Subject: RE: new chapter

Dear Christine,

As for the website, it was quite amusing to find all those newspaper clips. I would have liked to have excerpts from Chinese newspapers too but the best I could find was in the Princeton University database. I wrote and even got an answer and they kindly told me that (…) as I was not one of their students, I had no access to their precious database.
I’m blocked.
https://libguides.princeton.edu/az/proquest-historical-newspapers-chinese-newspapers-collection-1832-1953

… as this message goes on the website, maybe somebody can help?
All I did was to make a simple search on the word: “weihsien” (…) and was astonished by all I got especially in the US newspapers and disappointed about the almost nonexistence of “weihsien” in the French-speaking newspapers.
Maybe our Chinese friends of the Weihsien-Museum can help to access old Chinese newspapers with “weihsien” in the text (in English or in French)?

… all the best,
Leopold

Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 11:52 AM
To: 'master.shipwright'
Cc: gregleck@epix.net

Subject: RE: Civilian prisoners held by the Japanese Singapore.

Dear Allan,

Thanks for contacting us.
I am just an ex-prisoner of Weihsien and still a baby in 1943 when we first entered the “Weihsien Concentration Camp” in WWII. More than 80 years have passed since.
May I suggest you send a message to a competent historian such as Greg Leck who wrote a fantastic book about the subject: [click here]

… I shall also forward your message to him. Maybe, he can tell you more about Sime Rd. Changi.
Good luck in your researches …

Best regards,
Leopold

From: master.shipwright
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2025 6:38 PM
To: weihsien@proximus.be

Subject: Civilian prisoners held by the Japanese Singapore.

Hi.

I have been trying to find my grandfather's record of interment in Singapore.

Hubert de Burgh Williams
Born, 7th July 1889 London.
Married to Catherine Nora Williams (nee Coventry) circa 1924 Kuala Lumpur.

Working as a rubber planter. Siliau, Negri Sembilan. F. M. S.
His wife Catherine escaped back to the UK. Hubert was rounded up in Singapore and imprisoned I believe in Sime Rd. Changi.
Hubert survived the war and on being released was repatriated to the UK. Dying two years later through complications.
I have tried the Records Office Kew, to no avail.
Hubert may have been in the local militia with his military background from the 1st war.

Beyond the above I have virtually no knowledge of his time as a prisoner.
Any help or advice would be appreciated

Regards,
Alan Williams.

Sent from my Galaxy

From: Christine Sancton
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2025 12:38 AM
To: Leopold PANDER

Subject: Re: new chapter

Very interesting, Leopold. though I haven't studied them fully.
Thank you for sharing.
I hope all is going well in Belgium for you all.
Love Christine

From: Brian Kerry
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 7:12 PM
To: Leopold PANDER

Subject: Re: new chapter

Dear Leopold, and all other ex-Weihsieners

Leopold, you are amazing! Thank you so much for your dedication to maintaining this fantastic resource, and for continuing to find ways to expand if even further.
With my unending gratitude, and my best wishes to you all for health and happiness.

Brian

From: Leopold PANDER
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 2:50 PM
To: 'Leopold PANDER'

Subject: new chapter

Dear ex-weihsien friends 😊,

There is a new chapter to explore on our Weihsien-paintings’ website:
GoTo:
https://www.weihsien-paintings.org/NewsPapers/USA/USA_1941.php

The “pictogram” is on the Home Page → a little boy selling newspapers ! (scroll to the bottom of the page)
I searched the French newspaper archives for the word: “weihsien” → didn’t find anything in the timeline between 1943 and 1950!
Same thing for the Belgian newspapers ! Did they even know that there was a war going on, on the other side of the planet?
Had a look at the English-speaking newspapers and found quite a bit !! and isolated a few of them for you to read.
Got a little help from A.I. too 😊
… hope the layout is OK ?

Enjoy
Best regards,
Leopold

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