Re: deletion

Feb 25, 2002 14:38 PST

Hello everyone,

I am Christine Sancton (née Talbot). My parents, Sid & Ida Talbot and children, Gay, Peter and I (Christine) were taken into Weihsien Camp in March 1943 by train from Chinwangtao with many other Kailin Mining Company employees. I was 7 months old at the time.

Our first home was in Block 6 and had two rooms as we were a family of five. This was near the ball field. My father was a baker in the No. 3 kitchen where my mother peeled vegetables. Our neighbours were: Wallises, Dreggs, Jonses, Carters, Barnes, Marshes and the Simmies. For 15 months we shared accommodation with Marie and(Dr)Robbie Robinson and their two children.

My family was lucky to have been kept together all through those years in Weihsien but there was a real threat of the men being sent away to other harsher camps.

It is incredible to think that we, in a prisoner of war camp in China under the control of the Japanese, could have letters from the outside world. Especially surprising were those from my uncle Arthur Jones in Stalag VIII B, a German prisoner of War Camp through the good auspices of the Red Cross.

I have enjoyed reading other people's memories on this site not having many of my own. I have some Camp photos that I received from David Michell. By the way, does anyone know what has happened to David?

We do have some family memorabilia. Ida was involved in some black marketing as she could speak Chinese. Perhaps many people were similarly involved.

I am interested in purchasing copies of the painting by Gertrude Wilder and also the excerpt from George Wilder's diary about his time in Camp. Please can someone let me know how to do this.

I look forward to hearing from some of you. I am looking for the family of Percy and Emma Allen, as Kay is a contemporary of mine.

Sincerely, Christine Talbot Sancton

Re: Hello Weihsien List

Feb 25, 2002 20:43 PST

Dear Christine. My name is Joyce Cooke. My family and I were amongst the first batch of people to go into WeiHsien in 1942 and did all the cleaning up for you folks !! I was born in 1928 and I clearly remember block 6 and your sister Gay. The Wallis', Dreggs and Carters I also knew well. I am in contact with Marjorie Wallis who lives in New Zealand. ( I recently sold her my book which deals with WeiHsien Camp life from start to finish) I remember your parents well and also Kathleen Carter who was one of my best friends in camp. Where is she now? Alfie Dreggs and his wife live in Queensland Australia but I have not seen them for about 3 years. I remember Dr Robinson who looked after inmates in the camp. I think David Michell lives in England now. My father was in kitchen No 1 as a cook. He was also a blackmarketeer. My job when I turned 14 was cleaning out toilets in the camp near the showers. As a matter of fact there is a number of books written about the camp. I can give you details of some of them if you wish. My husband and I are leaving for Singapore on 28 February and will not return to Sydney, Australia where we live, until 12 March 2002. Welcome to Topica. Joyce Bradbury, nee Cooke.

greetings

Feb 28, 2002 07:28 PST

Christine Sancton , my sister, has given a small family profile. She is an enthusiastic peruser of the internet, and we rely on her to dig for linkages.
Thank you, Joyce Cooke for the cleaning you did on our behalf. I sometimes feel that it was people like you, who worked day in day out, who were the real heroes of the times. If possible, I would like a copy of your book, since my memories are sketchy at best.
with best wishes,
Gay Talbot Stratford

Weihsien List Fred & coral Dreggs

Mar 09, 2002 18:44 PST

Hi Christine and Gay.
I was absolutely surprised to read the email you both recently sent to Topica and I am sure you are equally surprised to read this message. Reading your mail certainly revived my very fond memories of Chinwangtao. Gay, you will undoubtedly remember our foursome--you, my brother Bobby who was about your age,Marjorie Wallis and myself. We often referred to ourselves as the "4 Musketeers"! We had wonderful times roller skating on the concrete area outside the Weihsien Country Club and bicycling all over the place together.Christine would obviously not remember any of this. We were doing all this during our "House Arrest" period whilst the Japs were getting the Weihsien camp ready for us. I was lucky to have been able to get to C.W.T. from Tientsin (where I was a student at the Grammar School when war broke out). Also at that time, to keep myself occupied, I was taught shorthand and typing by your mother. She must have done a good job because I can still type using all my fingers.
Getting to Weihsien was also a great adventure for all of us. When I had finished with schooling at the camp one of my jobs was at the bakery. Your father was the leader of one of the bakery teams and I was in his team together with Ken Marshall, Tony Lambert and someone else whose name I have forgotten. We always maintained that "Sid Talbot's Team made the best bread in camp!!"
Ken lives in Canberra and we have kept in touch all these years.In fact I will be sending him copies of these emails. Would there be anyone reading this who may know the address of Tony Lambertand his half-brother Desmond Power? We shared a flat in London between 1946-1948 but have lost complete touch with one another.Incidentally, would you by any chance have photos of camp which may depict our lifestyle there? I would be most interested to have copies of anything you may have as I have nothing whatsoever except memories.There is a lot more I can talk about but I will end now and hopefully we can keep communicating with one another in the near future. My wife Coral and I live at the Sunshine Coast(about 80 Km north of Brisbane, ) our address is:
                                                             16 Ramsay Cres.
                                                              Pelican Waters
                                                              Qld. 4551
Kind regards,
Alfie(Everybody now calls me "Fred" )

Continuing my email today's date to Christine and Gay

Fred & coral Dreggs

Mar 09, 2002 20:45 PST

I forgot to mention that, if you have not already read it, there is a book out called "The Mushroom Years" by Pamela Masters which mentions a lot about Weihsien and Chinwangtao. When we lived there we knew her as Bobbie Simmons and her older sister Ursula. Her father worked for the Kailan Mining Administration. Joyce Cooke (Now Bradbury) has also written a book about her experiences but I haven't yet read it. I am about to order a copy for myself.

Regards, again

Alfie/Fred

Re: Weihsien List

http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm

Mar 09, 2002 23:22 PST

I think that Desmond Power lives in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I'll try to obtain his address for you. He's written a book about his 'growing up years' I believe
Sincerely,
David Birch
Formerly of Chefoo and Weihsien

Re: Weihsien List

Ben and Jo Crick

Mar 10, 2002 17:15 PST

On Sun 10 Mar 2002 (12:43:28), dre-@powerup.com.au wrote:

Would there be anyone reading this who may know the address of Tony Lambert and his half-brother Desmond Power?
Tony Lambert was a British diplomat in Beijing and Tokyo, and then became Director of China Research for OMF International. You can surely obtain his whereabouts from OMF HQ.
Ben and Jo
--
Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick
<ben.c-@argonet.co.uk>;
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)

Re: Weihsien List

Mar 11, 2002 21:33 PST

I have just returned from visiting my son in Singapore and notice several people want Desmond Power's address. He is contactable by Email and lives in West Vancouver. His Email is desp-@shaw.ca. I keep in touch with him ever since he bought my book a year or so ago. He may have Tony Lambert's address. Regards Joyce Bradbury nee Cooke

Re: Weihsien List

Mar 16, 2002 16:12 PST

Due to a storm, we have been out of touch. Thank you for your welcome. Your mother taught me all the Russian I know . I have always been grateful to her. I do not have many memories to contribute to Chinwangtao, only the memory of you singing: 'I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls.." Sid died two years after the war, and Ida more than twenty years ago. Christine , Peter, and I all married Canadians, happily settled, Christine in New Brunswick, and Peter and I in Ontario. Trust you and yours are well. Gay

Re: Weihsien List

David Allen

Mar 17, 2002 13:22 PST

From: Dave Allen dan-@fidalgo.net
    To: Ex Internees Fred & coral Dreggs
    Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2002 3:43 PM
    Subject: Weihsien List & Desmond Power's address

         Desmond Power? We shared a flat in London between 1946-1948 but have lost complete touch with one another. Incidentally, would you by any chance have photos of camp which may depict our lifestyle there?
         Sorry I didn't know you in the camp but I lived in Block 24 (the Bell tower)
          I contacted Desmond Power 2 year ago at 1582 Rena Crescent, West Vancouver, B.C. Canada V7V 2Z4 I obtained a list of 218 names of those in Weihsien. There have been some that have deceased since then. I noticed that David Birch had corresponded with you earlier. I met with Dave here in Mount Vernon, Washington last year at the Tulip festival with his wife and we had a great time telling about escapades we had been in. We took of from Chefoo one morning hopped over the wall and headed up Eve's Knob. It was a really hot day and we were looking for Gold. This was in 1942 and I was 8 years of age. We of course didn't find the gold that other kids said was hidden up there. For punishment we were put in solitary confinement for 24 hours in a closet. But that was fine with me. I didn't need anyone hollering at me..
          I hope this gets you in touch with Desmond.    Cheers.
          Dave and Dorothy Allen           dan-@fidalgo.net

FW: Weihsien photographs

Mar 18, 2002 08:04 PST

-----Original Message-----
From: sancton [mailto:sanc-@nbnet.nb.ca]
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 11:59 AM
To: wei-@topica.com
Subject: Weihsien photographs

Dear Natasha: I will try to improve the quality of the scanning of the Weihsien photos for you. I wonder if anybody else would like to see the photos that I have? I can send them by attached file.

Years ago, David Michell sent me 21 photos, quite a few are of Chefoo children. Others are from my mother's collection. Surprisingly, 7 of hers were exactly the same as David's. I wonder who the source of these was?
Anyone know?
It has been very gratifying to read stories from other ex-Weihsieners, some of whom knew my family. After all these years, it is nice to make contact.
Anybody know what happened to Father Scanlon, the Trappist monk. I wonder how he settled down to his contemplative life again after the time spent in Camp. He was involved in some of the Black Marketing too, I believe.
Blessings, Christine Talbot Sancton

Re: FW: Weihsien photographs

jim bryant

Mar 18, 2002 11:33 PST

hi im emily bryant, used to be pederson when I was in the camp at weihsien. if you can send an attachment to my husbands email, I would love it. thanks

Re: Weihsien photographs

gordon

Mar 18, 2002 19:03 PST

Hi

I'm Gordon Buist and I was very young during the Weihsien years. I would be so grateful for a copy of your photos.
Regards
Gordon

Re: FW: Weihsien photographs

Mar 18, 2002 19:17 PST

I'd love to see your photographs. Please attach them and forward to me.
Mary Taylor Previte

Re: Weihsien photographs

Mar 18, 2002 22:12 PST

Dear Christine. When you read my book you will see I mention Father Scanlan quite extensively. There is also a photo of him in his later years, actually taken on his 100th birthday in California. Page 48. He died not so long ago at the age of 102 or 103
His autobiography is mentioned in page 96 of my book. I have a Photostat copy of it but it is otherwise unprocurable. Regards Joyce Bradbury.
He died in California

Re: Weihsien photographs

Mar 19, 2002 07:27 PST

I too would dearly like to see the photos. Please send them to me. Thanks
so much, Alison Martin Holmes

Re:Re: Weihsien photographs

tt-@juno.com

Mar 19, 2002 07:59 PST

If possible, please include me when sending the photographs. My mother, Myrtle Granger (nee Sharp) and her sister, Isabell Gregoire (nee Sharp)would love to see them.
Thank you very much.
Theresa Granger

Re:Re: Weihsien photographs

tt-@juno.com

Mar 19, 2002 07:59 PST

Here's a message I sent today to the CBI Internet Message board

Mar 19, 2002 22:14 PST

Hello, all you China-Burma-India heroes:

    Tenth graders in New Jersey's Cherry Hill High School West sat spellbound today as I told them the story of six CBI heroes who liberated the Weihsien Concentration Camp (and me) in China in 1945. The teenagers wanted to touch my souvenir piece of parachute silk, embroidered with the rescue scene and autographed by my CBI heroes in August 1945. Can you believe such a treasure!
    The power of this story rivets children and teenagers every time I tell it. And I tell it often, often, often.
    I love telling this story. Kids LOVE to hear it. They go home and tell it all over again at their supper tables. These days I always take along copies of the names and addresses of my CBI heroes who liberatted the camp and ask the students to write letters to these World War II heroes to tell them what the students think. Talk about spreading happiness all around!
My heroes love getting the letters and the Valentines cards. And the kids love getting letters back.
     Thank you -- each one of you -- for giving freedom to the world.
    Mary Taylor Previte

Re: Here's a message I sent today to the CBI Internet Message board

gordon

Mar 20, 2002 05:58 PST

Hi from Gordon Buist

I was a very small child when I was in Weishien and can remember almost nothing other that what I have been told. Unfortunately my parents May and Fred Buist didn't talk a lot about the camp so I have been left with a thirsty appetite for information.
I don't suppose that you have written down the text of the lecture that you enthral these kids with ? If so is there any chance that you could forward a copy to me and I am quite sure to many of the others who were in Weishien. I would love to attend one of your talks myself but as I now live in Thailand it would be a rather long way to commute !
I look forward to hearing from yu.
Gordon

hi!

Mar 20, 2002 06:38 PST

Dear Gordon: I too have no actual memories of Camp. Just what I heard my family talk about and some of my mother's notes. Were you born in Camp? I know there were naturally quite a few births in those 3 years of Camp.
My father, Sid, died in 1948 in China. Both Sid and Ida went back to work for the KMA after liberation. My mother, Peter and I left China for England late 1948. Gay had left China in 1946 to finish her schooling in the UK. My mother always felt that the things she had learnt to do in Camp like cleaning, washing, baking, budgeting etc all helped her in her new life as a widow in post war England. She had been brought up in China, and always had had servants. Actually she turned out to be a great cook!
Now we are all in Canada as Gay has already said.
How long have you been in Thailand? Are you in touch with any other ex Weihsieners?
I haven't forgotten about the photos. I will a few at a time as I may jam up people's computers otherwise.
Will be in touch. Christine

Re: Here's a message I sent today to the CBI Internet Message board

Frank Otto

Mar 20, 2002 11:46 PST

Mary,
Thanks for the info.
Frank
WW2 Navy Net

Grace Hope-Gill

lauraho-@aol.com

Mar 20, 2002 12:05 PST

Dear Weishien List Members,

My name is Laura Hope-Gill. My grandparents, Grace and Donald Hope-Gill, were interned from 42-45 with my father, Herbert, and uncle, Charles. I have only recently found success in my search for information, and what a pleasure it is to find you all here. I'm almost breathless as I read your words. I am planning to visit Weishien this summer. If you have been there, I would love advice on lodging and any reports you might share.
Granny (Grace) only spoke of the camp during her final year, 1989, when a brain tumor seemed to lift the censor that had kept her memories silent. Up to that point, whenever I asked her questions she replied that I should focus on being happy and clean (she was a consummate hand washer. . .). During her final year, I sat with her for hours listening and recording her stories on tape. She was only 25 at the time of liberation, and very ill. I also understand that she and Donald fought so much and so loudly that the Japanese conceded to giving the family two rooms instead of just one. It must have been awful. Their marriage never recovered, although they divorced and remarried several times following until Donald's death in 1975. I was very close to Granny, and have long believed that if she could survive as she did, it would take an awful lot to bring me down, and this has proven true. She is an inspiration to me. If you knew her, please tell me about her.
Grand-dad was a physician in the camp, and he fixed Desmond Power's dislocated shoulder. My father, whom you might remember as a little 2-5 year old, followed in his footsteps as a physician. I would be interested to know how other camp-children adjusted to life after the liberation. I have so many questions, and can also offer my grandmother's memories which have become my own through our closeness.
There were many kindnesses bestowed upon her by her friends in the camp.
On her behalf, allow me to thank you for them.

My best regards to all of you,
Laura

Jews in China

Mar 20, 2002 12:39 PST

Hello again--
I have a letter written by my grandfather from Tientsin prior to capture. In it he mentions three German Jews who were residing with him and Grace. I am very curious to know who they were, and how they came to China. It would be a dream to meet them and their families. Were there many German Jews in the Chinese cities?
Sincerely,
Laura Hope-Gill
Christ School
Arden, North Carolina

Re: Jews in China

Mar 20, 2002 18:01 PST

Kaifeng in Honan province had an enclave of Jews. When our family last visited Kaifeng (the city where I was born) in the 1980s, the Jews had been indistinguishably absorbed into the Chinese population.

Mary Previte

Re: hi!

gordon

Mar 20, 2002 21:10 PST

Hi Christine

Thanks for coming back so quickly. I will wait with bated breath for the first instalment of the photos.
I was 9 months old when we went into the camp. Mr father and mother, May and Fred Buist, were Salvation Army missionaries and the whole family - mum, dad my sisters Kath (6yrs old), my sister Beryl (3 yrs old, and little me - were all together for the duration. I have only vague memories of life in Weishien although a few years ago I went to a reunion in England and saw several photos of the camp, and I was so pleased to see that my memories were actually true and not just imagined. I can remember the wall and the ditch outside. I also remember the tower that the Japs lived in and their dogs, which I imagine to be Alsatians (can anybody confirm that?). I still have a scar on my chin which I managed to get when we kids were out collecting frogs. I was holding a tin can to put them in when my sister Kath slipped and fell onto me. I managed to stick my chin into the jagged edge of the tin can. My war wound !!!!!
We returned to England after the was and moved almost every year to different Corps (churches) where my dad was the Officer (vicar). When I was 12yr old we were sent off to the Philippines where my dad ended up running the Salvation Army work for several years. He had so many stories to tell about his time out there but almost never told spoke of his time in China.
In fact a year or two after our return to the UK he had a nervous breakdown (as a result of the Japs) and spent almost a full year in hospital.
Thankfully he made a full recovery and had absolutely no lasting effects of the mental illness.
He was a great guy. He was up to every trick under the sun to make money for the Salvation Army work. For example - when we were in the Philippines the government suddenly came out with a new law forbidding the export of any money at all out of the country. This left hundreds of immensely rich Americans stuck in the Philippines for life as all their money was in the country. The exchange rate was two pesos to the US dollar, but on the black market you could get five to one. The money to run the Salvation Army each year in the Philippines was sent every year from New York. I have no idea how much it was but it was in the millions. So my dad contacted a multi millionaire in Cebu City and suggested a deal. If he put one million dollars into a New York bank would the guy give him five million pesos is Manila. Of course the guy jumped at the chance so my dad had a second uniform made - absolutely huge. He arranged for the transfer of the money from the Salvation Army account in New York directly into the guy's account in New York and then flew from Manila to Cebu wearing his normal Salvation Army uniform and carrying his fat mans uniform in his suitcase. The American had already made a complete body suit of pockets stuffed with 5 million pesos in cash which my dad put on, rather like a policeman’s bullet proof vest. He then put on the 'fat' uniform and, accompanied by two armed guards, flew home to Manila. Although my dad admitted that he was acting illegally he said "I really don't care. With this extra 3 million pesos I can build orphanages, hospitals etc".
When we were in the camp - emaciated from the small amount of food which we were allowed - my dad used to climb the outside of the tower that the Japs used to sleep in. He would climb onto the roof, in a hole and quietly wring the necks of a pigeon or two. He would then drop them over the side to my mother who caught them in he apron. I am still amazed that he would risk so much to feed us kids.
There was one Jap who took a liking to me. Apparently he was homesick and had a son back in Japan of my age. I can remember him taking me into the tower and showing me his sword and also letting me play with his dog. One day he gave me two eggs. Now - remember that I had never seen an egg before and I was probably not yet three years old. I took the eggs back to out room and when my mum saw me she was so excited that I threw them onto the floor and ran over for a cuddle. My mum told me that she scraped them off the ground, complete with the earth and dust and cooked them anyway.
My dad was into the black market as well whilst we were in the camp. If anybody wanted something special they would give him the money or a piece of jewellery, etc., and dad would push it up his nose with a written note saying what was to be delivered. When the Chinese rubbish collectors turned up at the Camp my dad would be there waiting for them - along with the Jap guards.
He would catch the eye of the bin man who was into the scheme and then, under the eye of the jap guard, he would put one finger to his nostril and blow hard. Of course the money and note would spray out into the bin(along with other disgusting things!) and the guard would always look away - disgusted. The bin man then picked up the bin and left. The next time the trash men arrived the man would always put one bin in a particular place, and when it was safe dad would open the bin and inside, attached to the lid, would be the purchases. All this, of course, under the threat of terrible consequences if he was discovered.
I wonder if anybody remembers the Dutch woman who hoarded loads of goodies in her room ? At the end of it all other prisoners found loads of stuff stored - stuff which could perhaps of helped those families with starving kids. Mum used to tell the story of the time when she saw three potatoes lying in the gutter. Carefully checking that no Jap was watching she sat beside them and surreptitiously sneaked them into her pocket. Can you believe it - but this Dutch woman (who was by herself and had no kids to feed) saw what was happening and told my mother that unless she gave her two of them she would report it to the Japs. Oh well, I suppose it takes all sorts to make a world. I doubt that she is still alive - but if she is I hope that she gets to read this, and feels suitably ashamed of herself !
I am now almost 60yrs old and have spent most of my life in the UK. I have never lost the urge to wander and 18 months ago I decided to pack in the working life and come back to the far east to live. Three years ago I had originally intended to move to Malaysia but whilst on a visit there I met a wonderful Thai lady. We are now very happily married and live in Khorat, which is a fairly large town 250 kilometres north east of Bangkok. It is a wonderful place - almost no tourists, almost nobody speaks English and life is marvellous. I have not been so happy for 30 years ! I can often be found wandering through the native markets, or hiking through the mountain jungles, or taking an elephant ride along a jungle river, or just sitting under my banana tree contemplating my navel!
I would lve to hear from you again - and also from any other Weishieners who may read this letter - especially my sister Beryl who OWES ME A LETTER
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I look forward to hearing from you.
Gordon

Re: FW: Weihsien photographs

Beard

Mar 21, 2002 01:05 PST

Dear Christine,
I can't resist your kind offer to send your photos by attached file, whenever you're free to respond.
Many thanks indeed.
David Beard

Re: FW: Weihsien photographs

Mar 21, 2002 04:44 PST

Dear Christine,
I, too, would love to see the photos!
Sincerely, Laura

Re: Grace Hope-Gill

Mar 21, 2002 08:03 PST

Just read your message, and it stirred memories of my parents, Ida and Sid Talbot, talking about their gratitude for excellent care from either your grandmother(was she a nurse?) or your grand father. They were great contributors. Gay Talbot Stratford

Re: FW: Weihsien photographs - and Paintings

Mar 21, 2002 08:23 PST

Christine -- Is it possible for you to send your photos to the whole Weihsien group? I would assume that everyone would want them.
Everyone -- Many of you have sent me a check for the reproduction cost for color copies of my grandmother's set of 22 watercolors of Weihsien scenes, but some of you newcomers may not know about them. She painted them on the blank fly-leafs of Japanese propaganda booklets. I am also including a map showing where she was standing and the direction she was facing for all but two of them, and my grandfather's diary of his time in the camp. Anyone who wants them can have the whole package for the current cost of $18, which covers my costs of copying and mailing.
I'd be interested in receiving by return email any comments from those of you who have received them already.

RE: FW: Weihsien photographs - and Paintings

Mar 21, 2002 08:39 PST

Dear Donald: were you proposing that I send all the photos as attached files to this site? How do you think I should do it without locking people's systems up? There are 31 pixs so I could send a couple at a time as Jpeg files. Comments please.
Thanks Christine.
Also I can send hard copies to those who prefer.

Re: Jews in China

Mar 21, 2002 08:41 PST

The German Jews you mentioned were probably part of a large group of refugees who managed to escape from the Nazis in the 1930s, most of whom were interned in Shanghai. Some who were doctors found employment elsewhere in China. The Japanese didn't go along with Hitler's policy of extermination, and gave them sanctuary there, though the I think that the task of feeding and housing them was done by voluntary contributions from Chinese relief agencies. A friend of mine was one of these refugees (as a child.) I think that the Japanese were doing it because Jews had helped them finance the war against Russia in the 1890s, though I'm not sure. Try looking for the combination Jewish refugees shanghai" (all the words) on hotbot.com or another search engine. A good site that tells this story and other information about Jews in China is http://www.gluckman.com/ShanghaiJewsChina.html

Re: FW: Weihsien photographs - and Paintings

Mar 21, 2002 10:08 PST

Are you overwhelmed by the enthusiasm we all showing for the photographs?
If you could send hard copies I think that would be preferable....but make sure that you charge properly not just for the mailing and the printing but for the time it takes for you to satisfy all your nostalgic customers! My address is 2985 E. Sunset Butte, Prescott, AZ 86301 and I would like four sets so that I can send them to the rest of the Martin clan. Thanks again,
Alison Martin Holmes

RE: FW: Weihsien photographs - and Paintings

Ron Bridge

Mar 22, 2002 01:14 PST

Note one or two people have complained in the past about the length of time that their systems take to download pictures. I believe on request is the best solution unless Toica can put them on the file for people to extract.
Also has the site enough space for all that.
Rgds
Ron

RE: FW: Weihsien photographs - and Paintings

http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/sancton/

Mar 22, 2002 11:04 PST

I just thought that you could send one or two at a time, but send them to Weih-@topica.com and they would go to everyone.

RE: Weihsien photographs

Thompson

Mar 22, 2002 18:20 PST

Dear CTS,

We are all drooling at the prospect of seeing some new pictures of Weihsien.

1. Even my 56 k dial-up modem can download 400 - 500K in about 2 minutes without making me too uncomfortable. As Ron suggests, this would be about 2 snapshot quality pictures per message, and the whole batch could be sent out within 3 weeks.

2. On the other hand, Ron's idea of borrowing space on somebody's web site for a month or two, and putting all the pictures up seems smart. Then you would just have to announce the web site's address and we would all show up and download the pictures. (Is Ofoto still in business ?).
(A permanent collection on our own web site would be very nice ! Every now and then when someone rediscovers an old photo - it could then be added to such a "Weihsien web site" !)

3. The third possibility is for us each to cough up the cost of well made prints (a la Menzi) ( eg, archival ink-jet 8X10 prints on good quality heavy-weight matte paper would be good !)

4. I hope that someday you will be able to get publication-quality scans (10 - 20 MB, unfiddled) of each picture to Mary's collection, because someday we ought to have an Album of Weihsien Images (with worthwhile legends) published - especially if photos from Norman Cliff's collection can be included !
Stan Thompson

Mar 23, 2002 10:47 PST

Hi friends,

Please go to http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/sancton/ to view and download my photographs. Pages 1 and 2 show the small thumbnail copies of the photographs. Click on a thumbnail to access the larger version of a photograph. To save a photograph on your system, in Microsoft Internet Explorer you can go to the larger photograph, right-click on the photograph and then choose 'Save Picture As'.

Thank you to everyone who gave me their advice. We may be able to update the web site with higher quality BMP files at a later date.

See below for the list of photographs. As I am new to the list, I have not seen other people's collections, so I don't know if some of these are duplicates or not.

Cheers,
Christine Talbot Sancton and son Rob –

Weihsien photographs
Chefoo groups: from David Michell

1) 25 Brownies outside #13
2) Camp Band
3) Chefoo Prep School Children, David Michell back left
4) Rovers and Rangers 20 in all, outside # 13
5) 18 Rangers
6) 36 Rovers and Rangers, outside #12/13
7) Scouts and Cubs
8) 17 Cubs & Leader
9) 25 Girl Guides & 2 Leaders outside #13
10) 8 Scouts
11) 16 Scouts & Leader outside #13
12) Arrival in Tsingtao & boarding buses for Edgewater Mansions Hotel by
Chefoo students
13) Tsingtao arrival by train September 25
Others from David Michell:14) Camp Church
15) Market after end of War outside front gate
16) Girl near #18
17) Supplies being dropped Sept. 1945
18) Block 23, parachute drop
19) Block 23
20) Eric Liddell’s room (and Eric Liddell?)
21) Eric Liddell’s grave

From Ida Talbot:
22) Over looking camp from Block 23 tower
23) Over looking camp, 3 figures in foreground
24) Milling crowds
32) Ida and 4 friends 1945

From Ida Talbot/David Michell:
25) Kitchen II
26) 4 unidentified people by Camp Gate
27) Road Outside Camp
28) Searchlight Tower
29) Camp Hospital
30) Hospital and walls
31) Camp Bell War Block

Re: http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/sancton/

Mar 23, 2002 13:26 PST

These look just wonderful! And could you please send me hard copies as my printer is not up to this. Thanks so much, Alison Martin Holmes

Re: http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/sancton/

Mar 23, 2002 22:43 PST

Dear Christine. I have enjoyed looking at the photographs. How wonderful to see them. I have not studied them yet but already I recognise your mother (Ida) and four friends. Top left of course is Father Palmers, a Catholic Priest, he was Belgian. I have his autograph which says "Fr. (Initital unreadable) Palmers. To a good crusader. Weihsien. 11 X11 1943" The lady in front is the mother of the young boy top right. His name was I think Nick.
His mother was Russian and a friend of my mother Vera Cooke. I think the man with the spectacles could also be a priest - I am looking for his name in my autograph book and I will let you know if I find it. Incidentally I have just found an entry in my book from the Belgian who was the object of a girl from your mother's block's infatuation. He wrote "I count him braver who overcomes his desires then him who conquers his enemies for the hardest victory is victory over self. 2- Sept 1944, Weihsien". I have his name which I will not include here. In case Natasha Petersen is reading this, I have also just found her signature (Natalie Somoff) in my autograph book together with all the teenagers who took part in the play "Prof. Thomas And His Students" (sic). Regards. Joyce Bradbury, nee Cooke.

Re: http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/sancton/

Mar 24, 2002 14:59 PST

What wonderful memory photos! Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a gift to all of us.

The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine used a color rendering of the Block 23 photo as its cover photo when they printed my story as their cover story for the August 25, 1985, edition. An artist colored the photos. The story, "A Song of Salvation at Weihsien Prison Camp," commemorated the 40th anniversary of the ending of World War II.

Those of you with the Salvation Army connection will enjoy this exerpt from that copyrighted story:

We would win the war, of course, and when we did, we would need a Victory March. So on Tuesday evenings -- all so clandestinely, in a small room next to the shoe repair shop -- the Salvation Army band practiced a newly-created Victory Medley. It was a joyful mix of all the Allied national anthems.
Because the Japanese were suspicious of this "army" with its officers, uniforms and military regalia, the Salvation Army in China had changed its Chinese name from "Save the World Army" to "Save the World Church."

The Salvation Army had guts. Right underthe nose of the Japanese -- omitting the melodies so the authorities wouldn't recognize the tunes -- Brig. Stranks and his 15 brass instruments practiced their parts of the victory medley each week, sandwiching it between triumphant hymns of the church -- "Onward, Christian Soldiers," "Rise Up, O Men of God," and "Battle Hymn of the Republic." We would be ready for any victor -- American, English, Chinese, Russian -- or God. And victory would surely come.

(The story eventually skips to liberation day.)
Lying on my mattress in mid-morning, I heard the drone of an airplane far above the camp. Racing to the window, I watched it sweep lower, slowly lower, and then circle again. It was a giant plane, and it was emblazoned with the American star. Americans were waving at us from the windows of the plane! Beyond the treetops, its belly opened, and I gaped in wonder as giant parachutes drifted slowly to the ground.

Weihsien went mad.
Oh, glorious cure for my diarrhea! I raced for the entry gates and was swept off my fet by the pandemonium. Prisoners ran in circles and pounded the skies with their fists. They wept, cursed, hugged, danced. They cheered themselves hoarse. Wave after wave of prisoners swept me past the guards and into the fields beyond the camp.

A mile away we found them -- seven young Americans -- standing with their weapons ready, surrounded by fields of ripening broom corn

Advancing toward them came a tidal wave of prisoners, intoxicated with joy.
Free in the open fields. Ragtag, barefoot, hollow with hunger. They hoisted the paratroopers' leader onto their shoulders and carried him back toward the camp in triumph.

In the distance, from a mound by the gate, the music of "Happy Days Are Here Again" drifted out into the fields. It was the Salvation Army band blasting its joyful Victory Medley. When they got to "The Star-Spangled Banner," the crowd hushed.

O, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o'er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

From up on his throne of shoulders, the young, sun-bronzed American major struggled down to a standing salute. And up on the mound by the gate, one of the musicians in the band, a young American trombonist, crumpled to the ground and wept....#

Audiences weep when I tell this story. I always include this amazing snapshot of the Salvation Army band.

Mary Taylor Previte, a 12-year-old student in the Chefoo School in Weihsien on liberation day.

Re: FW: Weihsien photographs - and Paintings

Mar 25, 2002 22:52 PST

Dear Ron. I have just received a standard letter from the War Pensions Agency explaining they are only implementing Government policy in refusing my application for ex-gatia payment on the grounds I have not a parent or grandparent born in Uk. They state there is no legislation that allows for an appeal. It seems the only thing to be done is to put pressure on the British Government. This I am happy to do. Can you suggest how? By the way, the photo you have of the hockey team with the name E. Cooke could not have been my father because he never lived in Tientsin but it could be his brother Ernie who was drowned when a submarine torpedoed the Japanese transport conveying him and other POW's to Japan. Also you may be interested to know that Coghill, who signed my passport has a daughter aged in her seventies living in Sydney (Joan Coghill). She has two sons and one of them lives across the road from our property in the country about 200 kilometres from Sydney. His name is Ian and he is married to his mother's young cousin
and they have a little baby. Small World isnt it? Regards Joyce Bradbury.

English teachers and medical professionals for work in China

Apr 02, 2002 19:01 PST

Hello, Everybody:

    Medical Services International (MSI) needs Christian English teachers and medical professionals from around the world to serve in China. MSI says it can use more than 20 English teachers to start service in China this fall.
    MSI was founded by Dr. James Hudson Taylor (better known as Jamie Taylor in Chefoo School and Weihsien days) and by Dr. Reginald Tsang. It brings Christian medical professionals, English teachers, and agricultural specialists to underserved areas of China for both short and long term
service.
    Please spread the word. Those who are interested should contact Dr. James Taylor at   presi-@msi-professional.org

    Mary Taylor Previte

thanks!

Apr 03, 2002 05:34 PST

Dear Donald: thank you so much for the paintings of your grandmother and the commentary. I also loved the map indicating where the paintings were painted from, I was unaware of the out of bounds area, I guess I'd never thought about it.

We have a few that my mother painted, also from that period and some were of the same scenes. Perhaps because there was so little of beauty in the Camp, as Langdon Gilkey says, that the artists found beauty in the same few things.
I wonder if they could have known each other. They both painted the crepe myrtle tree for instance! Does that tree remain in flower for a long time?

In reading the diary, the only name I am familiar with is, Dr Robinson as we lived together for a long period in 1943/44 and they remained a pillar of strength for our family, when my mother went to England as a widow in 1949.

Thanks again for all the information. What is you opinion on me copying them for my brother and sister? If you don't agree I will show them to them when I see them later in the year as I know they will be very interested in them.

Ron Bridges said that there were some paintings of Camp in the Imperial War Museum in London.

Did George know Theilhard de Chardin? My mother had him for lunch in Chinwangtao in 1941, I think. He talked about finding the Peiking Man, she got his autograph too. She thought that he had given it to the Americans to take out of China. I have always been intrigued that they have never found the skull, another casualty of war, I suppose.

Thank you so much for sharing this part of your grandparents lives.
Sincerely, Christine Talbot Sancton

Re: thanks!

Apr 03, 2002 08:15 PST

Hi "sancton" (and others who may read this)

I'm glad you like the paintings. You can try copying them with a color copier, but I've found that the copies aren't as good the second time. I'd be happy to make another set if you want them. Eventually, I hope to have a web site with the map and pictures on which anyone can take a virtual "tour" of the camp, and download the pictures to print out themselves if they want to. It might be possible to convert it into a comprehensive Weihsien site, with all of the paintings, photos, maps, bibliography, etc. in one place. If I have time, I'll try to work toward that.

TIENTSIN

most-@hinet.net.au

Apr 11, 2002 02:03 PDT

        To all who came from Tientsin, Weihsien, or Saint Louis College, this is the book for you.
        "Tientsin" was written by David C. Hulme, and Australian journalist who was at the big reunion in Tientsin, and interviewed many of the attendees.
        The stories that he received were about Tientsin, Weihsien, and Saint Louis College, it is great reading, and so very many of my friends are mentioned. Hulme not only interviewed
the "foreigners" but also the Chinese pupils of S.L.C. as well as travelling around the World to interview those in Australia, England ( Lord Robert Skidelsky...an old boy !), Hong Kong, America and Canada.
        Unfortunately in the second paragraph of the acknowledgements he mentions the late Jesse Tracton. Jesse Tracton ne Trachtengaerts (not surprised he changed) was very surprised on hearing of his own demise, and assured me over dinner that he was really very well.
        The book can be ordered through the internet www.iumix.com , and depending on your denomination can be as the old fashioned paper (as I did) or to be downloaded through the internet for a reduced cost.
        It's not often that you can read about your childhood in such immediacy, and even though I was in SLC for only a fairly short time, between wars and revolutions, it was quite a thrill.

Leonard Mostaert

Old China Hands Reunion

Apr 11, 2002 06:33 PDT

Hello,
I attended the reunion in Arizona a year or so ago. Did any of you attend the early ones. I am anxious to get a list of names and addresses. I am looking for old - lost friends. One with whom I have lost touch is Joan Waller from Tsingtao. She, her sister Lila and parents were in Weihsien. I was Joan several times when she was living in New York City.. Her husband was working for Radio Liberty - was from Riga originally, and spoke several languages.
Is the latest ad. for "Tientsin" legit? Does anyone know? I have not yet tried to access the website.
Natasha

RE: Old China Hands Reunion

most-@hinet.net.au

Apr 11, 2002 23:49 PDT

          Natasha
                The Tientsin site is certainly legit, as I have received the book (in paper form).
                There is only a small mention of Tsingtao in the book section of Weihsien, as it is mainly descriptions and events on the lives of Saint Louis College boys in Tientsin. Off course, your question would have to cover SLC boys that were from Tientsin and had gone to the Weihsien Camp.
                    Leonard Mostaert
   p.s. I am certainly not getting any royalty from the book, it just sounds that way.

sorry

Apr 12, 2002 11:01 PDT

Fellow Weihsieners,
I would like to thank those of you who responded to my search for Joan Walle. Yes, I misspelled her surname.
Natasha

Visiting Weihsien

Apr 16, 2002 05:58 PDT

Dear All,

I will be going to China this summer (June-July) and will visit the school/ camp. If anyone can give me contact information for the headmaster and any kind contacts I would be deeply appreciative. Also, I would love to have directions to Weihsien, which I understand is now called Weifang. I will be teaching in a rural area near Dalian. If you know of some not-to-miss sights and places, I'd love to know about them
Sincerely,
Laura Hope-Gill (Grand-daughter of Grace and Donald)

Weihsien list

Apr 17, 2002 09:19 PDT

I have written to Mary Previte, and we have decided to send the following message.
Our Weihsien list seems to have a number of unknown e-mail addresses. Mary and I feel that it is time to delete those who are not interested in our web-site and messages.
If you wish to remain on the list, please advise me. Write to me at nata-@infi.net. I will not delete any e-mail addresses until June 1, 2002
In addition please do the following: click on your list name showing in the Topica account and input your name in the appropriate field. When posting your name will be displayed.
Best wishes to all.
Natasha

name input

Apr 17, 2002 13:00 PDT

Hello,
go to www.topica.con/lists/weihsien see whether there is a listname to click if there is click on your own e-mail address this should bring up a name field - enter your name go to bottom of page click save changes
There should be 'Read this list' giving you the archives
My Topica may be set up differently.
If someone has been able to enter his name in the appropriate field, please send e-mail with instructions.

Natasha

Re: Weihsien list

Apr 17, 2002 15:11 PDT

Dear Natasha,
Please keep my name on the list.
Laura Hope-Gill

sorry

Apr 17, 2002 16:11 PDT

Sorry; that is www.topica.com Natasha

Re: name input

Apr 17, 2002 21:55 PDT

Dear Natasha. I have not been able to access the topica list to add my name but I wish to remain subscriber.Joyce Bradbury nee Cooke.

Re: name input

Beard

Apr 18, 2002 05:00 PDT

I could access the archives, but not the List names. 'List names' wasn't clickable. I want to remain on the List. David Beard

Apr 18, 2002 05:17 PDT

I will type in your names as signed by you on the "wish to remain" list.
I have been rereading and printing out messages from the archives. It is most interesting.
To access, go to www.topica.com/lists/weihsien click on 'Read this list'
Do hope that this works. I am not a computer whiz, and ask your indulgence.
Natasha

topica

Apr 18, 2002 05:54 PDT

TOPICA site will be down this Saturday for twelve hours during the day.
Natasha

Re: list - weihsien

Apr 18, 2002 16:35 PDT

Keep me on the list please...just in case there comes a new person with a new thought! Thanks. Alison Holmes

Weihsien

Apr 18, 2002 19:20 PDT

I think we all realize that we owe a debt of gratitude to Natasha for starting this list. I would not want to lose my place on it.

Re: list - weihsien

jim bryant

Apr 18, 2002 20:58 PDT

I don't seem to find a "wish to stay on list" option.

Re: Weihsien

Apr 19, 2002 08:33 PDT

This list has been a wonderful source of connections to my grandparents' experiences in Weihsien. The fact that my grandmother's paintings are so appreciated brings me great joy. Many thanks to everyone for participating.
Keep me on the list
Donald Menzi

Art teacher.

Apr 19, 2002 11:03 PDT

Dear Zandy: It was so nice to talk to you when you called the other day from Australia.
Thanks for identifying some of the people in the photographs. If any one else knows any of the others, perhaps you could add their names to the list. Zandy mentioned that it was Ron Chew(sp?) who took those photos of the parachute drops.

Also Zandy, you mentioned having art classes in camp. Did you recognise the photo of Gertrude Wilder that Don Menzies sent you? My mother has a note saying that their art class made a presentation of a painting(or 2)to a Peter Travers Smith near the end of the war. Was he one of the art teachers?
Regards, Christine Talbot Sancton

here is my updated photo list:

Weihsien photographs updated info by Zandy Strangman Chefoo groups: from David Michell
1) 25 Brownies outside #13
2) Camp Band
3) Chefoo Prep School Children, David Michell back left
4) Rovers and Rangers 20 in all, outside # 13
5) 18 Rangers
6) 36 Rovers and Rangers, outside #12/13
7) Scouts and Cubs
8) 17 Cubs & Leader: back row, dark shirt: Ron Bridges
9) 25 Girl Guides & 2 Leaders outside #13
10) 8 Scouts: 2nd left: Lawson Barnes
11) 16 Scouts & Leader outside #13
12) Arrival in Tsingtao & boarding buses for Edgewater Mansions Hotel by Chefoo students
13) Tsingtao arrival by train September 25 Others from David Michell:14) Camp Church
15) Market after end of War outside front gate
16) Girl near #18: Bessie Atree(?sp) who lived near 17/18
17) Supplies being dropped Sept. 1945: these first plane were the Liberators photo possibly by Ron Chew
18) Block 23, parachute drop: photo possibly by Ron Chew
19) Block 23
20) Eric Liddell’s room: Gene Heubener in room he shared. (from David Michell’s book)
21) Eric Liddell’s grave

From Ida Talbot:
22) Over looking camp from Block 23 tower
23) Over looking camp, 3 figures in foreground: Ron Chew and wife Lily and Chinese cameraman’s assistant who didn’t duck out of the photo quickly enough.
24) Milling crowds
32) IdaTalbot & Fr Palmers, Mr Ouerkirk, Mrs Ore and son Nicholas who was one of the stokers of the fires in the hospital kitchen with Zandy Strangman 1945

From Ida Talbot/David Michell:
25) Kitchen II (or is it kitchen 1?) and Lily Chew
26) 4 unidentified people by Camp Gate: Lily Chew and daughter with 2 others.
27) Road Outside Camp
28) Searchlight Tower
29) Camp Hospital
30) Hospital and walls
31) Camp Bell War Block

Weihsien names and e-mail addresses

Apr 19, 2002 11:44 PDT

As soon as I get all the "keep me on the list" requests, I will try to send all the e-mail addresses and the names that go with them. I believe that I can copy e-mail addresses and just add the names to each. Give me time.
At present, I am able to get the e-mail address of the person sending the e-mail, if I print out the message. See whether that works for you.
Natasha

Re: Art teacher.

Apr 19, 2002 20:54 PDT

Dear Christine. Yes,Peter Travers Smith was the art teacher. My brother Eddie Cooke has one of his paintings. Joyce Bradbury.

(no subject)

Bobbie

Apr 20, 2002 19:46 PDT

Dear Natasha

My computer has been playing up(which realy means I.m not toogood at getting it right) please keep my name on the list. Thanks Bobbie Backhouse (nee Bridger)

Re: Weihsien list

Apr 21, 2002 15:06 PDT

Hello, Natasha,

Yes, I definitely want to remain on the TOPICA WEIHSIEN list. Thank you SO much for this world-spanning gift you've given to all of us.
Mary Taylor Previte

Jim Hannon's manuscript about Amelia Earhart and Weihsien

Apr 21, 2002 18:10 PDT

Hello, Everybody,

Some of you may be interested in a question Natasha has asked me: Has Jim Hannon published his book about Weihsien and Amelia Earhart? For some of you new to our Weihsien Bulletin Board, Jim Hannon is one of the six Americans who liberated Weihsien in August 1945. Several years ago -- using a pseudonym -- he wrote an article in the Amelia Earhart Association Magazine saying that in 1945 he found a woman in Weihsien (identified as "the Yank") whom he believed was Amelia Earhart. He described this woman as heavily sedated by the Japanese and kept in separate quarters. Within the last couple of years he told this same story to a California newspaper which covered almost a full page with his account.
Our other rescuers say the story is bunk.
As far as I know, Jim Hannon has not yet published his book about Weihsien and Amelia Earhart. (A zealot of the Amelia Earhart Association quizzed me mercilessly about this a couple of years ago when he heard that Jim had published the book. Believe me, these Earhart devotees don't give up. I don't know why these people don't ask Jim directly. I did.) Jim has talked to me about it several times both on the telephone and when I visited him and his wife a couple of years ago in Palm Springs, California. Though they showed me plans for illustrating the cover of his Earhart/Weihsien book, he has been secretive about this project. But, then, I find that he keeps most information about himself and his projects close to his chest. He does have a couple of other books in print. He sent me a copy of his novel, THE SAVAGE AMERICAN, and tells me someone is interested in turning this into a movie. You can find his writing listed on AMAZON.COM under the name James Jess Hannon.

Most recently he has been working on a book -- and I think a screen play -- about his own experience in -- and escape from -- a German POW camp in Europe in 1944.

Jim was interviewed a few months ago for Stephen Spielberg's SHOAH project -- capturing the oral history of the Holocaust. Jim told them his own story of being a prisoner of war in Germany. Jim is very hopeful that the connection with the Spielberg organization may open their doors to filming his stories.

Jim and his wife, Gin, work non-stop on his manuscripts as a two-person team. Jim writes by hand on legal pads and Gin types the manuscripts and screen plays for submission to publishers. After Jim was almost killed in an accident several years ago and he became plagued with double vision from that accident, the Hannons retired to the California high desert to concentrate exclusively on his writing. Gin tells me they now have a garage-full of Jim's manuscripts. With Jim in his 80s and both suffering from a variety of health problems, their sense of mortality keeps them writing full time -- racing against the clock.

When we chat by e-mail, I tell them that I admire their astonishing discipline and productivity. Bless my soul! May I be as disciplined as they are when I'm in my 80s.

Mary T. Previte

A Newly Discovered Description of Life in Weihsien

Apr 22, 2002 20:56 PDT

I have attached a description of the way that life was organized in the Weihsien internment camp written by Howard Galt, a missionary and teacher at Yenching University, Peking (now part of Beijing University) in 1943. Galt was a friend of my grandparents, and his description makes a good introduction to George Wilder'd diary, for those of you who already have that document. I obtained a copy of Galt's hand-written manuscript from the Yale Divinity School library, after seeing it mentioned among the sources used by John Hersey in his novel, "The Call," which describes a fictionalised character based in part on Hugh Hubbard, who was my grandfather's best friend. I have "digitalized" it in MS Word, and thought that some of you might find it interesting. I hope you enjoy it.

If you have trouble opening the file, let me know and I'll send you a copy in the mail.

Howard Galt's Description of Life in Weihsien

Apr 22, 2002 21:06 PDT

I sent you all the email message below, but it bounced back with the message that it was too big. Apparently Topica won't transmit attachments of more than minimal size, so if you are interested in receiving a copy of Howard Galt's description of life in Weihsien, please respond to this email and I will email it to you individually, rather than to the group as a whole. It is 19 pages long, and you can have it in either MS Word or WordPerfect formats.

Re: Howard Galt's Description of Life in Weihsien

Apr 23, 2002 08:08 PDT

Yes please! What a gift you have been to us all! I so appreciate your new discoveries and the depth they provide. . Tell me about George Wilder's diary as well. Is this published? Can one get it? Interesting that the grandchildren are doing the research that brings a new life to childhood memories. Thank you so much!

Re: Howard Galt's Description of Life in Weihsien

Gordon Buist

Apr 24, 2002 03:32 PDT

Thanks Donald.
I would love a copy in MS Word if possible.
Regards
Gordon Buist

Re: Howard Galt's Description of Life in Weihsien

Apr 24, 2002 06:52 PDT

Those of you who are requesting copies of Galt's manuscript need to include your email address in your message, since Topica only gives itself as a return address. If you've already sent an email without it, please ask again.

Re: Howard Galt's Description of Life in Weihsien

Apr 24, 2002 08:08 PDT

Sorry about that, Donald! Ahol-@prescott.com ; Thanks

Re: Howard Galt's Description of Life in Weihsien

Apr 24, 2002 11:00 PDT

Good of you to make Galt's manuscript available. My e-mail address is stil-@eagle.ca thanks, Gay Talbot Stratford

e-mail address

Apr 24, 2002 12:39 PDT

Dear Subscribers,

If you copy the e-mail sent to you, the e-mail address of the person sending to all weihsien subscribers should show up. It does for me. You can print only one page if the message seems to be very long.
Natasha

Re: e-mail address

Apr 24, 2002 14:47 PDT

Natasha --
I do get the email address of the sender if they originate the message. However, when it's just a reply to my message, it comes without the individual email address of the person who is replying. Is this different from what you get?

Re: Howard Galt's Description of Life in Weihsien

Gordon Buist

Apr 24, 2002 19:13 PDT

Donald, here is my e-mail address........gor-@korat.anet.net.th
Many thanks

Re: Howard Galt's Description of Life in Weihsien

Apr 24, 2002 21:38 PDT

I would be grateful to receive Howard Galt's description. My email is : bobj-@tpg.com.au Thank you. Joyce Bradbury nee Cooke.

RE: Weihsien names and e-mail addresses and UK GOvt Ex Gratia

Ron Bridge

Apr 26, 2002 02:51 PDT

I have been out of the loop for eleven days hiding in a small cottage in rural France, I did not take my lap top with me and was off e-mail. Only conact was mobile for emergencies.
One I would like to stay on the Weihsien list Two, for those interested about the people that were rejected by the British Government for an ex gratia payment for being interned by the Japanese due to lack of proving grandparents born in the UK although holding British passports under the British Nationality and Alien Registrations Act of 1914, having changed the rules seven months after announcing that they would be eligible. ABCIFER are trying to get the rule changed to get the Govt to adhere to their original statement.
The case of HM The Queen petitioned by R W Bridge on Behalf of ABCIFER v The Ministry Of Defence was heard on 15 Apr 2002 at 11...am ABCIFER were represented by Barristers Ben Jaffey and Michael ordham -Solicitor Richard Stein of Leigh Day & Co
The result is that leave to go to Judicial Review was granted

The next stage is a full hearing in the High Court London on 25th July 2002 but the result may not be known until October.
Apologies for the delay but I had to cancel four days of a holiday to be in Court on the 15th and then rushed straight off to catch up with my wife. I did not take my lap top with me and was off e-mail.
Rgds
Ron Bridge
Chairman

Re: Howard Galt's Description of Life in Weihsien

Fred Dreggs

Apr 26, 2002 20:44 PDT

DearDonald,

I should be very pleased if you could send me a copy of the abve-mentioned subject matter.MSWord will be fine.
My email address is dre-@powerup.com.au.
With thanks,
Fred

Re: Weihsien names and e-mail addresses and UK GOvt Ex Gratia

Apr 26, 2002 22:50 PDT

Thank you Ron for the update about the latest court proceedings. There's still hope yet, thanks to you. Regards Joyce Bradbury nee Cooke.

Re: A Newly Discovered Description of Life in Weihsien

Gregory John Strangman

Apr 28, 2002 23:55 PDT

Yes please Donald, my father (Zandy Strangman) would love to have a look at that.
Thanks, thestra-@bigpond.com.au Greg

Combined Reply

Gregory John Strangman

Apr 28, 2002 23:55 PDT

Hi Christine Sancton and Donald Menzi, I've enjoyed reading your Emails and noted the keen interest you younger folk have for a clearer picture of how things really were for all of us, at Weihsien 59 years ago. And I'm moved by that. You did well to remember so many details from our chat. Since then, I've tried to talk Sylvia, Roy Tchoo's daughter into giving her fathers story some light, as it's worth knowing. He was, after all, a most interesting and enterprising internee,full of ability, as reported by Des Power in the end chapters of his book, 'Little Foreign Devil'. Who else would have had a loaded camera on hand, ready to capture for posterity, that moment the first plane, the big 'silvery' B24 Liberator came thundering out of the clearblue sky,that morning. Then swooping in low over the camp on it's second pass to unload it's welcome cargo of 7 'gung-ho' paratroopers onto the 'gow-liang fields, outside the camp. (not one included in your 32 photos.) Reliving the moment as I stood in a clearing in front of block 22, open mouthed then screaming with excitement as the ear-splitting din from those 4 big engines drowned me out. The thought of which still brings on the goose pimples, today.
Then there was the adventure of'' the great escape’. Where together with Fr. de Jaegher, the Belgium priest, and Roy's fluency in Chinese the key to the outside connection which ultimately enabled Arthur Hummel and Larry Tipton to "go over the wall' on that memorable night and to 'freedom'. In it's own way, it was a helluva risky affair that caused quite a stir and huge embarrassment for the Japanese authorities. It's a shame so little ever came to light on it. Finally as our time in camp drew to a close, Roy's skills were called upon again to negotiate our safe passage out by rail. But it is history now, most of us had to be flown out on US C47s.
In photo 20, you named Gene Hubener. I remember him being heavier set. And he was indeed a scout master, earlier.
Bessie Attree (2 t's) I understand is living in Texas as is younger sister, Lucy.
The lad in grubby working overalls was my stoking shift partner, Nick. Due to difficult to light , hospital diet kitchen fires, we were required to make an early start, 3:30 am no less. As a 15 year old, it was both exciting and eerie making my way across a sleeping camp, from block 22 , hoping I would not run into a Jap guard in the dark. Finally as Joyce Bradbury has confirmed, Travers-Smith did actually conduct art classes. A couple I attended were held in an upper floor room of the hospital building with an extra large window vantage point , giving a panoramic view of the surrounding country scene.

Hi Donald, I wish I could help with your remembrances of your grandmother, but as a 13.5 year old at the time and 59 years later, down the track, most of her image has faded on me.I only remember the occasion this kind lady and I took up a position facing big block 23, with paper and board on our lap and I watching how she began her sketch. I'd like to think it was Gertrude Wilder. I can't imagine who else it could have been and don't remember her there in 44 or 45. There was a huge exodus from camp at the latter end of our first year. Besides the repatriation of half? of the Americans, 700 of the catholic nuns and priests left us as well. Taking with them our most entertaining and charismatic group, the flamboyant , softball playing padres. My sporting roll models, who never lost a game and now THEY were gone . At the time this had a bad effect on my morale, at being left behind , if you know what I mean. At least, now there was more room in camp. But not for long. The Chefoo school kids promptly arrived . And when Italy surrendered, they too, were sent to join us. All of this is well documented in Langdon Gilkey's book , 'Shantung Compound', if you are interested, enough.
Thanks for your kind offer of your grandmothers paintings. I'd really love that but I'll have to work out how to get a M/O to you, and wonder in what form would the prints be sent? Surely, the US $l8 couldn't cover postage, too? Your address and phone number would come in handy. sent to my son, Greg's Email address, of course. I'm also interested in your kind offer of Howard Galt's work and hope you will take the opportunity to tell me a bit about yourself. I assume your mother was your connection to Gertrude Wilder? Was your mother in camp, too by any chance?
With best regards to you both,
Alexander (Zandy) Strangman

Watercolour paintings WeiHsien

May 10, 2002 22:04 PDT

Hello everybody. My brother Eddie Cooke, who was in WeiHsien with me and my family has some beautifull water colours done for him in camp.
(1) by Travers-Smith, Member of the Royal Art Academy, London (MRAA) of the ball field and tower;
(2) the main gateway done by M S Jamieson another camp art teacher;
(3) a coolie with bamboo pole and two buckets attending to his duties by Ursula Simmons dated 1944;
(4) a camp scene by (Bobby) Simmons dated 1/9/44. Also
(5) a caricature of inmates involved in Wei-hsien activities drawn by Tom Nott.
I am happy to send scans of each if you give me your individual email addressess as I do not wish to clog up the Topica address. The first three are in colour and the fourth is black and white.

Regards Joyce Bradbury. Sydney Australia.

Re: Watercolour paintings WeiHsien

May 11, 2002 10:48 PDT

Yes please, Joyce! Ahol-@prescott.edu. Thank you, Alison Martin Holmes

Re: Watercolour paintings WeiHsien

May 11, 2002 11:04 PDT

I too would love to see them. lauraho-@aol.com.
Thanks!
Laura

Re: Watercolour paintings WeiHsien

Emily Patterson Bryant

May 11, 2002 19:44 PDT

We would love it if you could send us the pictures. please send paintings to jebry-@yahoo.com

deletion

May 14, 2002 06:54 PDT

On the last day of the month I will be deleting e-mail addresses of those who have not notified me.The following have written. Previte, Bryant, Beard, Thompson, Bridge, Birch, Bradbury, Holmes, Nordmo Horton, Backhouse, Menzi, Buist, Granger, Dreggs, Mostaert, Crick, Talbot Sancton, Stratford, Gill
After the first, I will send out the list of names and the e-mail addresses.
Natasha

Re: deletion

May 14, 2002 08:08 PDT

please don't delete me: lauraho-@aol.com
Thanks,
Laura

(no subject)

adriank-@aol.com

May 14, 2002 14:59 PDT

Dear Natasha, Please don't delete me. Sylvia Walker

Norman Cliff

May 14, 2002 19:56 PDT

Natasha,

Norman Cliff e-mailed me an inquiry a few days ago, asking how to join the WEIHSIEN bulletin board. He wrote that he had just been given internet access as a gift. I gave him instructions on how to join. Have you heard from Norman? He ranks near the top of our Weihsien/Chefoo historians.
Mary Previte

Re: deletion IMacc-@aol.com

May 18, 2002 08:48 PDT

Please do not delete me from the list.
Regards,
Iain Macpherson

Fred Dreggs

Leonard Mostaert

May 19, 2002 01:05 PDT

         Fred
     I am having trouble e-mailing to your address. Perhaps I have it all wrong. Would you please send me the full address.
            Len Mostaert No.248

Fw: Watercolour paintings WeiHsien

May 22, 2002 16:03 PDT

Did my message not get through? I would really like to have the watercolours! Thank you.

Watercolours of Weihsien

May 24, 2002 02:42 PDT

Dear All
My apologies for the delay in sending to all who have asked for the watercolours. My husband has been the "shingles" and I am too stupid to learn the email (my son Tom is typing this as I recite!). Bob is recovering slowly so you should receive them in the not too distant future.
I have had so many requests for them, so I will probably send them to Weihsien Topica rather than individually.
Once again, my apologies for the delay, but you WILL get them soon.
regards
Joyce

Deletion

May 24, 2002 11:07 PDT

The following have written and WILL NOT BE DELETED.

Mary Previte, Emily Bryant, David Beard, Stan Thompson, Ron Bridge, David Birch, dJoyce Bradbury;, Allison Holmes, Iain Macpherson, Audrey Nordmo Horton, Bobbie Backhouse (Bridger),Donald Menzi, Gordon Buist, Theresa Granger Myrtle Sharp
At the end of May, I shall delete those who have not written to me. I shall send out the names of all remaining subscribers and the e-mail address of each.
My e-mail address is: nata-@infi.net
Natasha

additional names to non deletion list

May 24, 2002 11:13 PDT

ADDITIONAL LISTING
The following have written and WILL NOT BE DELETED.
Mary Previte, Emily Bryant, David Beard, Stan Thompson, Ron Bridge, David Birch, Joyce Bradbury;, Allison Holmes, Iain Macpherson, Audrey Nordmo Horton, Bobbie Backhouse (Bridger),Donald Menzi, Gordon Buist, Theresa Granger Myrtle Sharp
At the end of May, I shall delete those who have not written to me. I shall send out the names of all remaining subscribers and the e-mail address of each.
My e-mail address is: nata-@infi.net
Natasha
Zandy Strangman, Fred Dreggs, Leonard Mostaert, Jo &: Ben Crick Christine Talbot Sancton, Gay Talbot Stratford, Laura Hope Gill, Sylvia Walker.
I do hope that I am not omitting anyone.

Re: Watercolours of Weihsien

May 24, 2002 11:39 PDT

Unfortunately I think you will find that Topica won't handle attachments for lists. I have had to send the Galt documents individually. However, by the end of the summer I hope to have a Weihsien web sit up and running that will enable anyone to place documents or pictures there, and anyone else to download them. This would make the whole process quite easy, but it will probably not be ready until August.

New to List

Greg Leck

May 24, 2002 14:30 PDT

Greetings all!

I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Greg Leck and I come from a family
of Old China Hands. My grandfather, Oliver "Nutty" Hall, joined the Chinese
Maritime Customs in Shanghai in 1910. He married a Chinese woman, Sue Soo,
and they raised a large family in several of the treaty ports along the
coast of China. From 1926 to 1932 they lived in Tientsin. I have a family
photograph with two of the Cooke brothers, one called "Jolly" taken in that
city. After a year in Macau the family moved to Shanghai. Two of my
uncles, Joe and Dick Hall, left before the war. They had been standout
athletes at Tientsin Grammar School and continued to be so at Public and
Thomas Hanbury School in Shanghai. After the Japanese takeover of the
International Settlement the family was evicted from their home at Holt's
Wharf and lived in an apartment on Avenue Road until internment.

Family members were not in Weishien but spent time in Pootung, Lunghwa, and
Lincoln Avenue camps. After the war, remaining family left one by one until
my mother, the youngest, left with her parents for Hong Kong in 1952.

I am an avid historian and am busily researching this time period in Chinese
history. I'm currently involved in several projects dealing with the
Japanese internment of Allied civilians in China.

Can anyone tell me the name of Father Scanlon's autobiography?

Thanks,

Greg

Re: New to List

May 25, 2002 17:56 PDT

Greg,
Thanks for the email !

Re: deletion

Zandy Strangman

May 26, 2002 01:53 PDT

Dear Natasha,
Sorry this has taken so long to reply, but did you receive my dad's email (3/5/02)? In it, dad said he would like to stay on the list as well.
All the best
Greg Stragman

Re: Watercolours of Weihsien

Zandy Strangman

May 26, 2002 04:53 PDT

Yes please Joyce. thestra-@bigpond.com.au Thank you. Zandy Strangman

RE: New to List

Greg Leck

May 26, 2002 17:34 PDT

Dear Joyce,

Thanks for your note about Father Scanlon's book. I will keep an eye out for it.
The photo I have of Jolly Cooke (and also another Cooke, whom I don't recall the first name of at the moment" was taken in 1932 or so at the Tingzhi (spelling?) or Chinese Pavilion in Gordon Park (?) in Tientsin. Something to do with local football (soccer to us Americans). I'd like to scan a copy of it and email it to you or mail you a hard copy, with a view to showing it to Jolly to see if he can give me any insights on it. Most of the people are identified and include Chief Lawless and Desmond Power's stepfather.
Secondly, I would love to purchase a copy of your book. Do you have a copy available for sale?
Thanks,
Greg Leck

Re: Deletion

Fred Dreggs

May 26, 2002 21:44 PDT

Dear Natasha,
I thought that I had already advised you that I wanted to stay on the list, but if not here is my confirmation that I do want to stay on.
With thanks,
Fred Dreggs

No Subject

May 27, 2002 04:24 PDT

To answer Leck's questions –

---1. Ron Bridge knows a lot about Tianjing and about the camps. He has lists and lists of names of internees in all camps.
His e-mail is rwbr-@freeuk.com ;

---2. To order Scanlan's book try Abbot Thomas Davis, Abbey of New Clairvaux, Vina, California. If unsuccessful, come back to me to trace the Order in this country from which I got my copy.
---3. History of internment camps. See my PRISONERS OF THE SAMURAI - £10 incl. postage. Please write to: DR. NORMAN H. CLIFF, 4 HALL TERRACE, HAROLD WOOD, ESSEX RM3 OXR, U.K.
      Peter Bazire rang me today to tell me that Theo had died.
      I certainly have info. to contribute to the bulletin board.
               Greetings to you,   NORMAN CLIFF

Peter Bazire

May 27, 2002 05:07 PDT

Word comes from Norman Cliff that Theo Bazire has died. Theo was one of the Chefoo School students in Weihsien. His mother, Eileen Bazire was a teacher, musician and artist whose job was to coordinate use of the piano at Weihsien and to facilitate musical events. She copied sheets of music for use by music groups. I have a few of her watercolors and also a couple of the watercolor posters she created, announcing cultural events -- lectures, concerts -- at Weihsien. When I visited the Bazires in England in 1985, she told me that the Japanese ruled that no posters could be displayed unless they had first screened and approved them. Proof of their approval was their "CHOP" on the poster. Eileen Bazire said she thought she had the best job in the camp.
Mary Previte

Re: Deletion

May 27, 2002 06:32 PDT

Dear Fred,
Your name was on the list NOT TO BE DELETED.
Natasha

Re: Peter Bazire

May 27, 2002 08:42 PDT

Thanks for the news, Mary, I hold happy memories of Theo in my heart. How about scanning Eileen's pictures and sending them off to us all?! It is so wonderful to be building up this dossier of memories. Thanks, Alison

joining the club

Norman Howard Cliff

May 27, 2002 08:58 PDT

It is good to know that I have been accepted into the weihsien club. I will shortly be making a contribution.
     In the meantime here are two items -
          John Moyler of Weihsien has died of cancer. He was the source of much fun at the meetings of ABCIFER with his symbols of each camp under an umbrella.
         Believe it or not a Weihsien widow and Weihsien widower are getting married. Joyce Stranks married Marcy Ditmansen. They did medical work in Taiwan. She is marrying Joe Cotterill, who married Jeanie Hills (Chefoo School teacher) while in camp (I know because I had to move out of a small room on the top floor of the Hospital to make way for the newly weds)
        I am going for a 9 week visit to China in July. At 77 I think that will be my last.
                 Weihsien greetings to you all, NORMAN CLIFF.

RE: No Subject

Greg Leck

May 27, 2002 10:33 PDT

Dear Listmembers,

Thank you everyone for your warm welcome and your replies to my posting.

I have been in contact with Ron Bridge for the past year or so and we have exchanged information about the various camp lists.

I was fortunate to locate a copy of Father Scanlon's autobiography. I also have read Norman Cliff's monograph about the internment camps as well as dozens of others dealing with different aspects of internment.

Several of you have written directly to me and I will be contacting you off list in regards to questions I have. I'm also working my way through the archived postings of the list and hope to contact some members about their older postings as well.

Sincerely,

Greg Leck

Hullo Dwight!

I've often wondered where you were and how everything is going for you. I first learned about "weih-@topica.com" through a letter (by conventional mail) sent out by Mary Taylor Previte the year before last, as I recall. Apparently PBS television in the US produced a nostalgic "look back" show about Weihsien internees and our camp. Following this program, which generated a lot of interest, one of our fellow former internees, Natasha Petersen, set up this most convenient internet link to enable her fellow Weihsien alumni to keep in touch with one another. I'm tremendously grateful to Natasha for her generosity and for all the trouble she has gone to. I've been personally contacted by several of my friends from long ago--all as a result of our making use of this invaluable site!
My personal e-mail address is gdavid-@yahoo.com. I'd love to hear from you.
David Birch

Just Found

May 27, 2002 21:45 PDT

Just found the "list" and some familiar names and certainly familiar places. What is everybody up to? And what is the purpose of all this? It is intriguing!
~dwight whipple

WELCOME DWIGHT!!!

May 28, 2002 15:17 PDT

Dear Dwight. I have a photograph of your sister Lorna with you standing behind her in a group photo of a play we had in our first camp in. It is in my autobiographical book. Welcome to WeiHsien topica. You will love it. I remember you as about my brother Eddie's age, maybe a little younger. I am in a big hurry at the moment but I would like to chat with you. Love Joyce Bradbury (Nee Cooke.) Ex Tsingtao. Singtao

re PBS programme.

Christine Talbot Sancton

May 29, 2002 06:09 PDT

Dear Mary: I was just reading David Birch's message to Dwight Whipple. I hadn't heard of the PBS programme that you were involved in. Is it possible to get a transcript of it? Or perhaps even the video?

I was looking through some papers listed with the Yale Library and saw some several references to Weihsien, one submitted by a Ruth Brack. Was she an internee too?

It is fascinating to me to read other people's experiences in Weihsien as I have so few actual personal memories!
Regards, Christine Talbot Sancton

Fw: OCH - New Book

May 29, 2002 08:00 PDT

OCH - New BookI am sure that some of you are on Peter Stein's list. For those who are not, this may be of interest.
Natasha

----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Stein
To: meas-@alum.mit.edu
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 9:57 PM
Subject: OCH - New Book

Dear Old China Hands!

It's been a long time since we've been in touch!
Partly to clean the e-mail list I am sending you news about a new book by one of our own. Hope you like it!
Stay in touch!
Peter Stein, Organized of OCH 2000 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

NEW BOOK
Concealed Identities
By Felipe B. Nery
Colma, CA
ISBN No. 0-7596-9341-2, Production I.D. 9673
First Books Library, 2595 Vernal Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404-2782
USA & Canada Toll Free: 1-800-839-8640,
Outside USA: 1- 812-339-6000
www.1stbooks.com
US$16.25 includes shippping & handling in USA, inquire about for other destinations.

Felipe B. Nery: My family and I had close ties to the former Portuguese Colony of Macau and for about 30 years I lived in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau. I have been living in the U. S. A. for almost 51 years and have become a U. S. citizen.

This novel involves an American (Caucasian), his Chinese wife and their son. They lived in Hong Kong enjoying apparent freedom and happiness but for the unfortunate disaster that blew up a car the American unknowingly sold to some Chinese mobsters. These mobsters obviously used the car to engage in a gun battle with a rival gang. The mobsters blamed the American, who as a car dealer dumped on them whet they perceived to be a defective vehicle, rather than on their own inadequacy and shortcomings in the fight.

From that day on, they made life miserable for the America and his family, at times even threatening to kill them For their peace of mind, they had no choice but to leave Hong Kong secretly and to settle in the San Francisco Bay area in California. In spite of the precautions taken to protect their identities, the American was assassinated and the police at first believed it was the work of the Chinese mobster, but later changed their minds, pinning the crime on the victim's business partner who was instantly arraigned and incarcerated.

A sensational court battle ensued, headed by a renowned defense attorney who practically performed a miracle going through a minefield of evidence after evidence, witness after witness and accusation after accusation to have his client at long last acquitted and proven innocent of the crime. The real culprit was then exposed and apprehended

A mystery novel replete with suspense and courtroom drama, thrilling and informative, giving one a rare insight into how our laws work.

Re: re PBS programme.

May 29, 2002 08:31 PDT

I think all of us would be interested in the PBS video if it is available.
~Dwight

Re: Just Found

May 29, 2002 08:37 PDT

Dear Joyce
Thanks for your message. I am so delighted to find this network of folk from days gone by. Is there really a picture from our "camp" days? Must have been the Iltis Hydro (sp?), Tsingtao experience from what you have indicated. Is your autobiographical book in print? If so, how does one obtain a copy? So many questions! Please notice that I am copying my sister, Lorna, with this message.
~Dwight

Who was Marina?

Norman Cliff

May 29, 2002 10:08 PDT

      In Aug. 1995 a small group of weihsieners returned to Weihsien to celebrate 50 years since Liberation.
      Their picture was shown on the local TV, and their story told. A Chinese, whose home had been in Weihsien, saw the photo and listened to the narrative.
      His attention was immediately arrested. In the group was "a lady with blue eyes and blond hair. Her gestures and facial expressin seemed so familiar to me." Could she be Marina "the pale, thin and weak little girl of 50 years ago?"
     In his article in the Chinese press he says, "That night I could not sleep. I recalled that all the foreigners in north China had been imprisoned here...To me it was a horrible and mysterious Hell?"
     He remembered that after Liberation the electric wires had been removed, and how the prisoners were now free. They eagerly bartered their worn out clothes for vegetables and tomatoes.
     With a package of 15 tomatoes Ju went to join in the bartering on a low wall on the east side of the camp. A young girl of his age "with blond hair and a pair of large blue eyes, and a pale thin face" put her "purple coat and a pair of yellow pointed leather shoes" into a bamboo basket which was pulled up the wall, and he on his part put his 15 tomatoes into the basket; and he added an egg which he had brought for his lunch.
     Marina disappeared to her room. Meanwhile an elderly lady, who spoke Chinese and was also bartering, told the youth all about her. She was 14 years old and American. Her parents had been missionaries in Shijiazhuang, and prior to internment her father had been killed by the Japanese. Her mother was ill, and no doubt was being given the egg.
     Marina returned to the wall with a xylophone which she herself had made, and passed it to the Chinese to express her gratitude. "This moved me deepy as I love music very much".
     Mr Ju was convinced that the lady on the TV was Marina of 1945. This was in fact my sister Estelle, who was not the Marina of earlier days.
    CAN ANYONE THROW ANY LIGHT ON THIS REMARKABLE INCIDENT ?
               Norman Cliff.

Welcome, Norman Cliff and Dwight Whipple

May 29, 2002 19:54 PDT

Hello, Norman Cliff and Dwight Whipple,

    Welcome aboard. How wonderful to have fresh names and memories for the Weihsien bulletin board! At your convenience, you can dig into our Weihsien Topica archives for every kind of memory.

    We all have Natasha Petersen to thank for this worldwide service that gets postings from UK, Canada, New Zeeland, Australia, Hong Kong, and USA.

    Mary Taylor Previte

LIST/NUMBER?

May 29, 2002 19:58 PDT

Maybe this has been discussed before, but has anyone seen an actual list of names of all that were interned at Weihsien? And the number that were there?
~dwight whipple

Try contacting Ron Bridge

May 29, 2002 20:50 PDT

Dwight,
I think Ron Bridge would be the man to ask. He is the president of ABCIFER (Association of British Civilian Internees Far East Region), although his familiarity of the numbers, identities, and stories of other internee nationalities is, in my opinion, encyclopedic. You will find Ron's e-mail address in some of his recent messages on weih-@topica.com. Ron was one of our fellow internees at Weihsien. David Birch
p.s. Of course both Norman Cliff and Mary Taylor Previte are in the same league when it comes to
information. Joyce (Cooke) Bradbury is another knowledgeable authority I'd say.

National Public Radio broadcast of liberation or Weihsien, May 11, '00

May 29, 2002 21:28 PDT

Hello, Everybody,

    On May 11, 2000, National Public Radio's popular news magazine, "Morning Edition," broadcast a brief, heartwarming segment about the liberation of Weihsien. For the broadcast, host Bob Edwards interviewed three of our liberators -- Major Stanley Staiger in Nevada, Jim Moore in Texas, James Hannon in California -- and me. National Public Radio had sent an audio team and taped my reunion with James Hannon in California in January 2000.

Visiting James Hannon was the end of a very personal pilgrimage for me. It's a goosebumps story, how I tracked down our heroes by telephone. Then I wanted to thank each one of them or their widows face to face. So I criss-crossed the continent to visit each one of them. My visit with Jim Hannon was the last of those reunions.

National Public Radio host Bob Edwards told me that the story was one of his all time Morning Edition favorites. The broadcast brought people out of the woodwork. One man wrote that he had been riveted to the story while he was shaving -- and realized halfway through the day that he had forgotton to finish shaving.

For information about the broadcast, type the code     npr.org in the "FIND" section of the top of your screen. Go to MORNING EDITION and bring up May 11, 2000. If you choose to use a search word, don't use the word Weihsien -- because they misspelled the word. Use the search word Previte.

    If you have a powerful computer with the right equipment (and, alas, I don't), you can listen to that broadcast.   Here's how.
    Type the code     npr.org in the "FIND" section of the top of your screen. When the npr page come up, go to MORNING EDITION and bring up May 11, 2000. If you choose instead to use a search word, don't use the word Weihsien -- because they misspelled the word. Use the search word Previte.

As I tracked the team members down -- starting in 1997 -- I made sure their local newspapers spotlighted their heroism in 1945.
I communicate regularly with these heroes who are all in their 80s now -- talked to most of them this past (Memorial Day) weekend. Those of you who do not yet have their addresses, let me know. I hope you'll remember them with birthday and holiday cards or notes. They are all frail and love getting letters with your Weihsien memories. Only two still have spouses living.

Carol Orlich -- widow of Peter Orlich, radio operator and youngest of the Weihsien rescue team -- celebrates her birthday June 13. Her address is 15727 20th Road, Whiteston, NY 11357   Peter Orlich was 21 years old the day he helped liberate the camp. How many of you girls were in love with him?

Mary Taylor Previte

Re: Try contacting Ron Bridge