolutely crazy and all those adults — yelling and crying and laughing, the kids too, of course, quite unbelievable and very panicky.
So I spent all that time indoors with Zandy Strangman’s mother who lived next door to us in block 22, an adorable lady who quietened me down saying, « far too much noise, let’s wait a little bit … »
Then, the war was over, we were liberated and Weihsien was left to itself. The years passed slowly (…). Some of us wrote books, some of us visited.
Until Leopold’s wonderful idea of collecting all we remembered of our past lives in Weihsien into a big “blog” on the Internet.
So, thank you ALL for that precious time capsule, with a special thought towards the youngest → ( Angela, Leopold, Christine, Michael …) of us still left, who so greatly wanted to « KNOW MORE », and to Jacqueline de Saint Hubert who knew it all !
Janette
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2024 8:41 AM
To: 'Leopold PANDER'
Subject: FW: Happy Liberation Day
Dear Carinne,
Thanks for your kind message and my respectful regards to Madame de Saint-Hubert (...) my mother remembered so well. She, (my mother) often mentioned Jacqueline in her — so few — conversations about Weihsien.
Forwarded by:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org
Best regards,
Leopold
From: Carinne Cunningham
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2024 4:07 AM
To: Leopold PANDER ; Christopher Cunningham
Cc: Roy Campbell ; Leopold PANDER ; A C
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day
Hello Leopold, fellow Weihsien internees, their family members and descendants,
When I woke up my mother, Solange Jacqueline Binda MacLean, née de Saint Hubert, this morning and said it was August 17th, she immediately told me she had goosebumps remembering that great day 79 years ago.
Solange Jacqueline, now 102 1/2, vividly shared with me and my daughter how everyone knew the sounds of the plane overhead were not Japanese but something marvelous and beautiful and she clearly remembers everyone running to the gates to greet the American parachuters who would confirm the War was over, the Japanese had surrendered and they were liberated. She remembers supplies being dropped shortly after that included chocolates, condensed milk..., but the best news was liberation and the knowledge of their lives now rebeginning after years of interment.
My mother has never forgotten the most important lesson learned in the Camp.
The power of resilience and determination to overcome any adversity. To this day she remembers the collective community of internees and how collectively they worked together to make life in the Camp mostly tolerable...including, but probably forgetting many, the Priests (thou maybe some of them used the black cloak of priesthood to make deals with Chinese locals for eggs,...) the steadfast and devout Nuns, the teachers, those supporting scouting for the young boys, the sports, those working on performing revues (which Jacqueline was very involved in), the art classes ......
She describes Camp life by their second year as a well managed collective of European, American, Australian, Canadian educators and volunteers in making Camp life seem normal between the Japanese twice daily roll calls and the endless food shortages.
The more I understand of those years the more I recognize it was that great generation that would work together no matter the challenge and carry their values and strengths to a new generation.
Definitely, happy Liberation day
Hats off to you always, Leopold for keeping us all connected.
I am so very grateful for your work!
Carinne, daughter of Solange Jacqueline de Saint Hubert
From: Sancton
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 6:01 PM
To: Leopold PANDER ; 'Roy Campbell' ; 'Leopold PANDER'
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day
Thank you, Leopold for this reminder.
Funny when I was growing up my family never celebrated 'liberation' day date. It is only in very recent times that we have time to relect and remember.
Oddly, this morning while reading some news feed, up came an aerial picture of the end of the Great Wall at Shanhaikwan.
This is where my father was stationed with his regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Scots, 1928-30.
It seems appropriate to see this today with this anniversary, tying together two parts of my history.
Thanks again to you, Leopold, for this important reminder.
I now have my sister, Gay Talbot Stratford's autograph book. I hope to find some interesting entries from the Weihsien days and immediately afterwards.
Blessings
Christine
From: Mitch
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 4:43 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Cc: Roy Campbell ; Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day
Bravo to all who survived to tell the story. As an observer I am grateful for Leopold’s hard work on this site and to all who have contributed.
Thank you.
Mitch Krayton
Mitch Krayton
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From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 4:32 PM
To: 'Roy Campbell' ; 'Leopold PANDER'
Subject: RE: Happy Liberation Day
Forwarded by
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org
… quite right: “79”. I must have added my age in 1945 ! (…) my mistake.
Best regards,
Leopold
From: Roy Campbell
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 4:09 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day
Correction it is is 79 years today
Sent from my iPad
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 2:12 PM
To: 'Brian Kerry' ; 'Leopold PANDER'
Subject: RE: Happy Liberation Day
Hello Brian,
😊 quite right → seventy-nine years ago !! (…)
My mistake ― at 08:30 in the morning.
I must have still been half asleep !
Next year will be a “round” figure.
… all the best from sunny Belgium,
Leopold
From: Brian Kerry
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 1:47 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day
Good morning Leopold,
Happy Anniversary! I think it is 79 years, I was 12 years old then.
Keep well, and best wishes,
Brian
From: Angela
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 8:41 AM
To: Leopold Pander
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day** a day of much rejoicing !
Thank you Leopold for the reminder!
It finally happened
the long awaited day!
I almost forgot & so glad you have
sent this message!
Certain Janette & you recall that day!
Alas I do not! However - Maida had me with her
& rushed with the crowd to the open gate.
What a joyous
day for all!
cheers angela
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 8:30 AM
To: weihsien@proximus.be
Subject: Happy Liberation Day
08 :30 A.M. (CET)
Happy Liberation Day 😊
Remember …
… eighty-four years ago …
Leopold
#
Merci beaucoup!
Our report is in video form, so I think the shorter www.Weihsien-Painting.org will be best, but I’ve set an alarm reminding me to put the longer link in the description.
I’ll send you the report once finished.
When I was performing in Chantilly, France, three hours after the Olympic torch exchange there, a couple in attendance told me before the show that they had met Joyce and Joe Cotterill. So during the play I mentioned Joe as Eric’s roommate, and just before Eric slipped into the coma I added, “Joyce, can you bring me a cup of water.” Only problem is that I hadn’t warned my bride who was doing the sound effects, and her name is Joyce! Thankfully I looked in the other direction when I said it, and my Joyce stayed where she was and hit the next sound cue perfectly. But it gave us all such a laugh!
Are you in Belgium? I took a few French lessons, and I heard from someone that Belgium has a more decent approach to the number 70. He didn’t mention 80 or 90, but I just looked it up and see you also don’t have to do math on 90 before doing the actual math. I see 80 is still four-twenty. C'est la vie !
Did you ever see the play? Here’s the link: www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/BtC
In Christ alone,
Rich
+1.646.932.4890Follow our worldwide adventures!
www.RichDrama.com
IMDb
Wikipedia
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 10:46 AM To: 'Leopold PANDER'
Subject: FW: Princess Anne mentioned the memorial at Weihsien
Forwarded by:http://www.weihsien-paintings.org
Dear Mr. Swingle,
Our website is free access and non-profit.
The picture you mention comes indeed from our website:
http://weihsien-paintings.org/70YearsAfter/Photos/LeopoldPander/Leopold(3)-web.pdf
Yes, by all means, you are free to use this picture taken in 2015 during the 70-year celebrations of our liberations and end of WWII. Just mention the source: http://www.weihsien-paintings.org or the URL just above.
Good luck with your “one-man play” and, (…) as we say in French: “Bon vent” 😊
Bien à vous,
Léopold
From: Rich Swingle
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 12:41 AM
To: Leopold Pander
I hope this finds you well.
+1.646.932.4890
Follow our worldwide adventures!
www.RichDrama.com
IMDb
Wikipedia
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 12:41 AM
To: Leopold Pander
Subject: Princess Anne mentioned the memorial at Weihsien
I hope this finds you well.
We were in touch years ago when I was working on a documentary about Eric Liddell in the run up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
I’m still performing my one-man play about “Uncle Eric,” and I was able to perform the play at the Scots Kirk Paris on the centenary of him preaching there the day the world expected him to run the 100m heats at the Paris Olympics of 1924. While I was there I was invited to attend a visit by Princess Anne on the opening day of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Here are the photos from the visit: https://link.shutterfly.com/2HhDhCEhGLb
She asked us how much the Chinese appreciated his story, so I was thrilled to speak of our experience performing the play in China. She mentioned the memorial to him in Weihsien. We’re putting together a video to let our supporters know about the trip, and I’d love to use this photo from your site, so people can understand what it is:
We’re sharing the video this Saturday, 14 September.
Hope to hear from you soon!
All the best!
In Christ alone,
Rich
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From: 乐道院潍县集中营博物馆
Sent: Friday, September 6, 2024 2:09 PM
To: Leopold_Pander
Subject: Dazhong Daily
September 6, 2024
Dear Mr. Leopold Pander,
September 21, 2024 is the 23rd International Day of Peace. Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum, as a symbol of the just struggle of international migrants and the Chinese people united against Japanese fascism during World War II and the spirit of internationalism, is of great value for educating the public, remembering history and cherishing peace.
We are from Dazhong Daily, the official media of Shandong province. For the purpose of cherishing peace and promoting cultural exchanges and peaceful communication between different countries, we sincerely hope that you can accept our interview and record a video or audio, and we will publicize it on our official website. If it is really inconvenient, please give a written answer to our questions in the form of an email. We will be extremely grateful for your support and cooperation.
The questions are as follows.
1、
Over 80 years ago, Weihsien the Courtyard of the Happy Way was forcibly occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army and became a concentration camp for Western migrants. More than 2000 migrants from 25 Western countries had a hard time in the concentration camp. What was it like inside the concentration camp where you were imprisoned at that time? What was the situation when you were in the concentration camp? Could you tell us briefly?
2、
Currently, the international situation is facing uncertainty. Having experienced World War II, you may have a deep understanding of the significance of peace. Could you please share your expectations for world peace?
3、
When you were imprisoned in the concentration camp, you went through a lot of hardships. How did the local Chinese people help you? What role did they play in helping you escape from the concentration camp? What kind of feelings do you have for Chinese people?
Wish you good health and a long-lasting friendship between our two countries.
Sincerely yours,
Reporters of Dazhong Daily
From: 乐道院潍县集中营博物馆
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 3:52 AM
To: 潍县绘画
Subject:
Dear Leopold
Thank you and other surivivors for the letters, we have not forgotten this unforgettable day, 79 years ago on August 17, Weihsien concentration camp was liberated! On this anniversary day, we also conducted a series of commemorative activities and vigorous publicity to let more people know about this history and cherish the hard-won peace together.
In 2019, Han Chongbin donated the iron bed used by the survior to the museum.
At present, the iron bed has been designated as a national first-class cultural relic and is displayed in the museum.
On this 79th anniversary day, he also donated a pair of glasses used by Herbert Taylor to our museum.
The Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum issued a collection certificate to Han Chongbin.
We have also organized a series of peacethemed volunteer service activities for the university students to guide the young generation to remember history and cherish peace.
In addition, we also opened the Olive Branch Peace Lecture Hall, inviting experts and scholars from all walks of life to give lectures about the Weihsien concentration camp and peace, so as to promote peace in a wider scope.
As you said, next year will be a “round” figure.
We sincerely invite you and other survivors and their descendants to come to Weifang and the former site of Weihsien Concentration Camp on the 80th anniversary of the liberation to reunite and recall that precious history.
We hope that you can put our invitation on the website and inform other survivors and their descendants.
Let us look forward to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Weihsien Concentration Camp!
Best regards,
Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum
From: Nick Laws
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 8:53 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Continuing to search!
I was not aware of this…thank you for bringing it to my attention!
Before my Grandfather came to work in Manchuria with British American Tobacco, he had worked for a few years in Helsinki, Finland.
By chance a year ago, I was contacted by a researcher in Helsinki who was writing about the role of British Intelligence in Finland before the war and post the Russian revolution.. There was a reference in his research to my Grandfather as ‘being a good man in the 'Foreign' community and the researcher wanted to know if I knew any more. I was then interested to read that apparently British American Tobacco had a reputation as a cover for ’security ‘work’. He was working there at a time when most men of his age had been called up back in Britain, which always surprised me. I can not find out any more information at this stage…but it made both my sister and I wonder why my Grandfather was in Manchuria for so long, and why he had remained there until his interment?!
I look forward to reading this book and see if it might shed any further light on my Grandfather’s life and career with BAT!
Thank you!
> On 23 Aug 2024, at 18:18, Leopold PANDER wrote:
>
> Forwarded by:
> http://www.weihsien-paintings.org
>... by the way, did you read:
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nick Laws
> Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 10:16 AM
> To: Leopold PANDER
>
Thank you again for leading me back to previous threads, which had answered all my previous questions!
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> Forwarded by:
> http://www.weihsien-paintings.org
>
... by the way, did you read:
> http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/books(other)/SecretsSpies/SecretsSpies.htm
> "The Harbin Files" ...
>
> Best regards,
> Leopold
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nick Laws
> Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 10:16 AM
> To: Leopold PANDER
>
Subject: Re: Continuing to search!
> Thank you again for leading me back to previous threads, which had answered all my previous questions!
> My apologies for not understanding fully you had already answered my search.
>
> More importantly, my renewed ‘search’ has led me back to Langdon Gilkey’s book, whose extracts I have been reading on your website.
> Perhaps the time is now right in my life to fully appreciate the message and contents of the book! I am grateful that it is better to be ‘late than never’!
>
> I have now ordered the book from Amazon and look forward to reading it when it arrives next week!!
> Thank you for leading me to such an inspiring and important document!
>
> Thank you for your inspiration and important work.
>
> Respectfully
>
> Nick Laws
> Sent from my iPhoneFrom: Nick Laws
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 5:20 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Continuing to search!
http://weihsien-paintings.org/TheGroup/messages/2018-11/2018-11.htmhttp://weihsien-paintings.org/TheGroup/messages/2017-05/2017-05.htm
Dear Leopold,
I have contacted the group previously, but wanted to check once more if there might be any record to be found of my Grandfather, Albert ‘Jimmy’ Laws who was in the camp.
He had been working for British American Tobacco when he was interned and had previously been living and working in Harbin, Manchuria.
My Father was also born in Harbin in 1928 but from an early age ( I believe after the Japanese had invaded Manchuria?) had been left with his Grandparents back in England while my Grandfather and Grandmother returned to China after their ‘leave’. My Grandmother escaped internment via Canada and then the USA. She returned to the UK in the war by convoy (1943 or 1944?) My Grandfather returned after the war by ship to Liverpool.
How I wish I had asked more questions about their experiences in my youth!!!
I would be grateful if you could shed any light on a record of my Grandfather. My Grandfather kept his camp stool, which I still have in my possession and there are some short Red Cross telegrams between my Grandparents.
My Father met my Mother after the was as a result of meeting each other from an introduction by a Russian lady in London who had also been interned in the camp!
My Father asked my Mother to marry him two days after they met in London!! Three months later she flew out to Assam to marry him where he was working as a Manager on a Tea plantation for the Jorehaut Tea Company!
I knew the Russian Lady as ‘Claudia Howard Ford’ I believe she was married either in the camp, or shortly before internment, to an American…but the marriage did not last.
Again, more stories and history I would have loved to have know and talked about.
I would be grateful if you could help to shed any light on my Grandfather ( or by chance Claudia Howard Ford) She died in London, and from my memory had no immediate family.
I recently obtained the Norman Cliff book ‘Courtyard of the happy way’ which was very enlightening,
I will try to apply the inspiring words of ‘WEIHSIEN - THE TEST’ to my own life!! ( courtesy of H Hubbard)
With respect to you, and thanks for all your work to preserve memoroes.
Nick Laws
From: Paul Hastings
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 12:00 AM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: FW: Christian testimony from Weihsien experience?
Thank you for sending the response from Maida Harris Campbell.
If anyone else replies and would be willing to be interviewed for my podcast, please let me know.
Thanks!
-Paul Hastings | Host/Producer
From: Roy Campbell
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 3:34 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Christian testimony from Weihsien experience?
I would like to correct re church services I don’t know about Catholic service but we did have Protestant services in the large building near the gate.
We had many concerts and activities in that building.
For smaller gatherings like our schools we used bedrooms.
We were part of the Chefoo schools with a British curriculum From 1942 to 1945 our teachers used old Oxford exams which were all accepted by Oxford after the war.
The class above us were writing the exams as we were being liberated!!!
I found going in to high school in Toronto I was at par or above except we had no labs for science and I had started Latin at age 10 I was 15 when we were liberated
Maida Harris Campbell
Sent from my iPadFrom: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2024 2:28 PM
To: 'Paul Hastings'
Subject: RE: Christian testimony from Weihsien experience?
Dear Mr. Hastings,
… the best I can do to help you, is to forward your message to our “Weihsien-Group”. Any person interested will be free to contact you personally.
At the bottom of almost each page of our website is a “disclaimer” to respect the opinions of all. This website relates “facts”. Only — facts.
No politics.
No Religion.
However (…)
On the Weihsien-Paintings’ Home page, there is a link to a summary I built as a *.pdf with excerpts from all the books written about Weihsien in the years after our imprisonment. A summary organised in “chapters” — and one chapter is about: “religion” → go to page 348.
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/books/Weihsien/Weihsien-02.pdf
My mother told me, long after the war, that “they” told us, not to give too much love to our children because, in times of war and uncertainty, you never knew what could happen. I was two years old and Janette was five.
Who is “they”?
I never asked, I must admit.
We were indeed scheduled to be killed:
http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/Formosa/taiwandocs.html
Anyway, the camp was never organized neither by the priests nor by the ministers or any other religion. The Japs respected the beliefs of others and all were free to worship their own way. Those who had no religion were respected just as anyone else.
The Camp was organised by competent people such as engineers, doctors, bankers and they were elected by the camp population. Periodically.
In my résumé ― or summary as you say in English ― you must also read about our Camp organisation. Weihsien was a “Democracy” almost a (…) “Utopia” providing we had enough food to eat, no high brick walls and electrified barbed wires around us, no machine guns and search lights, no Japanese guards … no war …
Just look at the beautiful paintings on the website → the Weihsien compound could have been a holiday resort !!
Best regards,
Leopold
From: Paul Hastings
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2024 3:58 PM
To: Leopold Pander
Hello Leopold!
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2024 3:58 PM
To: Leopold Pander
Subject: Christian testimony from Weihsien experience?
Hello Leopold!
My name is Paul Hastings. I'm the host of the Compelled Podcast, a Christian testimony podcast. A few of our guests include:
• Gracia Burnham: a missionary to the Philippines who was kidnapped by terrorists and held hostage in the jungles for over a year, but was convicted that God wanted her to forgive her captors.
• Steve Richardson: he and his parents sailed to New Guinea and moved in with a Stone Age tribe of head-hunting cannibals to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
I have been familiar with Eric Liddell's story for many years (as a child), but only recently have I come across your Weihsien Paintings website. It's very well done and extremely informative.
I never realized that such a large number of the prisoners in the camp were missionariees.
I know you were only 4-years-old when you left the internment camp, but do you think that you, or any other survivors today would be willing and able to share their experiences in the internment camp from a Christian perspective? In particular, stories of remaining faithful in their devotion to Christ, even in the midst of hardship? (and of course, stories about day-to-day living, the rescue, the return, dealing with the emotional aftermath, etc.)
I record all of our interviews face-to-face, so preferably it would be someone in America. (but if you think the only reasonable candidates live elsewhere, then perhaps I can make longtem arrangements for a future trip)
Thank you!
-Paul Hastings | Host/Producer
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2024 11:37 AM
To: 'Leopold PANDER'
Subject: FW: Weihsien 1945
August 17, 1945 …
Sure (…) I remember, a beautiful sunny day. I was 6 years old and off, for a stroll on my little girl trip around Weihsien when suddenly all went absolutely crazy and all those adults — yelling and crying and laughing, the kids too, of course, quite unbelievable and very panicky.
So I spent all that time indoors with Zandy Strangman’s mother who lived next door to us in block 22, an adorable lady who quietened me down saying, « far too much noise, let’s wait a little bit … »
Then, the war was over, we were liberated and Weihsien was left to itself. The years passed slowly (…). Some of us wrote books, some of us visited.
Until Leopold’s wonderful idea of collecting all we remembered of our past lives in Weihsien into a big “blog” on the Internet.
So, thank you ALL for that precious time capsule, with a special thought towards the youngest → ( Angela, Leopold, Christine, Michael …) of us still left, who so greatly wanted to « KNOW MORE », and to Jacqueline de Saint Hubert who knew it all !
Janette
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2024 8:41 AM
To: 'Leopold PANDER'
Subject: FW: Happy Liberation Day
Dear Carinne,
Thanks for your kind message and my respectful regards to Madame de Saint-Hubert (...) my mother remembered so well. She, (my mother) often mentioned Jacqueline in her — so few — conversations about Weihsien.
Forwarded by:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org
Best regards,
Leopold
From: Carinne Cunningham
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2024 4:07 AM
To: Leopold PANDER
Cc: Roy Campbell
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day
Hello Leopold, fellow Weihsien internees, their family members and descendants,
When I woke up my mother, Solange Jacqueline Binda MacLean, née de Saint Hubert, this morning and said it was August 17th, she immediately told me she had goosebumps remembering that great day 79 years ago.
Solange Jacqueline, now 102 1/2, vividly shared with me and my daughter how everyone knew the sounds of the plane overhead were not Japanese but something marvelous and beautiful and she clearly remembers everyone running to the gates to greet the American parachuters who would confirm the War was over, the Japanese had surrendered and they were liberated. She remembers supplies being dropped shortly after that included chocolates, condensed milk..., but the best news was liberation and the knowledge of their lives now rebeginning after years of interment.
My mother has never forgotten the most important lesson learned in the Camp.
The power of resilience and determination to overcome any adversity. To this day she remembers the collective community of internees and how collectively they worked together to make life in the Camp mostly tolerable...including, but probably forgetting many, the Priests (thou maybe some of them used the black cloak of priesthood to make deals with Chinese locals for eggs,...) the steadfast and devout Nuns, the teachers, those supporting scouting for the young boys, the sports, those working on performing revues (which Jacqueline was very involved in), the art classes ......
She describes Camp life by their second year as a well managed collective of European, American, Australian, Canadian educators and volunteers in making Camp life seem normal between the Japanese twice daily roll calls and the endless food shortages.
The more I understand of those years the more I recognize it was that great generation that would work together no matter the challenge and carry their values and strengths to a new generation.
Definitely, happy Liberation day
Hats off to you always, Leopold for keeping us all connected.
I am so very grateful for your work!
Carinne, daughter of Solange Jacqueline de Saint Hubert
From: Sancton
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 6:01 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day
Thank you, Leopold for this reminder.
Funny when I was growing up my family never celebrated 'liberation' day date. It is only in very recent times that we have time to relect and remember.
Oddly, this morning while reading some news feed, up came an aerial picture of the end of the Great Wall at Shanhaikwan.
This is where my father was stationed with his regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Scots, 1928-30.
It seems appropriate to see this today with this anniversary, tying together two parts of my history.
Thanks again to you, Leopold, for this important reminder.
I now have my sister, Gay Talbot Stratford's autograph book. I hope to find some interesting entries from the Weihsien days and immediately afterwards.
Blessings
Christine
From: Mitch
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 4:43 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Cc: Roy Campbell
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day
Bravo to all who survived to tell the story. As an observer I am grateful for Leopold’s hard work on this site and to all who have contributed.
Thank you.
Mitch Krayton
Mitch KraytonSmall Ship Cruising Expert
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From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 4:32 PM
To: 'Roy Campbell'
Subject: RE: Happy Liberation Day
Forwarded byhttp://www.weihsien-paintings.org
… quite right: “79”. I must have added my age in 1945 ! (…) my mistake.
Best regards,
Leopold
From: Roy Campbell
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 4:09 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Sent from my iPadSent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 4:09 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day
Correction it is is 79 years today
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 2:12 PM
To: 'Brian Kerry'
Subject: RE: Happy Liberation Day
Hello Brian,
😊 quite right → seventy-nine years ago !! (…)
My mistake ― at 08:30 in the morning.
I must have still been half asleep !
Next year will be a “round” figure.
… all the best from sunny Belgium,
Leopold
From: Brian Kerry
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 1:47 PM
To: Leopold PANDER
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day
Good morning Leopold,
Happy Anniversary! I think it is 79 years, I was 12 years old then.
Keep well, and best wishes,
Brian
From: Angela
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 8:41 AM
To: Leopold Pander
Subject: Re: Happy Liberation Day** a day of much rejoicing !
Thank you Leopold for the reminder!
It finally happened
the long awaited day!
I almost forgot & so glad you have
sent this message!
Certain Janette & you recall that day!
Alas I do not! However - Maida had me with her
& rushed with the crowd to the open gate.
What a joyous
day for all!
cheers angela
From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2024 8:30 AM
To: weihsien@proximus.be
Subject: Happy Liberation Day
08 :30 A.M. (CET)
Happy Liberation Day 😊
Remember …
… eighty-four years ago …
Leopold
#