De:
"David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Fw:
Some descriptive words, please
Date:
lundi 27 juin 2005
Compared to
However I believe that we really were very seriously undernourished nevertheless. Some of us suffered very greatly even though we may not have been conscious of hunger pangs during the war. I personally spent a year as a teenage patient in a "psych ward" a couple of years after the war, having to drop out of my senior year in high school. My doctor who had great insight into these things said that I was "suffering from 'adreno-cortical starvation' which was the result of prolonged malnutrition in a Japanese concentration camp." My troubles were far from over when I was released from the hospital and I have voluntarily returned from time to time for psychological counselling.
In spite of this I personally do not recall feeling "deprived" at the time of my internment. After all, I was no different from my fellow boarding school students. My meals and camp duties were the same as those of my contemporaries. Bread and water for breakfast became "bread porridge" (not a Japanese euphemism but a term coined by our own inmate leaders).
Thin "soup" with a few sickly veggies became (on the Kitchen One Menu Board) "Hash, Mash, and Splash."
My fellow students and I learned by the example of our teachers who were in loco parentis to us to "make light" of our woes which might otherwise have been unbearable.
Those of you with a background in medicine please correct me if I am wrong but I understand that the human stomach shrinks to accommodate the scanty meals provided during times of malnourishment so that we actually do NOT suffer from severe hunger pangs.
In fact so unaccustomed were we to really full meals that some of my fellow students actually became "sick" initially following our liberation when they found themselves eating more than they could handle.
The square, two sides of which were bordered by Blocks 23 and 24 were actually like quite a pleasing park. This is thanks to the Presbyterian missionaries (including old Dr Luce, father of TIME, LIFE and FORTUNE founder Henry R Luce). The Presbyterians majored in education - both secular and Christian. Old
Dr Luce, for example, was behind the
"university movement" in
There were many species of beautiful shade trees at Weihsien. I remember the lovely mimosa trees. There were also many plane trees and of course locust (or
acacia) trees with their beautiful fragrant blossoms.
In the same area were delightful flower gardens thanks to a diligent Englishwoman, Mrs Jowett who probably had one of the greenest thumbs I have ever known.
Mrs. Jowett had many ardent young disciples, one of whom was your humble servant when aged 12 and 13. I grew watermelons, beans, radishes, portulaca and lettuce, among other plants.
It's true we did suffer - but Weihsien had its many blessings and contains, by the grace of God many of my truly best boyhood memories.
Sincerely
David
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>;
"Zartusa." <lportnell@juno.com>
Objet: Re: The Young Chemist
Date: lundi 27 juin 2005
I'm pretty certain the young chemist was
Gerry Lucker, who's folks had owned the Ford agency in
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Fw: Some descriptive words, please
Date: mardi 28 juin 2005
David, my sentiments completely.!
And I've posted some similar thoughts, before.
Perhaps, an interesting exercise should be undertaken for the sake of putting some old memories in their true perspective.
Start it by listing every major war time internment or concentration camp in the last century, while noting the conditions, treatment and everything else you care to think of, related to them.
Throw in those who have been kidnapped and held captive, terrorised with a gun to their head, blindfolded and chained to a wall for lengthy periods( no living being should have to endure), in places like Lebanon, etc....
Not forgetting the numbers that did not survived and whether they died of natural causes or not.
For those who need to go further, try this if you must.
Rate all items on a 'good' to 'bad' scale of 1 to 10 (or vice versa), then arrange your list of camps in diminishing order and see what you come up with.
I can't help remembering the energy we expended, whether it was working and manning the PUMPS or PLAYing in our various sports, with the running, jumping and 'tug a war' of the Empire day games, as well, AND don't forget all THAT DANCING we did, and I can't help wondering ???
How did we do all that on our empty stomachs?
(Were we in a holiday camp??? sponsored by the enemy!)
De: "Nicky & Leopold" <tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Some descriptive words, please
Date: mardi 28 juin 2005
Hello,
Go to:
http://users.skynet.be/bk217033/Weihsien/NormanCliff/history/DOCUMENTS/leftFrame.htm
I really thank
Historical objectivity!
I tried to read between the lines and found nowhere that Weihsien concentration camp was a horrible place to live in.
Nothing to compare with the German camps in
A+
Leopold
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw:
Date: mercredi 29 juin 2005 0:40
For information. Joyce.
----- Original Message -----
From: Tony & Edwina
To: Bob&Joyce Bradbury
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Subject: Re:
This is just a quick email to let you know that unfortunately I have decided not to attend the reunion in Weihsien in August.
We are about to put our house on the market and Tony and I just don't know where we will be with the sale when August comes around.
It would have been lovely to meet everyone but just not the right time for me. Please accept my apologies.
I did try to email Topica but my email was sent back because I was not on the list and I am afraid I couldn't open the registration forms etc. when sent through to me.
Have fun in Weihsien.
Regards,
Edwina
----- Original
Message -----
From: Bob&Joyce
Bradbury
To: Tony & Edwina
Sent: Tuesday, June
21, 2005
Subject: Re:
That is great. I think you ought to acknowledge on WeiHsien@topica.com that you have read details of the birth records and perhaps indicate that the date is not correct and somebody may try to sort that out. If you mention the names of people you know who were in the camp and perhaps your parents you may get interesting responses. Just send it to weihsien@topica.com and everybody on that site will read it.Joyce
----- Original
Message -----
From: Tony &
Edwina
To: Bob&Joyce
Bradbury
Sent: Tuesday,
June 21, 2005
Subject: Re:
Yes I did receive it but my actual date of birth is wrong. I was born on 19th August, 1943 not September. I don't know how much difference that will make. If we do go it will mean that I am in Weihsien on my actual birthday!
Thank you again. Edwina
----- Original
Message -----
From: Bob&Joyce Bradbury
To: Tony &
Edwina
Sent: Tuesday,
June 21, 2005
Subject: Re:
Edwina. Did you receive the email about details of your birth? It came
through on Weihsien@topica at
----- Original
Message -----
From: Tony
& Edwina
To:
Bob&Joyce Bradbury
Sent: Tuesday,
June 21, 2005
Subject: Re:
Hello Joyce and Bob,
Many thanks for all the information. Will send my email to Sui Shude today and will then await all the details. I then hope that Tony and I will be able to make the trip.
Regards,
Edwina
-----
Original Message -----
From:
Bob&Joyce Bradbury
To:
weihsien@topica.com ; tonyandedwina@optusnet.com.au
Sent:
Monday, June 20, 2005
To WeiHsien Topica. I spoke on
Hi Edwina. Following our conversation a few minutes ago I send you the site for weihsientopica.com to enable you to find out all about the ex-inmates of the camp and a lot of details - paintings etc of the camp. Introduce yourself and I am sure someone will remember your mother etc and send you greetings. If you email Sui Shude on suishude@sohu.com and tell him you were born there and to send you an invitation and registration form he will let you know all necessary details. As a matter of fact I will introduce you to WeiHsien topica and see what happens. Joyce Bradbury
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Opinions.
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005
David,
Thanks for your latest which deserves a decent reply to you direct, and for that I need a free moment.
Hasty replies often end up with omissions,
like failing to add previously, that when we were sent to Weihsien in '43,
Even when the tide turned for Japan, and she started getting the 'hell' beaten out of her, sustaining huge casualties both in the Pacific and Japanese mainland proper, we didn't 'cop' the back lash and still got supplied with some food and coal, to keep us going.
Realising that, I've learnt to count my blessings. And with each passing year, any of the hardships we may have endured, seem more in significant. To me, anyway!
Cheers, Z
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions.
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005
Sure we were lucky to survive the camp. Remember Armic Balianz who was
brutally beaten several times in
De: "Eddie Cooke"
<shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: weihsien memories
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005 7:50
Hello All,
Gosh, reading those stories from all you wonderful contributors like David, Donald, Leopold, Mary, Zandy, Ron, my sister Joyce and so many others, makes me feel guilty for just being a looker on, so I'm going to put in my 20c worth!
I was born in '32, so was too young to attend the dances, but certainly knew of them and can remember some of the musos.
Zandy, I do remember you as the one with the falcon chicks. Joyce and I together raised a little ball of yellow fuzz to a full grown pigeon by chewing up bread and allowing it to put its beak and sometimes even its whole head into our mouth to feed. We named it "Peter" and painted the name on the underside of its outspread wing. Peter was very tame-too tame in fact- and would come when called by anybody and finished up, we believe, as someone’s meal!
Does anyone remember the cricket fights? We'd catch male crickets (3 tails-the females had 2) put two of them in a tin or jar and anger them by tickling their tails with a "tickler" made from a paspalum like weed. There were never any casualties, just a lot of aggressive posturing.
A couple of times a nanny goat found its way into our Block 2 from the Japanese quarters. We attempted to milk it without success-someone else had beaten us to it!
Well do I remember the 3 Grandon
brothers-"Muscles"(Aubrey), "Suicide"(Joe) and "
I remember Sisters Donnatella and
Blanda well. Sister Donnatella was very
pretty. Albert de Zutter, who I grew up with in
Some of those paintings of the camp came from my book of works by camp artists, including Ursula and Bobby Simmons and cartoonist Tom Nott who was one of the camp carpenters.
I've still got some of the pamphlets dropped by the B29's warning us not to overeat when we received our food supplies. They were exciting times indeed! I've also got some of the pre and post match write-ups my Dad did for the Kitchen 1 bulletin board of some of the softball matches e.g. The "Padres" v The Rest....remember Fr.Wendolin?
I can also remember being in the Cubs, then graduating to the Scouts in the Eagle Patrol, of which I was the flag bearer, because my mother made the flag- a red eagles head on a white background!
Finally, my most vivid memory was of being constantly hungry- not a nice feeling!!
Well, I've probably used up more than my 20c worth and like everyone else I and my dear wife, Shirley, are quite excited about attending this auspicious occasion....see you all there!
One final comment, if I may― I'm pretty sure the name of the B24 that brought the "Magnificent Seven" was "The Armoured Angel", not "The Flying Angel" and it also had a pinup girl in a bathing suit painted on its side!
ED COOKE
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005
Hello,
Tell me if I'm wrong?
This is a historical fact:
Go to Mr. Mansell's excellent web-site ---- click on this link:
http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/Formosa/taiwandocs.html
August 1st, 1944 --- written orders were
issued to all
On August 17, 1945 when the Americans
liberated us --- we were very happy --- but now I think that the happiest
person of all must have been our Japanese Commandant. Finally, --- I'm beginning to think that he
liked us --- specially the kids! It was a marvellous opportunity for him to
hand over his sword to Colonel Staiger without loosing face. What I also
learned while building up my web-site is that, later on, when our Commandant
was trialled by the Americans, Mr McLaren went to
""After
the war, the Japanese Commandant, Mr. Izu, along with hundreds of other senior
Japanese officers, Police Chiefs and Commandants throughout
---
I am actually reading "Nanjing Massacre, 1937" writen by Xu Zhigeng (ISBN 0-8351-3149-1). All this is horrible.
Why do they want to rub-out this part of history from their school-books?
So many questions!!
A+
Leopold
-----
Original Message -----
From: rod miller
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005
Subject: Re: Opinions_Hello
Dear Weihsien Survivors
My name is Rod Miller and I joined your mail list earlier this year as I had
read of the members of your camp that made the 2nd American exchange ship in
1943 in which I am interested.
When I joined I thought I might get the odd posting never expecting the
avalanche of wonderful reminiscences that have been flowing through these pages
of late.
I am only 46, have never been interned or gone hungry. I am no expert or
academic just an interested party.
If I may, I would just like to add a little to your discussion on various camps
and of late the politics behind the scenes. I have for the last 10 years been
researching 18 Australian nurses taken from Rabaul New Britain [
One of the things only touched on slightly in recent mail from David Birch, was
the psychological effect that your internment had on your later lives. All the
Rabaul women suffered to various degrees. One was very badly affected to the
point that her family gave her electro shock treatment in 1946 from which I
believe she never recovered. For others it was only a minor infliction such as
missing each other and feeling lonely after they returned home. One of the
nurses told me candidly that on just one occasion after her return she had shop
lifted a small item as it was such behavior that had kept them alive during
their internment and she just couldn't resist.
Where your camp was very lucky is that you had each other and the children.
There were enough of you to organise games, dances and bake bread. Space to
escape each other if necessary. The women were confined to one small area in
Yokohama in the American Yatch\Rowing club, club house and were later moved to
the old Totsuka TB hospital where there was slightly more room.
The Australian women, for want of a better title, were political prisoners, so
I was interested the other night when I was looking at the
http://users.skynet.be/bk217033/Weihsien/NormanCliff/history/DOCUMENTS/leftFrame.htm
I wondered if you notice that most were addressed to the Secretary
of State or the Special Division Department of state and wondered if you knew
why they were sent there? I believe I know why but your case is a lot different
to those of the Rabaul women. Which brings me to tonights posting by Nicky &
Leopold:
Go to Mr. Mansell's excellent
web-site ---- click on this link:
http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/Formosa/taiwandocs.html
August 1st, 1944 --- written orders were issued to all camp Commandants giving
them instructions to eliminate all their prisoners when and as they wished ----
if an uprising occurred. "If" or "If not" --- who can prove
the difference when everybody is dead!
This
order was given, but I don't believe it was interpreted in exactly the same way
by every Japanese commander. From what I have read in
the
American Government was well aware of your situation. So although you didn't
know it, a lot of pressure was possibly being brought to bear on the Japanese
to look after you. It was all politics. If you note the document
http://users.skynet.be/bk217033/Weihsien/NormanCliff/history/DOCUMENTS/Letters/1944-Nov1.htm
do you think that the Japanese would have let this inspection take place if
they thought they were going to dispose of all of you shorty after it took
place?
What I have done with the Rabaul nurses is I studied their diaries and tried to
match events from the Australian archives to what they have written. What I
have been able to do is see cause and effect. It maybe the same for your camp,
that is if you see an inquiry being made via the archives about your camp, say
by the special department to the Japanese, you may well see the effect by what
you have written in your diaries. One example with the Rabaul women is an
inquiry being made by the Australian Government about civilians from Rabaul
then via the diaries a week later you can read of a red cross parcel and a
piece of underwear being handed out two days before special visitors arrive to
make an inspection of their camp. I have written a book about the Rabaul women
which I I'm trying to get published for it explains their situation in some
detail. But for the present it may be of interest to you to try and do the same
you might find that events that occurred in Weihsien were no accident.
I hope I'm not off topic with this posting and wish you well with your reunion.
Kind Regards
Rod Miller
Sydney Australia
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005
Leopold,
We must have been in one of the best
Japanese internment camps in the far east.
I know that there really were some "horror camps," in places
like
Some months ago Norman Cliff mailed me a
copy of his book, Weihsien Fifty Years Later.
In it he relates the true story you have related about Mr McLaren – at his
own expense - travelling to
And I fully agree with you Leopold that the Japanese who guarded us were genuinely fond of us children. I'm sure there were some exceptions, but mainly this was true. A memory I will treasure to my dying day is of the kindly Japanese guard who insisted I hand over my pick-axe so that he could dig up and cultivate my little garden patch next to the camp wall over by the hospital (Block 61).
I'm sure that Mr Izu was MOST RELIEVED to be able to honorably hand over his sword to Major Staiger.
Apparently the Japanese official protocol, in the event of their nation losing the war, was to shoot all the prisoners before the Japanese committed suicide.
Although I'm not aware that this was
actually accomplished by the Japanese in any concentration camp. But it COULD
have been done! No doubt
Thankfully, many of us have some very happy memories of life in Weihsien where we children, for the most part, were unaware of the uglier realities of the war.
David
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005 19:54
Leopold,
I was wondering what ever happened to the commandant. Fr. Scanlan's book says he wondered at his relatively friendly behaviour toward him, and afterward learned that he was, in fact, a Catholic. I don't know if it's true or not. It is unfortunate that under the current relations between the Chinese and Japanese governments, it would surely be impossible to have descendants of the commandant present at the ceremony. Too bad.
Donald
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions_Hello
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005
Thank you, Rod, for your contribution!
The fact that Weihsien was, compared to many other camps, a remarkably humane detention centre, is I think no secret at all. We were as I have said "blessed" to have been held there.
Much of the credit for our well-being goes to our own inmate camp leaders - not just one or two people either. We had a truly civilised society in our camp.
Our affairs were well structured and well organized. There was always something to do - whether organized sporting events such as softball, tennis, soccer, Sports Days with running, jumping, etc. - or chores such as keeping boiler rooms operational, fetching buckets of slack coal, making coal bricks or coal balls, pumping water, etc. And we were allowed to keep garden patches.
Many books have been written, and articles published, detailing the horrors of World War Two. Thanks to our own leaders (AND to people like Mr Kosaka and Mr Izu) Temple Hill and Weihsien were civilised and well-run places of humane internment. And the credit does NOT go in large measure to international politics. After all, politics certainly did NOT prevent atrocities from taking place elsewhere.
I'm terribly sorry about what happened to those poor nurses whom you mention. How very, very tragic!
David
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions_Hello
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005 20:06
Dear Rod,
Thanks for your informative posting. May I ask what is your interest in the 2nd
American exchange? Was this the
Gripsholm, on which my grandparents were sent back to the
Donald Menzi
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005
The Best Camp in the
But generally speaking the further from
The Japanese Camps is whole subject which one could talk/write about for hours.
Rgds
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005
I can confirm that the execution orders were
in all camps as soon as the
rgds
Ron bridge.
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions.
Date: jeudi 30 juin 2005
Zandy -
Your point would be well taken if we had
been guarded by the Japanese Imperial Army.
But, as you know, we were not. We were blessed by having a commandant
who was a repatriated Japanese diplomat, and were guarded by Japanese consular
guards, akin to the U.S. Marine Embassy Guard. That made a hell of a
difference, and was why there were no reprisals taken when the tide turned
against
We should never stop counting our blessings
because at that time
Before my book, "The Mushroom Years," went into its second printing, several interesting events came to light, which were covered in the Preface. Here is a quote toward the end of it:
"Incredibly, the most shocking
revelation did not come until late 1999, when
"This preface would not be complete without one delightful footnote. In early September 2001, Masters close friend and fellow historian, Dr. R. John Pritchard, called to tell her that at a recent embassy function in London he had met the Japanese Ambassador to the Court of St. James, and in discussing "The Mushroom Years" with him, found that he had been a toddler of three when his father was the camp commandant at Weihsien. Pamela felt life had just come full circle, with Japanese civilians being honored for the good they did in World War II and she gave heartfelt thanks that [the commandant] had never had to carry out the dire directive of the Japanese military high command."
I repeat - let's ever stop counting our blessings...!
Pamela Masters
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions.
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005 0:05
Pamela!
Thanks for your excellent insights! And I totally agree: Let us never stop counting our blessings!
David
De: "rod miller"
<rmmiller@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions_Hello
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005 0:10
Donald
>Thanks for your
informative posting. May I ask what is
your interest in the 2nd American exchange?
Was this the Gripsholm, on which my grandparents were sent back to the
Yes it was the Gripsholm. The reason for my
interest in the exchanges is because the Rabaul nurses were taken to
If the order to murder all the prisoners was carried out in 1944 what would we have done with the large number of Japanese we held? I suggest that this may have been the question the Japanese asked themselves.
My research is complicated by the fact that when the exchange process was first started the American Government decided that the British would have to negotiate its own exchanges. The Japanese hadn't envisaged this and thought that they would be putting a number of Allied internees on a ship and in return they would receive the same number back.
They were smart negotiators and played one Government against the other. So it got very bureaucratic and complicated for all parties concerned.
Donald how were your grandparents selected to go on the exchange? Was it because of their age?
As for the Rabaul nurses they were victims
of politics and didn't make the only British exchange in August 1942. As the
war went on their value in
In
Japanese controlled
The reason you were interned at all was
probably a direct response to the internment of Japanese implemented in the
It was all politics.
Kind Regards
Rod
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions_Hello
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005 1:53
Rod,
My grandparents were both around 70, so age was probably the factor in their selection for repatriation.
Donald
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Deletions from List
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005
To: Weihsien List Master
For some reason my wife, Jane, is no longer getting emails from the group. Can you please be sure that her email address is included in the list? It is jweprinmenzi@earthlink.net .
Thanks.
De: "Dwight W. Whipple" <thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions_Hello
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005 2:38
Hello All~
Our family has often wondered what the criteria were for those "on the list" for exchange in September, 1943. Our family of six together with aunt, uncle and three cousins were all on the list. My parents (ages 38 and 39) offered to exchange their places with older, more infirm folk but we were told that there would be no exchanges. We were all in relatively good health except for weight loss which was pretty common in those circumstances. So we still do not know how the "list" was arrived at.
Maybe we will never know. But age was not a factor.
~Dwight W. Whipple
De: "Greg Leck"
<gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Opinions
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005
The American repatriations were handled by
the Special War Problems division of the US State Department. They compiled eleven different categories of
US civilians in the
I have gone through thousands of documents
in Japanese, US, Canadian, British, Australian,
The decision to intern Allied citizens in
Greg
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Continuing opinions.
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005 10:09
Wow! That was a powerful bit of writing from a non-expert and non-academic!
At first glance, that's how it struck me, Rod. Well done!
There is a lot more for me to digest on what you, so skilfully, had to say and I need more time to fully absorb those interesting subjects you covered, before I have anything more to say.
By the way, it's also interesting to note that
you also hail from
Leopold, it was nice being reminded again,
that our camp discipline officer felt strongly enough to travel to
Keep up the good work,
A.(zandy) Strangman
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Opinions_Books
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005 10:57
Hello,
There are two books to read --- absolutely ---
Pamela's new edition of "The Mushroom
Years" --- and Greg's book --- "The Japanese Internment of Allied
Civilians in
Also, many thanks for all your messages and thanks Rod for joining the chat.
Learning History (the real one, with a big "H") is like breathing fresh air --- even if it hurts sometimes!
A+
Leopold.
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005
Hello Greg -
I have to say I did not personally view the
document regarding the execution of all
POWs, but received the information from
the Center for Internee Rights (CFIR). Interestingly, the date the directive
was intercepted and decoded (by Naval Intelligence, if I recall correctly) was
January 1945, and the date on the CONFIDENTIAL map of prisoner of war camps in
Japanese occupied areas (pages 258-259 of The Mushroom Years) is February 1,
1945. It doesn't appear that the
I know you were in touch with Gil Hair (Santo Tomas), CFIR's fighting tiger, who died last year. Sadly, since then, the organization appears to have disbanded, as I've received no further communication. I just tried to pull up www.expows.org and find the page cannot be shown. Possibly a google search would bring up more information if you'd like to verify the above.
Have a Fabulous Fourth!
Pamela
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Opinions_Books
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005 17:35
Dear Leopold --
Thank you for mentioning The Mushroom Years. The softcover is ISBN 0-9664489-2-8. The hardcover, ISBN 0-9664489-3-6. Both editions can be ordered direct on www.hendersonhouse.com.
The sequel, Sass & Serendipity, is being released as I write. It is also a story of survival -- here in the good old US of A -- but really has no historical significance, except it's fun read. My love and I had one hellacious life!
To all you Yanks out there -- have a Fabulous Fourth!
Thanks again, Leopold -- Pamela
De: "rod miller" <rmmiller@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: On it goes...
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005
Hi Greg
At
>The American repatriations were handled
by the Special War Problems division of the US State Department. They compiled eleven different categories of
US civilians in the
How did the Special department know who was where when they compiled the eleven different categories?
Did the Japanese supply lists of internees in various camps?
>I have gone through thousands of
documents in Japanese, US, Canadian, British, Australian,
Did you ever come across any information on the WW2 Japanese ethnic minority policy?
>I have to say that I think people are
reading too much into the "kill the prisoners" order. What everyone is probably referring to,
whether they know it or not, is a document captured on
Fair enough.
>The decision to intern Allied citizens
in
There is no doubt that the Japanese had
planned their propaganda strategies well in advance. In
Regards
Rod
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Opinions
Date: vendredi 1 juillet 2005
THANK YOU GREG, FOR SETTING THIS MATTER STRAIGHT!
Considering the massive amount of research you have conducted into this whole matter of Second World War internment of Allied civilians I think what you have come up with is probably about as authoritative as one could hope to find!
De: "Sui Shude - Weifang
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Weihsien Celebration
Date: samedi 2 juillet 2005
Weihsieners Attending the Celebration of Weihsien Camp Liberation:
Welcome to Weifang!
----How to get to Weifang on August 16,2005:
Weifang People's Government will arrange
buses to pick up registered participants to the celebration of the 60th
anniversary of the Weihsien Concentration Camp Liberation on August 16th, 2005
in
The registration, welcome meeting and
banquet will be started from
----Bus Pick-ups from
Date: August 16th(TUE), 2005
From
Yanyai Huaqiao Hotel(Overseas Chinese Hotel):
From
Weifang Train Station:
According to your arrival train No. and time.
Registered guests are expected to go to the above appointed places within the appointed time to find our English-speaking Working Stuff who are supposed to hold big tags with the words "WELCOME TO WEIHSIEN CELEBRATION" on it, and they will put you on our buses to enjoy the ride to Weifang Hotel.
----How Long the Bus ride:
Yantai Overseas Chinese Hotel -- Weifang Hotel: about 4 hours
Weifang Train Station -- Weifang Hotel: 20 minutes
Should you have any changes on your arriving and departure schedule, please let us know as soon as possible.
----How to Book Travel Services:
We have entrusted Weifang Foreign Affairs Translation Center to offer travel services before the celebration, and they have "POST-REUNION-TOURS" available for Weihsieners and families. Please check the emails of Weihsientravel@tom.com and Weihsientravel@sohu.com which listed as the last item on the second page of the Invitation
Letter, for travel services.
Mr. Sui Shude,
Miss Qi Yanling,
Miss Gao Xinhui
Foreign & Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Weifang People's Government
Add:
261041
E-mails:
Tel: ++86-536-8292675 Fax: ++86-536-8292675 ++86-536-8233692
Cell: (0)1390-536-9362 or (0)1396-473-9121 or (0)1385-361-5851
De: "Greg Leck"
<gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: On it goes...
Date: dimanche 3 juillet 2005
How did the Special department know who was where when they compiled the eleven different categories?
Did the Japanese supply lists of internees in various camps?
The Japanese were notorious for not supply
lists of internees. In fact, the almost
3,000 internees in Stanley Camp,
The Special Division, using lists compiled by consulates in the fall of 1941 of Westerners who had registered, was able to piece together some names.
There are piles and piles of raw data they used as well - I've waded through it ― supplied by people who left the Far East before war broke out, relatives in the States, and IRC inquiries and answers. Also, the 1942 repatriates supplied a lot of information as well on those remaining.
Did you ever come across any information on the WW2 Japanese ethnic minority policy?
If you are talking about Japanese minorities, such as the Ainu, Okinawans, etc., no.
For instance did the Japanese plan for internee exchange before the war?
Not in detail. Their policy allowed for repatriation only if there was guaranteed reciprocity.
I will be covering most of the above in my book, which I hope to have in print by the end of the year.
Greg
De: "rod miller" <rmmiller@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: On it goes...
Date: dimanche 3 juillet 2005
Greg
>Did you ever come
across any information on the WW2 Japanese ethnic minority policy?
>
>If you are talking
about Japanese minorities, such as the Ainu, Okinawans, etc., no.
Sorry, I should have explained it better. It was the Japanese military administration's ethnic minority policy.
I guess from your reply you don't know of it.
During my research I have only found one or two references to it.
>
>For instance did the
Japanese plan for internee exchange before the war?
>
> Not in detail. Their policy allowed for repatriation only if
there was guaranteed reciprocity.
I take it your only looking at the American exchanges in your book?
If the above was the Japanese policy
This was political suicide for the Australian government of the day.
I cover this in my book which is just being read by a publisher ;-)
>
>I will be covering
most of the above in my book, which I hope to have in print by the end of the
year.
Sounds fascinating. I look forward to its publication.
Kind Regards
Rod
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: "Desmond Power"
<despower@shawcable.com>; "John Beruldsen" <jbberuldsen@bigfoot.com.au>;
"Kevin Julyan" <kevnpeg@netspeed.com.au>
Objet: Fw: Aub Grandon's sister Kate
Date: dimanche 3 juillet 2005
To those 'nostalgia freaks', I'm forwarding this with Des' blessings.
For those wondering who? That's Des' brother Tony with Aub in 1950.
PS: I've had this e-mail rejected twice by the Topica site, already, even though I've reduced the picture sizes by 70%.
I'll make one more attempt. This time sending the 2 pics separately.
----- Original Message -----
From: Desmond Power
To: Zandy and Jenny Strangman
Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005
Subject: Aub Grandon's sister Kate
Hello again, Zandy, I thought you might be interested in knowing
that I just sent condolences to a couple in Brazil who had been caring for
Kate, Aubrey's sister. Ill for several years she died last week. And she was
the last surviving Grandon; Joe, Bobby and Aub all having departed the scene
years ago. (Aub in 1990.) After the war
Aub and I spent a lot of time together, we were pals in
Desmond.
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: "Desmond Power"
<despower@shawcable.com>; "John Beruldsen"
<jbberuldsen@bigfoot.com.au>; "Kevin Julyan"
<kevnpeg@netspeed.com.au>
Objet: Fw: Aub Grandon's sister Kate
Date: dimanche 3 juillet 2005
Joyce, could this be the statue you heard about?
-----
Original Message -----
From: Desmond Power
To: Zandy and Jenny Strangman
Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005
Subject: Aub Grandon's sister Kate
Was absolutely taboo. You see, he was a model for both Jacob Epstein and Henry Moore.
Desmond.
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Aub Grandon's sister Kate
Date: lundi 4 juillet 2005
I have not seen the statue before. The face is not familiar. I just knew him as we all did - Muscles Grandon.
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Aub Grandon's sister Kate
Date: lundi 4 juillet 2005
The muscular man with the long hair I now recognise as Aubrey. I also recognise Des' brother Tony so well. Joyce.
De: "Fred & Coral Dreggs"
<dreggs1@bigpond.com>
À: "Ex Internees" <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: avalanch of mail
Date: lundi 4 juillet 2005
Hello Everybody,
I have just returned home after an absence of 9 days and, lo and behold, there were 98 emails from the Topica site awaiting to be read. This is quite astonishing and I attribute this to the ''flurry ''generated by the approaching Weihsien reunion. Heaven knows what the cyberspace traffic will be like when guests of the Weihsien hosts return home and begin recounting their experiences/adventures etc. Actually, I really hope this will happen as, unfortunately, I am not able to attend. I will, however, savour your accounts vicariously.
Have fun,
Fred (aka Alfie)
De: "Fred & Coral Dreggs"
<dreggs1@bigpond.com>
À: "Ex Internees" <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: lundi 4 juillet 2005
Hi David,
Reading your email of 24 June 2005 to Joyce, I really have to question your calculation of the Weihsien camp's surface of the whole compound as 83,200m2. This to me is much too large. My own map of the camp which I have had for many years is on a scale of 50yds. This produces an area of around 32,000yds2 or approx. 26,000m2. If you look at the map in Norman Cliff's book ''Looking Back 50 years to Weihsien'' it is based on a scale of 100yds. and still lines up precisely with mine. So, how come your area is more than 3 times larger than ours? Something is wrong somewhere.
I am happy to recalculate my figures. Would you please send me the distance shown on your map, from the guard -house on the N.W. corner of the wall to the front gate. I will then extrapolate the figure to arrive at the dimensions. Meanwhile, would you please have another look at your sums.
As a matter of interest, the land of which my house is located is 10,000m2 ( 60m x 166m) if Weihsien is 8.3 times larger then the land would be H U G E. and in my mind this just does not seem possible.
I am only raising this matter as it may be misleading if wrong figures are presented at the Weihsien reunion.
Looking forward to hearing from you
Fred (aka Alfie)
PS In camp my family and I were domiciled
in Block 6, very close to the bakery. On
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: lundi 4 juillet 2005 12:07
Those early scales on maps were incorrect. I have some small knowledge of maps having been Vice President of the Royal Institute of Navigation and I would subscribe to the figure now being quoted.
If you consider the size of the rooms in the hut blocks those are generally agreed to be 8 foot x 12 foot and there were 12 rooms in a Block add a bit for walls and each block was 33 yards long if you use the 50yd scale they are only about 26 thus I think the Gilkey Map which started it portrayed the camp as 80% of actual size.
Another clue was the "Ball field" whilst it was too small to lay a Baseball pitch it did allow a Soft Ball for which I seem to recall the size of 30yds between bases that did not fill the Ball field which it would almost at using the "50yds" scale. I also recall that it was not large enough to accommodate a Soccer field which is 120yards and it was around 90 yards long hence the need not to use the standard penalty area and goal area but have a combined one.
Have fun in Weifang.
Rgds
Block 42/6 ( 1943)
Block 13/11 (1944-1945)
De: "Greg Leck"
<gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: lundi 4 juillet 2005 19:06
One big problem is the map does not have a linear scale drawn on it. You cannot trust the ratio (ie 1:10,000) because as the map is photocopied it is enlarged or reduced or who knows what, so an inch measurement is no longer scaleable.
Greg
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: On it goes...
Date: lundi 4 juillet 2005
Greg,
As a researcher into old war records, you
might find the following excerpts from letters that my grandfather, George
Wilder, wrote in 1941. The first clearly
shows that some people, at least, assumed that we would be the ones to declare
war on
August 13, 1941
"…We are just beginning to feel the
real effects of what our country has done as the almost last move before
actually fighting, that is, the freezing of credits. For us it meant at first, that we could not
draw any money from the bank. As an
added inconvenience, any American or Britisher who already had permits could
buy railroad tickets to the main stations -
…Mr. Pennell, editor of the P&T Times thinks that inside of a month Great Britain will declare war on Japan, (if she continues pressing south) and that in three days the US will follow suit. He judges only by the tone of the broadcasts from the two countries. That will mean that we are out here for the duration and no one knows what will become of mails. Passages will go glimmering, but we are glad to be here and take what comes...."
======================================================
(The
December 7, 1941
"…The Consul General sends us an express letter saying there is a chance to sail in a few days for any who still contemplate evacuating. We are still unmoved and hope you do not worry too much.... "
=====================================================
(Wilder was writing a letter to his friend,
Japanese ornithologist Baron Koruda, when he heard about
December 9, 1941
"…Monday morning Dec. 8th, early, before breakfast, I started a letter to him [his friend and fellow birder, Koruda] and before I had written a half dozen lines John Hayes phoned me, "We are at war with Japan. You hang around here today as I am off to the Presbyterian compound."
Soon after breakfast I was called out to see the Japanese officer and his single soldier guard. I took them into Hayes' office and he had to look all through his knapsack for a slip of paper, which he handed me. In large English script it said, "War has broken out between our two countries. You are under the protection of the Imperial Japanese army, and all schools and religious organizations. For a few days you will be required to remain in your own homes." It was written in Chinese, too. He asked "Understand?" I said "Yes," and he came up and shook hands warmly...."
=============================
All the best,
Donald Menzi
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005 3:48
Thanks for the interest in the camp dimensions. I must confess I am still a little confused. I wonder why! Joyce.
De: "Dawei Beard"
<phoenix7788@hotmail.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005 12:57
Hi Fred, Ron & Greg,
It's quite timely to be questioning the figure on my map which gives Weihsien CAC's total surface as having been 83,200m2. Please note that I take no responsibility for the map, which I acquired a few years ago and adopted largely because it is very neatly drawn and also is colour-coded.
That of course doesn't guarantee the accuracy of the 100 yard scale, which measures 89cm. Going by Ron Bridge's plausible calculations, estimating each block (e.g. those on either side of Tin Pan Alley) as 33 yards long, then, at 20/21mm per block as on my map, you could fit just over four block lengths into my 89mm 100 yard scale. But Ron's 33 yards a block would only fit THREE into 100 yards. So on that basis, my map's 100 yard scale, measuring 89mm, would need to be reduced by 25% to close on 67mm. I'm no cartographer, nor mathematician either (history was my star subject at school), so I await a reasonable consensus of opinion on the matter. In the meantime, we're still waiting for Sui Shude to produce a detailed map of the immediate area of Weifang city where the No 1 Middle School is located.
My map takes up a full A4 sheet of paper. It is precisely the same as that of Father Verhoeven's map as shown on Leopold Pander's Picture Gallery (under 'Index' on the left hand side, click Fr V's chapter), with the exception that someone has added the 100 yard scale.
Regarding your question, Fred, the distance from the main gate of Camp to the wall's NW corner, is 49cm. That would make it 55 yards on the basis of the current scale, but if the scale is adjusted downwards by 25%, then I calculate the distance to be 67 yards. I hope these figures are helpful for your recalculations. Have fun!
Regards,
David Beard
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005 19:41
Dawei's Calculations accord with mine. No matter how often you photocopy and each time one always distorts the size albeit slightly as long as the scale bar is on the side and you use that scale bar to measure you will come up with the same answer because the scale bar is distorted as much as the map.
It does not matter if you then print it A4, A5 or a full square metre, the relative size will be the same. I have a picture of one of the blocks and counting the bricks you come up with the same size room as we have always thought ie about 8 -9 foot wide. Then there is the Ball Field any readers in the States can confirm the size of a Baseball Diamond (I think that that is the term for the four bases) which would not fit and a Softball Diamond which would. An aside to Dawei I was cartographer ( special=sign in Navigation as well as flying) and have now ended up a historian just spent six hours researching those captured in Malaya in archive files.
Rgds to all.
Ron
PS can someone take a tape measure to Weifang and measure one of the dimensions and then we can factor the existing maps for real
De: "Greg Leck" <gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005 19:56
If the original map had a scale, then it is applicable to the map as long as it is copied along with the map.
However, if there is no linear scale, but the map says something like "scale 1:1,000" then it becomes useless once it is enlarged or reduced. On the original map, one inch would equal 1,000 inches, or 83.33 feet
But if that map is enlarged or reduced, and you measure an inch, you will think you are measuring 83.3 feet but you will be actually be measuring something larger or smaller. Without knowing the exact enlargement or reduction of the original, the scale becomes useless.
I cannot recall without seeing them, but I believe the map originally had a verbal scale recorded, and no linear scale bar.
At some point, someone added a bar. But by then, the map probably had changed dimensions.
The map I am using in my book was based on a copy from the Japanese National Archives. I will have to look at the original to see what it says.
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005
RE:
For what it's worth, Gilkey (Shantung Compound) gives the dimensions as "150 x 200 yards" and Howard Galt’s memoir says it was "about 20 acres." These are both obviously estimates, but at least have the value of being eyewitness observations. How do they compare with the map scales?
Donald
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005 20:53
Hi~
When we came home from
~Dwight W. Whipple
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: The Hubbards' camp quarters - and
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005
Gladys,
A while ago you asked about where your parents lived in Weihsien. George Wilder's diary says that the Wilders and Hubbards lived next to each other in Block #13, rooms 10 and 11. You can find the location of Block #13 and also Gertrude Wilder's painting depicting rooms 10 and 11 on my web site (d.menzi.org) by clicking on the "Site Directory" then on "Weihsien" and then the "interactive map" and "Our 9 x 12 Living Quarters."
Ron Bridge, one of our Topica correspondents, moved into these quarters after the Wilder's left - an amazing coincidence that we both discovered several years ago when I sent Norman Cliff a set of Gertrude Wilder's paintings and asked him if he could relate their locations to the map in his book. I guess this implies that the Hubbards moved to another location.
Hope this is helpful.
Donald
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Baseball vs. Softball
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005
A little trivia for you baseball fans:
George Wilder's diary provides a confirmation that the game that was played on the Weihsien ball field was mainly softball, not baseball, but see the entry for May 29 below. Wilder, who had himself been a star pitcher who once wrote that he would "rather play baseball than eat," was 70 years old by then, but served as umpire for some of the Weihsien ball games. The "Fathers" apparently had the best team in the camp. The following is a sample of his 1943 diary entries.
April 9 to 15
"Softball baseball is drawing
crowds.
April 17
"A fine 11-inning game of softballwas
won by the Fathers (Catholic) over
May 29
"
Aug. 7
"Three ball games -
Donald
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Hubbards' camp quarters - and
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005
Just to straighten this out there was a
general easing after the people left Weihsien in September 1943 and the Bridge
family moved into the rooms vacated by the Hubbards after they left to catch
the Gripsholm to
Rgds
Ron
Bridge
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005 23:25
Just to put these two in context 150 x 200 yds is 30,000 sq yards and 20 acres is 96,800 sq yards. It could be that the latter is the whole compound and the former is the internees section if you go from the hut length which measuring Gilkey's and Michell Maps is 27 yards ie 80% of what they should be this woudl give an area of 46,875 sq yards which would about accord with the total area being 20 acres.
Ron
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Hubbards' camp quarters - and
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005
Ron,
A little further straightening is required because the Hubbards were not repatriated on the Gripsholm with the Wilders, so they must have moved out of their room when you moved into theirs. Maybe they swapped with your family so that you could have the two contiguous rooms - the one vacated by the Wilders and theirs - while they moved into yours, since there were only two of them. Do you remember your original room number?
Donald
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: mardi 5 juillet 2005
Thanks, Ron,
So what is our final estimate of the linear dimensions of the internees' living area, i.e., N to S and E to W? I've got a "100 yard" measure on the map I'm using and I wonder how accurate it might be.
By the way, the hut width that is usually quoted is 9 x 12, though that could also be an approximation.
Donald
De: "Dusty"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <pander.nl@skynet.be>
Objet: IRemember
Date: mercredi 6 juillet 2005
Leoplod, I, of course, received your I REMEMBER notice from Mary Previte. I am planning to be in Weihsien for the Liberation reunion. I was Georgie Reinbrecht, now Georgie Knisely.
I REMEMBER sitting in the church for class. We would line up in a pew, smartest at the left, and Miss Rudd would be facing us in the pew ahead. She would quizz us on the lesson, if the one answering missed, they would go to the bottom of the line and the rest would move up - we loved it. Especially, if Wies de Jongh or, I think Eddie Cooke, failed to answer correctly. They were the smartest, when they went to the bottom of the line, we had a chance. Never took them very long to get back up!!!!
I remember sitting on the outside wall at the baseball field, the second time paratroopers dropped. We had put up parachutes as a backstop for the home plate. All of a sudden, canisters started to drop where we were sitting, because they thought that was the place to aim the parachutes. Luckily, someone figured it out before anyone was hurt and rushed to tear the parachutes down.
I remember standing around #1 kitchen, when Father Scanlan got out of solitary confinement for black marketing. We all sang For He's A Jolly Good Fellow. He had been let out after a couple of days (instead of two weeks) because he sang out loud every morning when he woke up EARLY, and he was right under the guards house.
I remember the teachers wrote our textbooks on one side of our small notebooks, and the left side was left clear to do our homework.
I remember the American Salvation Army band
playing God Bless
What excitement!
I remember standing on the basketball field outside a window, while people worked on one of the CIM boys who had jumped up and grabbed a hanging wire. They tried for hours, but never brought him back. A sad day.
I remember Eric Liddell (of Chariots of Fire fame) teaching us basketball on the same basketball field. He was an amazing, patient man. He turned us into good, competitive sportsmen - and women.
Thanks for your time and putting this together. Georgie
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: mercredi 6 juillet 2005
A number of you are quite gifted cartographically I think! Have any of you considered the following possibility?
What about taking a careful measurement of the perimeter dimensions of the old Weihsien Camp hospital (Block 61) after we arrive for the 60th Anniversary of Liberation celebration. This could either be metric or in feet and inches.
Then by careful comparison with existing maps of the compound, some of which clearly show the hospital building, and a little interpolation, could we not solve the problem?
Dwight's mention of checking with the Presbyterian Mission, the original designers and builders of "Shantung Compound," later known as Weihsien Camp, is a good idea that had also occurred to me.
Dwight, as a recently retired Presbyterian minister of long standing, would you be willing to undertake this particular piece of research and share your findings with us?
I think the camp was much larger than just
two football fields. I can recall
mention of an area of about 24 acres. So
the 20-acre area mentioned by Ron and others sounds reasonable to me. Your family was only there for a very brief
period while awaiting repatriation to the
When we think of the size of the camp, we must also remember that a portion of the full compound which used to be occupied by the missionaries and their families was in our time appropriated for their own use by the Japanese. This was a spacious area with a very low density of human habitation.
David
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: mercredi 6 juillet 2005
I'll see if I can dig up anything from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). But don't hold your breath. The aerial photos may help as much as anything.
~Dwight W. Whipple
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Hubbards' camp quarters
Date: mercredi 6 juillet 2005
There is some confusion on the Hubbards and are we talking about the same, as there were two families details and sources below: Hugh W Hubbard ( Born1887) a Protestant Priest and his wife Mrs ME (Born 1887)Missionary from the NCAS Tungchow lived in Block 10 Room 9 are listed in the Camp list of 1944 they are also listed as having been liberated in 1945 in a USArmy Signal Message at NARA where their next of kin is given as C Hubbard 200 Hillarie Circle, White Plains, New York. I believe that they stayed din the same room
Colin Philip Hubbard ( No known dob)Missionary and his wife Jan McDonald ( No known dob) Missionary lived in Block 13 Room 11 Their home town is given as Hollywood CA they sailed from Shanghai on 15th September 1943 ( Shanghai Times) and are then listed on the Gripsholm( New York Times List).
While I am about it George D Wilder ( No known dob)Missionary and his wife Gertrude S ( No known dob)Missionary came from Peking and lived in Block 13 Their home town is given as Oberlin OH they sailed from Shanghai on 15th September 1943 ( Shanghai Times) and are then listed on the Gripsholm( New York Times List).
Re your query on original Bridge Rooms
The Bridge family's original Room for four was Block 42 Room 6 and the move to Block 13 Rooms 10 and 11 was in September 1943 presumably taking the rooms vacated by the Wilders and CP Hubbards. The occupants of Block 13 Room 12 were my maternal grandparents Herbert A and Elizabeth E Fleet. Our room numbers are taken from a. the 1944 list and , the 3 inch x 4 inch white cloth patches with details on that we had to wear and which are still in my possession.
I hope that this resolves the question, knowing memories it will probably create more!!
Rgds
Ron
PS if anyone has a Date(Year) of Birth or can fill in the initials I would appreciate it
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Hubbards' camp quarters
Date: mercredi 6 juillet 2005 16:11
Ron,
Ron,
Thanks very much. I didn't know that there were two Hubbards,
and assumed that the Hubbard next to the Wilders was Hugh Hubbard, who was
Wilder's best friend in
I'll get you the Wilders' dates of birth this evening.
Is there any possibility of getting a photocopy of the Shanghai Times article about the Gripsholm departure? I'd like to add it to my collection. If you have a scanned version, could you send it as an attachment to dmenzi@earthlink.net?
Thanks again,
Donald (Wilder) Menzi
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: mercredi 6 juillet 2005
Hi Friends --
I have worked with blueprints all my life. They are a "must" for a home, a building, a boat, a rocket engine; a mission compound ... the list is endless.
Hasn't anyone thought of contacting the mission that built the original compound and its buildings back in the early 20th century, and asking them for the blueprints? Nothing of consequence is ever built without blueprints, and I'll bet they still exist somewhere in the mission archives.
Pamela Masters
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: mercredi 6 juillet 2005
I don't want to get into the debate about the size of the camp, but I do want to offer a little information about baseball and softball:
In baseball, the distance between the bases is 90 feet, or 30 yards. In softball, the distance is 60 feet, or 20 yards. I hope that helps.
Albert de Zutter
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>;
<suishude@sohu.com>
Cc: "Donald Menzi" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>;
"M and D Beard" <phoenix7788@hotmail.com>
Objet: preparations
Date: mercredi 6 juillet 2005 22:06
Dear Mr Shude,
I won't be in Weifang on the 17th of August but, --- I will virtually be present through this large window which is ---- my computer screen.
Go to http://www.weihsien-paintings.org
Donald Menzi and David Beard are preparing various documents for all the persons who will be present at the 60-year-celebrations in Weifang/Weihsien.
We need your help:
- a recent map of Weifang No.2 middle class school?
- The old hospital that was part of the Weihsien Compound still exists. Could you give us the exact measurements of this building (at ground level)? This information will help us to find out the exact size of our "concentration camp" that we would like to position as accurately as possible on a map ---- . (?)
- On my web-site, I tried to introduce Weifang with all the info I could find on the Internet. Could you check? I'd gladly consider your suggestions as to making it better. The "Our Hosts" chapter is quite empty for the moment. I'd really appreciate a better picture of you and the Weifang's mayor (and others) who will be our hosts and maybe a short biography as an introduction. I know that you are preparing an exhibit about Weihsien-prison-camp-1943-1945 that will become a permanent museum, and with all the data you already have about Eric Liddell --- to remind the younger generations about your recent history of the past 80 years. Most of the documents we are preparing will be for the benefit of these new generations.
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Eddie Cooke" <shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005 4:37
Like Al de Zutter, I don't want to buy into the Camp size debate, but his info regarding the distance between bases must help to give us an idea of the size of the ball field. I do recall that softball was the main form of the game played, although a couple of baseball games were played......a bit of trivia-during one of these games, my father hit a home run over the left field fence.....obviously a fluke as he was really no ball player!
Al, are you or your brother John going to be at the reunion?
Regards, Ed Cooke.
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005
I think that's what Dwight is going to try to find out.
Pamela Masters
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com> wrote: Hi Friends --
I have worked with
blueprints all my life. They are a "must" for a home, a building, a
boat, a rocket engine, a mission compound ... the list is endless.
Hasn't anyone
thought of contacting the mission that built the original compound and its
buildings back in the early 20th century, and asking them for the blueprints?
Nothing of consequence is ever built without blueprints, and I'll bet they
still exist somewhere in the mission archives.
Pamela Masters
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: preparations
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005
Very sensible request, Leopold!
David
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005
Good points, well taken, Eddie! However, there is still a bit of a problem: the size of the outfield! The bases may well have been placed the standard 20 yards apart for softball (although we do not know that they were for certain); but just how far out from the baselines did the right and left fields extend - and for that matter how far from second base did the center field extend on the Weihsien Camp softball field?
Still your contribution is good and very valid.
David
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005 5:48
About the date of construction of the Hospital. I am pretty sure from memory that we deciphered the year 1924 on the stone near the front door. The inscription was deteriorating quote badly when we saw it in 1986. I think it also said "Sunnyside (or Shadyside) Hospital. I am not sure which. Joyce
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual tour
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005
Joyce,
It was "Shadyside..." Ironically, my grandfather was hospitalized there briefly about 10 years before he was interned there.
Donald
De: "Raymond Moore"
<raym82@hotmail.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005 8:25
Hi Joyce,
Yes it was
section of the Weihsien site at
http://users.skynet.be/bk217033/Weihsien/index.htm I took a picture of the stone with the name on it. It had been chipped away by Red Guards and was partially obliterated, but still readable.
Ray Moore
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005 8:40
hello,
http://users.skynet.be/bk217033/Weihsien/RayM/pages/page15.htm
this link should bring you directly to the picture ----
A+
Leopold
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: Sketch Locations
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005 9:52
hello again,
Picture No.9
--- could be anywhere, but --- in all logic, it must have been Father Schmid's backyard! All the Fathers at that period were located in the "Italian's quarters". (Ron will be able to confirm). There is a number 2-- on the wall so it is a perimeter wall with an electrified barbed wire. Don't see any isolators though --- so the wires were not electrified after all!?? ----- I'd place that picture against the North Wall someplace between the "maingate" and the "closed gate"?
What do you say?
A+
Leopold
Original Message -----
From: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
To: "Donald Menzi" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>;
<weihsien@topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005
Subject: Re: Sketch Locations
> hello,
> Janette found No.7
> The artist (Father Schmid) was at the crossing of MainRoad and Ludgate Hill and was looking in the direction of the Hospital ---- downhill! Kitchen 3 is on the left. That's why Ludgate Hill is at the top of a hill. Our camp had it's ups and downs. I wonder if it is still like that today? You'll have a lot to discover!
> As for No.12, Father Hanquet told me that is was Blocks-60 and 59. Father Verhoeven represented them in "rows" --- but in fact they were not. The houses were harmoniously scattered around. --- And then he said that he wasn't too sure about it !!
> I'll forward the message to Topica --- maybe someone can help.
> A+
> Leopold
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Donald Menzi" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
> To: <pander.nl@skynet.be>
> Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005
> Subject: Sketch Locations
> > Leopold,
> >
> > Making good progress on the PP slides. Do you think there's any way of identifying the location of Fr. Schmid's drawings # 7, 9 and 12? Perhaps Fr. Hanquet would know. Also, which buildings are his two sketches of - one interior, one roll-call. Almost everything else is in place.
> >
> > I'm going to try to give you an advance "tour" before I send it out to have Chinese titles added.
> >
> > Best regards.
> > Donald
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Fw: Sketch Locations
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005 16:31
Leopold,
I think I recall reading somewhere that the barbed wire was only electrified after the escape, when the outer outer guard towers and moat were also built - part of the general tightening of security -- like the saying, "closing the barn door after the horse has left."
Donald
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: ABCIFER
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005 16:37
Pamela,
For info
For info
The High Court ruling today was that
1. That the birth link scheme adopted was
unlawful and indirectly discriminated against those of non-British national origin.
The desire of the government to limit the category of those who could claim
under the scheme to persons with a close link with the
2. IN addition I have found that the Secretary of State was in breach of his duties under s71 of the (Race Relation) Act.
Diana Elias now has to apply to a County Court for them to force the MoD to pay her as they have withheld the money by an illegal Act. The MoD have been granted leave to Appeal.
My job is to get Parliament to put sufficient pressure on the MoD to accept that they have been whipped and pay up cheerfully.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman's Report is due out in the next two weeks.
Rgds
Ron
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: "Topica List"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw:
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005
Hello former Weihsien internees. Here is the progress I have made regarding the dimensions of the camp. It may take some time but hopefully we will get some answers.
~Dwight W. Whipple
----- Original Message -----
From: "Reference User"
<refdesk@history.pcusa.org>
To: "Dwight & Judy Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005
Subject: RE:
> This automated response acknowledges receipt of your inquiry about the services or holdings of the Presbyterian Historical Society of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Email inquiries, like inquiries received by regular mail and fax, are answered in the order in which we receive them.
> We answer over 400 questions per month and will respond to your inquiry within the next 4 weeks. Your patience is appreciated.
>
> Presbyterian Historical Society
> Presbyterian Church (
>
>
> 215-627-1852
> FAX 215-627-0509
> refdesk@history.pcusa.org
> www.history.pcusa.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dwight & Judy Whipple
[mailto:thewhipples@comcast.net]
> Sent: Wed 7/6/2005
> To: Reference User
> Cc:
> Subject:
>
>
> Dear Margery~
> Some of us who were interned by the
Japanese during World War II in Weihsien,
Do Presbyterian records show those dimensions? Are there maps, plot plans, blue prints, etc.? Please let me know (I am a retired PCUSA minister) so that I can pass this information on to other former internees that are interested.
> ~The Rev. Dr. Dwight W. Whipple
>
> Dwight & Judy Whipple
> 4728A
>
> thewhipples@comcast.net
> Tel: 360.456.4300
>
>
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Draft base map for visual
tour
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005 17:55
Hi, Ed:
Regarding baseball (softball, really), as you may remember, while we were interned in Tsingtao, all the men playing softball were required to bat left-handed because the fence in the other direction was so close.
So when they started playing in Weihsien, many of them were confused about which side they could best use in batting. Apparently your dad made the adjustment well enough.
No, I will not be at the reunion. John and
I talked about it, but neither of us is planning to go. It was good seeing you
at the
Best wishes,
Al de Zutter
-----Original Message-----
From: Eddie Cooke [mailto:shedco@optusnet.com.au]
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005
To: weihsien@topica.com
Subject: Draft base map for visual tour
Like Al de Zutter, I don't want to buy into the Camp size debate, but his info regarding the distance between bases must help to give us an idea of the size of the ball field. I do recall that softball was the main form of the game played, although a couple of baseball games were played......a bit of trivia-during one of these games, my father hit a home run over the left field fence.....obviously a fluke as he was really no ball player!
Al, are you or your brother John going to be at the reunion?
Regards, Ed Cooke.
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet:
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005
Speaking of school reunions, I hope any of
you
Donald
De: "Gay Talbot Stratford"
<stillbrk@eagle.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: ABCIFER
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005 20:59
Ron,
Perhaps you would know where to write to sort out my status. I was born in base hospital in Quetta while my father was on active service in the Royal Scots, and hold a valid passport The UK office in Ottawa insist that I am not British by birth, only by descent. Neither of the two departments have replied. Any ideas?
Thanks a lot
Graham and Gay Stratford
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: ABCIFER
Date: jeudi 7 juillet 2005
Where was your birth Certificate issued, is
it a Military one if so the original will be the
I think that it is worth a claim because your case was covered by the Judge. I have not copied the 104 paragraphs of judgment.
Rgds
Ron
PS you must emphasise that your father was Active service with the British Army.
If you can let me have a copy including the Birth Certificate I will get the Royal British legion in on the act as they are very keen to ensure that children of British servicemen serving abroad are not disadvantaged.
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Sketch Locations
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005 0:33
I remember seeing the insulators for the electric wires on the wall when my husband and I visited in 1986. We may have a photo in my vcr collection.
Joyce Bradbury
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Size of the Camp
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005
A number of imaginative ways have been suggested to arrive at an estimate of the camp dimensions. I just got a replacement for my missing Gilkey book and checked his map. He includes a "100 yards" scale, and the statement, "The scale of the plan is accurate; the compound is only 200 yards at its widest point and 150 yards long." Is there really any reason to doubt the accuracy of his remark, based as it is on first-hand experience?
Donald
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Picture #9
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005 5:16
Leopold,
I don't think #9 can be exactly where you suggest. Gertrude Wilder's painting of the small closed "hospital" gate shows that the buildings to its left buildings extend almost to the gate itself, whereas #9 shows space to the right of the building - enough for the "kitchen," plus one of the dirt-piles the Japanese Guards used to look over the wall, and a tree. We know from Fr. Schmid's other sketches that these dirt piles were typical of the east wall, and probably extended along the northeast side as well.
Also, we know that not all the Fathers lived in what became the "Italian Quarters." Fr. Schmid's painting of the SVD quarters (buildings #59 and #60) proves that. And Fr. Scanlan says that the Scheut Fathers, "the largest group in the camp," occupied one wing of the hospital building.
I would guess that #9 is the end of building #58, which is right next to his other paintings and the geometry of the building and wall works there. Of course, there's still the question of what the number 2 means, so there is some doubt, but that's where I'm putting it until proven otherwise.
By the way, Fr. Scanlan puts the size of the entire compound at "five or six acres."
One other question. Fr. Scanlan says the "Japanese guards...occupied a three-storied building in our section, and from there they could see over most of the camp." Which building do you think that was? I can't tell from any of the maps.
Fitting all these pieces together is very much like the jigsaw puzzles that my father used to assemble. It's really great fun.
Please thank Jeanette and also Fr. Hanquet for his excellent visual memory.
Donald
De: "Alexander Strangman" <dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Size of the Camp
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005
Donald,
The camp's dimensions has been an interesting point for me, especially after seeing Gilkey's map, as it always seemed wider than 200 yards, to me.
If he produced it 'off his own bat', he did a mighty job and I agree there should be no reason to doubt the accuracy of his statement, though if you use his 100 yd. scale (4.5cms) and compare it to the width of the camp per his drawing, it measures 10.5 cms. So for a start, the camp must have been, at least, over 250 yds wide.
The ball field in relation to Blk #6 is
another interesting comparison.
On Gilkey's map, Blk #6 takes up most of the length of the playing field, yet estimates of the length of the blocks has been mentioned as 33 yds long.
In my opinion something doesn't add up, there!
By the way, not all blocks had 12 rooms. Ours had 10 only.
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Another piece in the jigsaw puzzle.
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005
Leopold and others,
Can any of you tell me if Cameron's sketch of a stairway, in Norman Cliff's collection, is from the basketball court looking north toward the hospital, or is it from the hospital courtyard looking south toward the hospital, with the basketball court out of sight on the other side of the retaining wall? Or is it somewhere else altogether?
Thanks.
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: ABCIFER
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005
Ron. Not knowing the exact basis of Diana Elias' litigation I would appreciate if you could advise whether my brother and I have reason to have our hopes raised by the judgement. You may recall that Eddie and I were refused the compensation on the grounds that we were unable to prove to the satisfaction of the MoD that we were eligible even though we were registered by the British Consul at the time of our birth and I still have British citizenship and a current passport. I have no doubt there are many ex internees who would also like to ask this question. Thanks. Joyce Bradbury nee Cooke.
De: "Fred & Coral Dreggs"
<dreggs1@bigpond.com>
À: "Ex Internees" <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: THE INFERNAL MAP
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005 9:11
Hi david,
Many thanks for your prompt reply about the distance I asked for, yours being 67yards(61.24m) using a lineal measurement of 49cms.
Your map must be enormous! i.e. 10 times larger than mine. My scale gives the distance as 61.75m and thus almost identical to yours. On my calculation, the total dimension of the camp , (excluding the Japanese quarters) is 28985m2 but say 30,000m2 (7 1/2 Acres) which I believe is getting close to reality. However, this is academic as we have yet to get the actual measurements of the hospital as the suggestion that has been made. I agree this is a good idea. Is it possible to get a further measurement of an existing ex-Japanese house to confirm the other one. I have heard there is such a building but I don't know if access will be available.
Speaking about the Japanese buildings, I am mystified. Was the entire map drawn up by somebody in our camp. If so, how did that person get access to the ''out of bounds'' area to measure the buildings so accurately? If drawn up before our ''tenancy'' how would the person know there would, in fact, be Japanese Quarters ? Does somebody know?
Regards
Fred
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: ABCIFER
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005
The fact that they lost this case by being judged in Breach of sections 41 and 71 of the Rac Relations Act means that the MoD imposition of the blood link rule is illegal.
I am working with the MPs to seek an early meeting with the Minister to resolve the issue for all. Let’s put it this way you and your brother have more hope than you had on Tuesday.
Rgds
Ron
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Size of the Camp
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005
Yes,
Because his map makes each room 6foot by 9ft and actual pictures show them to be larger than this around the 9ft x 12ft. Also the ball field definitely held a soft ball diamond and outfield or a slightly shortened football field also races were never quite 100 yds. There is also definitely something wrong with the relationship of Block 6 and the Field. One only has to look at the paintings that are surfacing to show that this is so. I think that the maps are all based on Gilkey and that the wall did not cut in like he had it this shows from the aerial photos. I will try and use some accurate photo-interpreting next week on the aerial photographs but this week I am a bit busy
Rgds
Ron
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: THE INFERNAL MAP/out of bounds Access
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005
There were isolated occasions when people could get to the out of bounds area officially these were walking down the road to the cemetery when there was a funeral. Incidentally I have a copy of the plan burial grave plots I will try and reduce it to A4 and let Leopold have it.
Secondly there was access at some times to the cows that were kept near the grave yard thus there would have been opportunity to assess the number and size of buildings.
Re the area I can look out over known 7 acre field and I would say that that it is nearer half the size of the internee section of Weihsien. The Scale distance that Fred mentions is the one on the side of the map who and when it was put on no one really knows.
Rgds
Ron
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: THE INFERNAL MAP/out of bounds Access
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005
Hello,
A new map? I'd gladly add it to the Weihsien-picture-gallery-web-site.
Maybe it's the same one I found in
Just click on this link to check?
http://users.skynet.be/bk217033/Weihsien/NormanCliff/people/Died.htm
Thanks Ron ---
A+
Leopold
De: <MTPrevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Surgery for Weihsien liberator Jim Moore
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005
Hello, Everybody:
Let's send cards and letters to Weihsien liberator, JIM MOORE. Jim, who had planned to attend the Weihsien reunion in August, will require surgery next week for an unexpected problem. This will mean Jim cannot attend the reunion.
He is VERY disappointed.
Jim's address is:
James W. Moore,
Phone: 214-341-8695
If you plan to attend the reunion, would you send me an e-mail, please,
with contact information for a directory I'm preparing for each former internee who is attending? Please include the name you were known by in
Weihsien, your city of origin in
I'd very much like this directory to be complete for your future reference.
Mary Previte
De: "Gay Talbot Stratford"
<stillbrk@eagle.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: ABCIFER
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005 19:36
Ron,
Thank you so much for your offer of help. I presume that you would like written documents. Could you send me a mailing address?
Our sincere sympathies are with all of you
in the
Best wishes to you and yours
Graham and Gay Stratford
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: ABCIFER
Date: vendredi 8 juillet 2005
I thought that everybody knew my address
RW Bridge
Chillies Oast
Chillies Lane
Crowborough
Rgds
Ron
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Surgery for Weihsien liberator Jim Moore
Date: samedi 9 juillet 2005
HI Mary,
I am sorry to hear about Jim Moore, I was so looking forward to catching up with him ( and everyone else of course).
My contact details are:
Joyce Bradbury
100 Cox's Road
Email: bobjoyce@tpg.com.au
Phone: +612 9878 3694
Known Name: Joyce Cooke
Block: Block 2
I look forward to meeting you soon,
Regards,
Joyce
De: "Stanley Nordmo"
<shnordmo@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Tennis
Date: samedi 9 juillet 2005
Does any one recall if tennis tournaments were held in camp?
I did not remember playing either tennis or
softball until running across a few short notes dated early August 1945. I had
taken the
In one notation I helped Jimmy Bruce roll the court. In his memoir "Bird in the Fowler's Net" he mentioned that Langdon Gilkey had coached him in tennis, and commented that Langdon had been a star collegiate player in the States.
In one softball game I was on Porter's team playing against Palmer's team. I did not record the outcome.
In another game however I was on the team that won 10 to 2.
De: "Eddie Cooke" <shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Surgery for weihsien liberator Jim Moore
Date: samedi 9 juillet 2005
Hello Mary,
So sorry to hear about Jim's problem. He will be sorely missed by all of us. I was so looking forward to seeing him again!
My contact details are:
Ed Cooke
Ryde, N.S.W. 2112
Phone + 61 2 9878 3732
Email: shedco@optusnet.com.au
Then known as "Eddie"
Origin city:
Block 2, Room 1
Glad you'll be there and am looking forward to meeting you.
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Tennis
Date: samedi 9 juillet 2005
Gilkey must have been good, since one of Fr. Hanquet's "I remember..." items is watching him play.
Donald
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Tennis
Date: dimanche 10 juillet 2005
Stanley and Donald
My main memory of Langdon Gilkey in Camp was of his responsibility as one of the cooks (or chefs). He was teamed up at Kitchen One with a young woman (I think she was a Miss Hinkley) and as I recall their meals were quite appetizing) in comparison to some of the other cooks.
My favorite cook I think was Mrs Warren. Somehow she found a way even in camp to produce the most mouth-watering shortbread! Mmmmm! I can taste it even now!
Somehow I don't recall tennis being played
at Weihsien although I do remember some coaching going on. It seems to me that my classmate, Raymond
Trickey, had an older brother and sister at Weihsien. The brother's name I think was Clifford. Was the sister's name Margaret. I've loaned out my copy of David Michell's book,
A Boy's War, so I do not have access to my list of
But I'm sure there was also lots of actual play as well.
Where I do remember tennis being played was at Temple Hill in Chefoo. As an eleven-year-old I watched games being played their in front of the Prep School house. At Temple Hill, a far smaller camp than Weihsien, we had a remarkably intimate relationship with our Japanese guards. I distinctly recall Japanese guards playing against some of the older boys and staff members.
David
De: "Eddie Cooke" <shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: [Norton AntiSpam] tennis
Date: dimanche 10 juillet 2005
I have always been led to believe that Gilkey at one stage was a reserve for the U.S. Davis Cup team.....true or false? Can anyone clear this up for me please?
Ed Cooke
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: "Paul-Emile Lagasse @ home"
<pe_lagasse@hotmail.com>
Objet: Re: tennis
Date: dimanche 10 juillet 2005 17:01
Think you are right! Father Hanquet told me something like that too ---
A+
Leopold
De: "John de Zutter"
<jjdz@optonline.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Tennis
Date: mardi 12 juillet 2005
I learned how to play tennis in the camp and used to play often. I was about 14 at the time. I can remember Gilkey watching one time and showing me a different grip for my backhand. I used the new grip from then on.
We uses to play with the tennis balls until there was almost no fuzz left.
Because they became so light the ball trajectories became quite unpredictable. I also recall re-stringing tennis rackets and salvaging string from rackets that were no longer usable.
John de Zutter
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Tennis
Date: mardi 12 juillet 2005
Amazing! I learned how to play chess in the camp. I don't remember who it was that taught me. It wasn't my father or uncle (Elden Whipple or Nate Walton); it was some other older gentleman who had a lot of patience with a seven year old! What I learned about chess still gives me a lot of pleasure today!
~Dwight W. Whipple
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Questions for Norman Cliff
Date: mercredi 13 juillet 2005
I have two questions for you, Norman:
1) Are all three of the drawings of committee heads in your collection by the same artist? One of them identifies the artist as C. Marshall. The signatures on the two, which are not identified don't look like the same.
2) I notice that the copyright "bug" appears on all the pictures on Leopold's site that are from your wonderful collection, which I assume means that they are not to be reproduced without your permission. I, too, would like to use them in a "slide show" I am creating that utilizes all of the paintings that Leopold has posted on the Weihsien web site to create a visual "walking tour" of the camp, as seen through the eyes of its artists.
Is it necessary to reproduce the "C" symbol and your name for each individual picture, as it appears on the web site, or can I include a general statement of your copyright protection in the "Acknowledgements" section at the end of the show? The latter would be preferable because some of the "slides" have a map and 3 or 4 pictures with the artists' names, and are already a little cluttered.
Thanks very much, by the way, for sharing your collection with us all through the web site.
Donald
De: "Gladys Swift" <glaswift@cstone.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Hubbards' camp quarters
Date: mercredi 13 juillet 2005
This is Gladys Hubbard Swift, youngest child of Hugh and Mabel Ellis Hubbard. (other children: Ellis Wells Hubbard, also in Weihsien, but repatriated on Gripsholm, Ward, and Emma-Rose.) As far as I heard from them, they did not change rooms. They told me about building in their little room, shelves, chimney made of tin cans etc. so I don't think they moved. Below are some corrections to their bio quoted:
>
>To: weihsien@topica.com
>Subject: Re: The Hubbards' camp quarters
>
>Hugh W Hubbard ( Born1887) a Protestant
(not a priest, was a minister) and his wife Mrs ME (Born1882 - correct date)
Missionary from the NCAS Tungchow, previously Paotingfu, Hopei, lived in Block 10 Room 9 are listed in
the Camp list of 1944. they are also listed as having been liberated in1945 in
a US Army Signal Message at
This couple are not known to me:
Colin Philip Hubbard ( No known dob)Missionary and his wife Jan McDonald (No known dob) Missionary lived in Block 13 Room 11 Their home town is given as Hollywood CA they sailed from Shanghai on 15th September 1943 ( Shanghai Times) and are then listed on the Gripsholm( New York Times List).
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Hubbards' camp quarters
Date: mercredi 13 juillet 2005
Gladys,
I agree that they did not move until they left Camp the problem arose as there was another family of Hubbard in block 13. The term " Priest " is as printed on the 1944 list of inmates and taken to mean a ordained minister in the Prtoestant context.
Rgds
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Questions for Norman Cliff
Date: mercredi 13 juillet 2005
I might be able to help here.
As a graphic artist, commercial printer, publisher and author, I cannot state this strongly enough: If there is a copyright symbol, name, and date on any artwork, map, or article, you MUST reproduce them if you reproduce the work in any form -- BUT FIRST, you must get permission , preferably in writing, from the originator, or his or her heirs and assigns.
Sometimes this can be very time-consuming, and was one of the reasons that in many instances I couldn't use actual names of people in my book, The Mushroom Years, as I had no idea what country the person was currently living in, whether he or she was alive or dead, or in the case or a girl, whether she had married, which would change her last name, making a search almost fruitless.
I know we're all friends, and I'm pretty certain there would be no problem reproducing copyrighted art and articles, but out of common courtesy, and also consideration for copyright laws, I recommend you take the time to get permission, or failing that, omit the material.
Pamela Masters
De: "Frances Osborne"
<frances@francesosborne.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Americans going to reunion
Date: jeudi 14 juillet 2005 0:20
Dear All,
If you are an American citizen going to the reunion please will you email me on frances@francesosborne.com and let me know whether you were an internee or whether you are related to an internee - I am trying to compile a list of US citizens attending the reunion.
Frances Osborne
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Questions for Norman Cliff
Date: jeudi 14 juillet 2005 1:16
Pamela,
I agree, which is why I'm asking
Don
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: just found you all
Date: vendredi 15 juillet 2005
Hi, I just discovered this board as I decided to come to the Weifang celebration. Admittedly I have not given much thought to the camp days until recently. My memories seem to be very clear however about some parts of camp life.
Ted Pearson
De: "George Kaposhilin"
<gkapo@sbcglobal.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: weihsien boy scouts
Date: vendredi 15 juillet 2005 17:04
Hi all:
Can anyone please identify the various boys in the attached picture.
Thanks,
George
De: "Gladys Swift" <glaswift@cstone.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Hubbards' camp quarters - and
Date: vendredi 15 juillet 2005
This whole subject of where the Hubbards lived is very confusing since there were two sets of Hubbard (which I didn't know) and now I am being told of a different room where Hugh and Mabel lived - first 10/9 and now 13/10 or 11. I wish there was some clarification I could believe. Gladys Hubbard Swift
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: weihsien boy scouts
Date: vendredi 15 juillet 2005
George:
I think you forgot to attach the attachment.
:-)
Al de Zutter
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: just found you all
Date: vendredi 15 juillet 2005
Welcome Ted! I think you will enjoy this board. We have a great time together here, reminiscing about the "good old days" as well as the "not-so-good old days!"
I look forward to meeting you in Weifang (Weihsien)!
David Birch
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Hubbards' camp quarters - and
Date: samedi 16 juillet 2005 0:52
Gladys,
I am the source of some of your confusion because I assumed that the Hubbards who lived next to the Wilders would be your parents because they were such close friends - never dreaming that there was another couple with that last name. So just erase the reference to Block 13, #10 and #11 from your memory.
Sorry about that.
Donald
De: <Cliffnorman@aol.com>
À: <tapol@skynet.be>
Objet: Re: Illustrations
Date: dimanche 17 juillet 2005
I have Chinese Escapade - It was written by
Laurance Tipton, published in
Tipton has died and his sister who typed it for him has also died.
Does that answer your question?
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: memories
Date: lundi 18 juillet 2005
I am new to this page and have to get used to how the site works. Mary Previte has urged me to post some of my memories.
For a start, I remember ringing the hand bell from time to time to wake the camp for morning roll call. I remember the roll calls..ichi, ni san, chi, etc.
I remember my Dad, Frank dancing a pas de deux with Betty Lambert. I remember my Mom, Ruby, playing soft ball complete with chatter (totally unlike the woman I knew.
I remember my Dad acting in Androcles and the Lion. And Fr. de jaeger (was it?) being the lions roar.
I remember bed bugs and pouring boiling water on the beds, and getting scalded and being painted blue. Oh the embarassment in the showers.
I remember being hungry.
I remember the horror of eating powdered egg shells and how they didn't get wet in your mouth.
I remember the B29s flying over and the crates and drums falling from the bomb bays and the 'chutes never opening. I remember when the 7 jumped from the B24 and we ran out of the gates.
I remember my dad with the swarming of bees in the hospital.
That ought to do it for a start. Ted.
Ted Pearson
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: memories
Date: mardi 19 juillet 2005
Dear Edmund. Welcome to this site. I cannot say I remember you personally but I do remember your mother Ruby and your father very well. She was lovely, always had a smile on her face. She was a good looking woman too. You may know that Betty Lambert who was Desmond Power's half sister passed away some years ago. Are you coming to the re-union? Best wishes, Joyce
Bradbury (formerly Cooke)
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: memories
Date: mardi 19 juillet 2005
Hi, I was always known as Ted or Teddy. I registered as Edmund as it is my legal name. I plan to come to Weihsien for the celebration. I was not aware that she had died. In fact, I remember very few people. Both my parents have passed on as has my brother. Yes my Mother was a real beauty and even when she was old and during her last days, she was sound of mind and still an attractive woman. Ted.
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: memories
Date: mardi 19 juillet 2005
Wonderful memories, Ted!
Thanks for sharing!
David
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: ABCIFER
Date: mardi 19 juillet 2005
Gay,
I have received your birth certificate I have got quite a few questions so can you come back to me on my own e-mail rwbridge@freeuk.com
Thanks
Ron
De: <MTPrevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: memories
Date: mardi 19 juillet 2005
What wonderful memories, Ted!
Yes, I remember Androcles and the
Lion. Yes, o, yes! I remember eating
powdered egg shells! And, yes, O horrors!
I remember the bed bugs. In our
dorm, we didn't douse them with boiling water.
We attacked them with knives and
thumb nails every summer Saturday in what we called the "
Keep the memories coming. We're going to have a lot to talk about on our Weihsien reunion.
Mary Previte
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: memories
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005
Gosh the bed bugs. I can remember being sent to get the boiling water, carrying it and spilling it all over...yes! Then getting myself painted blue with Gentian Violet.
Re Androcles and the Lion, my dad was the Christian who was willing to do anything to avoid being killed by the lion. I was so upset. Either getting ready for my first communion, or just had it.
I remember, Sister Eustella(?) was that her name? She played softball, was an American, and was a nun.
I remember having my first communion and getting a little lacy paper card and an armlet hand painted. (my ex has these and will not give them to me.)
I remember walking on the corrugated tin
roofs of the Japanese compound with (Leo?
Jeez this is a very strenuous exercise.
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: memories
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005
I remeber the counting. Three times a day. I also remeber meeting with Japanese later on
in 1973 who asked me how come I could use chopsticks so well. When I told them I was in
Edmund Pearson
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: memories
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005
Ted,
"Thanks for the memories!" You should really consider adding them to Leopold Pander's "I Remember" section on the "official" Weihsien website. The way it works is you download a base map of the compound, then "attach" your memories to the specific sites on the map that they are connected to. They become sort of like pop-up "post-its." It's very cool, and makes it possible to associate your memories with other people's recollections of things that happened to them in the same area. It also helps those of us who weren't there personally visualize camp life.
See you in Weifang!
Donald
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: map of japanese internee camps
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005 6:24
----- Original Message -----
From: Desmond Power
To: 'Bob&Joyce Bradbury'
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005
Subject: RE: map of japanese internee camps
Dear Joyce,
The map's JPEG (compressed) format is fine for transmission over the internet, so I don't know why it is too large for Topica. However, I reduced it very slightly in physical size, so that its digital size now amounts to less than a megabyte (858 KB to be exact.) I will attach it to a separate email to you. If Topica still rejects it, then I suggest you send it to one or two of your close friends prior to the Weifang commemoration. I'm sure they will find it as interesting as I did.
Sincerely, Desmond.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob&Joyce Bradbury [mailto:bobjoyce@tpg.com.au]
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005
To: Desmond Power
Subject: Fw: map of japanese internee camps
Dear Desmond. I have been trying to send a
copy of a very interesting plan of all the (then known) camps in the far East
which also includes Weihsien However it
always comes back as too big for WeilHsien Topica. Maybe you will be able to
receive it and re format it so Weihsien ex interdnees can get it. I obtained it
from the
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob&Joyce Bradbury
To: weihsien@topica.com
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005
Subject: Fw: map of japanese
internee camps
I have tried to send this several times but it keeps coming back undeliverable as too large.. I am sure it will be of interest so I"ll try again. The previous one was enlarged but too big for the site. I am sure that this one is enlargeable. If you cannot read it on enlargement let me know and I will have another go at sending. Joyce.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob&Joyce Bradbury
To: weihsien@topica.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Subject: Fw: map of japanese internee camps
There has been some talk about disposition of prison camps under the Japanese. Therefore I am re-sending this as it may be of assistance. See you at the re-union. Joyce Bradbuiry.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob&Joyce Bradbury
To: weihsien@topica.com
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004
Subject: Fw: map of japanese internee camps
Dear fellow ex internees. Here is a map of all known internment camps under the Japanese. I do not know how to condense it for transmission but I know you will be able to read it. Best wishes. Joyce Bradbury.----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Bradbury
To: Bob Bradbury
Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2004
Subject: map of japanese internee camps
Hi Dad
Here’s the scan of the map for you. I tried to fit it all on - only a little bit around the edges (ie the edge of the coordinate grids) was lost.
Tom
De: "Eddie Cooke" <shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: re: memories
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005 9:15
Hi Teddy,
Was your mother Ruby an artist? If so, then I , like my sister Joyce Bradbury, also remember her well. In my "Weihsien Artists" book, containing paintings and drawings by internees (some of which have already been posted on the site), there is a pencil portrait of myself done by your mother and signed and dated 11th August 1944. There is also an unfinished portrait of Joyce...unfinished because she said Joyce was a difficult person to draw. Glad to have you aboard and looking forward to seeing you at the big event!
Ed Cooke.(formerly known as Eddie)
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
Re: concentration camps: Asia
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005 9:46
Dear Everybody.
A few years ago at the
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: concentration camps: Asia
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005 10:12
Dear Joyce,
Could you send me the "biggest" copy you have of your map at tapol@skynet.be
With your permission, I could add it to your Chapter already on my Web-Site ---
Once that is done, a simple link will bring the "guest" directly to the map.
Example: http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/cooke/indexFrame.htm
Click here and you will see all the paintings you sent last year --- or the year before!
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: map of japanese internee camps
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005
Hello again,
You can now click on this link:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/cooke/mapAsia/page600pix.htm
You will reach a page with a map. Click on the red magnifying glass and the same map will be visible in a new window --- but much larger. Give it time to load onto your computer (± 1000Kbits)
Use the "scroll-bars" to move the map and to read all the legends!
:-))
Thanks Joyce --- it is a real nice map ---
A+
Leopold
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005
Joyce,
I would really like it.
if emailing fails could you be so kind as to mail it to me
RW Brdge
Chillies Oast
Chillies Lane
Crowborough
TN6 3TB
Many thanks
Rgds
Ron
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005 22:48
Joyce,
I'd like a copy, too. I know that Topica will only take sizes up to 100 kb. However, I think the best way to make it available to everyone would be to send it to Leopold Pander and let him put it on the "official" Weihsien web site, then we can all download it.
Don
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: re: memories
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005
Eddie,
You mention your "Weihsien Artists" book. Do you have any other works in addition to those already posted that could be included in the "walking tour" slide show that I am preparing for presentation some time during the August event? Any that could be associated with a particular location or camp activity would be most welcome.
Donald.
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Fw: map of japanese internee camps
Date: mercredi 20 juillet 2005
Joyce and Leopold.
Wow, was that fast! I see that the map is already on the web site, and downloads beautifully. Now everyone can print it out (or have it printed out) as they see fit.
What are the dimensions of the original map? It's really beautiful and some people might like to reproduce it as close to the real thing as possible.
Thanks again.
Donald
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Fw: map of japanese internee
camps
Date: jeudi 21 juillet 2005 0:31
I am so glad you are happy with the map. The original dimensions of the map are about 240 mm x 320 mm (about 91/2 inches x 13 inches.) To reach the map do what Leopold Pander outlines, i.e. click on
http://www.weishsien-paintings.org/cooke/mapAsia/pages600pix.htm
Joyce.
De: <MTPrevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: No Subject
Date: jeudi 21 juillet 2005
Joyce,
I'd love to have a copy of the map. I've been unable to download it from the web site you listed.
Mary Previte
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: memories
Date: jeudi 21 juillet 2005
I tried but frankly, (no offence Leopold) but I could not expand the view enough that I could read the block numbers.
Donald Menzi wrote:
>
>
> Ted,
>
> "Thanks
for the memories!" You should
really consider adding them to Leopold Pander's "I Remember" section
on the "official" Weihsien website.
The way it works is you download a base map of the compound, then
"attach" your memories to the specific sites on the map that they are
connected to. They become sort of like
pop-up "post-its." It's very
cool, and makes it possible to associate your memories with other people's
recollections of things that happened to them in the same area. It also helps those of us who weren't there
personally visualize camp life.
> See you in
Weifang!
> Donald
>
De: "Edmund Pearson"
<tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE:
Date: jeudi 21 juillet 2005 4:43
Me too Joyce, my email is sipabit@videotron.ca
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: memories
Date: jeudi 21 juillet 2005
Ted,
Did you download it and find you couldn't read them? Maybe Leopold can send you a higher resolution map directly.
How about it, Leopold?
Donald
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Map
Date: jeudi 21 juillet 2005
Joyce,
Do you remember if they told you anything
about the origin or date of the map? Based
on the symbol above the title scroll it must have been produced by the Red
Cross - maybe in 1944? Maybe someone in
Red Cross headquarters in
Thanks again for sharing it with us.
Donald
De: "leopold pander"
<pander.nl@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: memories
Date: jeudi 21 juillet 2005 10:33
Dear Ted,
When you click on this link:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/cooke/mapAsia/page600pix.htm
Try clicking on the "pdf"-symbol in the right margin.
The painting should appear in a new window in pdf-format. --- This allows you to print the document with an automatic page layout thanks to adobe acrobat. Hope it works.
Oh! Yes, --- I'm arranging a map with all your "IRemembers" --- coming soon ----
A+
Leopold
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: memories
Date: jeudi 21 juillet 2005 11:59
Hello again,
Try a new link:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/I_Remember/From/ted/p_TedPostit.htm
A+
Leopold
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: memories
Date: vendredi 22 juillet 2005 2:55
I am trying to send to you today a pencil sketch I drew of block 2 whilst in the camp. This was occupies by my family, and the deZutters. I would like that in the I REMEMBER program if suitable. Joyce.
De: "Joyce Cook" <bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Map
Date: vendredi 22 juillet 2005 2:55
No, I was not told anything about the origin of the map. I am putting together the names of those who need me to send the map straight to their email addresses. As soon as I can I will send it to them. Joyce
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>; "Rod
Miller" <rmmiller@optusnet.com.au>
Objet: Re: Map
Date: vendredi 22 juillet 2005 2:55
My son put it on the net through his
device. On the map under TOKYO GROUP is listed,
Joyce.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rod Miller"
<rmmiller@optusnet.com.au>
To: <bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005
Subject: Map
> Joyce
>
> Your map is a winner! http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/cooke/indexFrame.htm
> Did you take a photograph of it to get it on the internet?
> I would be interested in seeing the rest of the location key if possible.
> I am interested in civilian internment
camps in
>
> Regards'
> Rod Miller
>
>
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: memories
Date: vendredi 22 juillet 2005
Thanks Joyce --- I'll do that as soon as I get the sketch :-))
All the best,
Leopold
De: "Gladys Swift" <glaswift@cstone.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The Hubbards' camp quarters - and
Date: samedi 23 juillet 2005
Don - Thanks for that clarification. I'm glad that 10/9 is correct since that is the room I told Suchi, my granddaughter, who is going to the Weihsien Celebration. Of course, there is no block/room left there now but still she may see the old map. Hope you will meet her and Geof and introduce yourself. Gladys
>Gladys,
>
>I am the source
of some of your confusion because I assumed that the Hubbards who lived next to
the Wilders would be your parents because they were such close friends - never
dreaming that there was another couple with that last name. So just erase the reference to Block 13, #10
and #11 from your memory.
>Sorry about
that.
>Donald
>
De: "Eddie Cooke" <shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: memories
Date: dimanche 24 juillet 2005
Donald, All the pictures I have in my Artists' book have already been posted on the web. The portrait of me and the half-finished one of my sister, Joyce, don't really have any relevance to the geography of the camp.
Regards, Eddie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
To: <weihsien@topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005
Subject: re: memories
>
> Eddie,
>
> You mention
your "Weihsien Artists" book.
Do you have any other works in addition to those already posted that
could be included in the "walking tour" slide show that I am
preparing for presentation some time during the August event? Any that could be associated with a
particular location or camp activity would be most welcome.
>
> Donald.
>
De: "Eddie Cooke" <shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: memories
Date: dimanche 24 juillet 2005
I can't remember the year (was it 1945?), but I do remember that on the 4th of July American Independence Day, part of the right field wall of the ball park collapsed following some heavy rain, then on the 14th, Bastille Day, a further section fell!
What about the time the sentry outside the Main Gate was the victim of a home made tin can grenade thrown by a villager? I believe the perpetrator escaped and the sentry recovered. Anyone recall these events?
Ed Cooke.
De: "Joyce Cook" <bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
Prisoner of War Map
Date: dimanche 24 juillet 2005 10:19
I have sent a copy of my Prisoner of War Map to all the people who requested that I do so directly to them. It was in exactly the same form that I sent to Weishien Topica today (which has not been returned to me as undeliverable). Unfortunately most of the addresses to which I sent it came back for various reasons as undeliverable. I think some have received it and will get it on to Topica in readable form. I will wait for that to happen but if it does not, please let me know and I will try to get it to you again. Sorry but I am doing my best to circulate the map. Joyce.
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: The Sketch
Date: dimanche 24 juillet 2005
Dear Joyce, and Weihsien friends ---
Thanks for the sketch of block No.2
It is now visible through this link:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/cooke/pages/p_Block_2.htm
Hope it works for everybody! :-))
Thanks also for a better copy of the Asia-map. I corrected the links on the web site and the map is much more "readable" that previously. For those with a 56K-modem --- give it time to load !! (1700Kb="big file")
Critics and suggestions welcome.
Any more "IRemembers"?
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "David Beard"
<beard@xtra.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: forgotten orphans
Date: dimanche 24 juillet 2005
Does anyone know if any reliable research has ever been done about the psychological affects of internment on the school children who were in camp. From David Michell's book, I count, from the Chefoo School British List alone, 21 children with neither parents nor siblings with them in camp. I think children totally alone, would have been the worst affected. Next worst off would probably have been those who had one sibling of the opposite sex. How may of the children were able to establish and maintain happy long term relationships in future years? How many were able to successfully take on the roles of spouse or parent, for which they had not had a role model? etc., etc. In my younger days, I saw young ex-internees struggling to adapt to their homelands. After being reunited, there was mutual difficulty amongst some parents and some children, in relating to each other. No support systems seemed to be in place to help families and some could not cope.
Margaret Beard
De: "Joyce Cook" <bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Some internee's autographs and sketch of
block 2
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005 0:27
Thanks very much Leopold. I will fix up the problem by putting the sketch on the weishien Topica site because I am sure the deZutter brothers would be interested. I would like to mention that the staircase on the right hand side of the sketch was drawn by a priest, Father Keymolen who was my drawing teacher as I was having trouble drawing the stairway on the left.
I would also like to have on Topica AND the Joyce and Eddie Cooke site a couple of other interesting documents, viz
1. A picture of the armband we had to wear
during our house arrest in
2. I also have my authority to wear US Military clothing issued by the Military after WeiHsien. (I will send this later as I have to have it scanned)
3. If anybody is interested I also have several autographs of civilian internees from WeiHsien camp and dozens who were in Tsingtao CAC before WeiHsien. I have autographs of most of the members of the Roman Catholic clergy in WeiHsien. I have also actual photographs of the following, given to me personally in the camp by - Fr. Van Pelt, Fr. Palmers, Fr McCoy, Fr. Verhoven, Rev. Theodoric Kernel, Fr Clem Grosskopf and standing alongside him what I think is his brother Fr Polinus, Fr Louis Leys, Sister Blanda, Sister Hiltrudis and the (Missionary Dr. Scovel and family who also occupied block 2) I also have two other photographs possibly of Fr Rutherford and one other unidentified.- I could easily scan all the autographs and send them if desired. The photos would require a little more attention but could be done. Please let me know what is desired.
Joyce.
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: forgotten orphans
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
Margaret,
Your questions reveal some true discernment. I know that some studies have been made along the lines you suggest, re missionaries' children in general, who have been separated for years, in boarding schools, from their parents.
At least one of these studies was
commissioned by the mission (I think OMF) whose school aged children were being
classified. This affects, in my opinion,
the perceived objectivity of the exercise. The psychologist(s) are asked to come up with
a picture for the
Although the psychologist may well give a number of statistics which are in themselves accurate and verifiable (eg percentage of children who grow up to commit suicide; percentage of those who marry and have children; and so on compared with population in general), in-depth interviews with the children in later life may not adequately probe the areas you have mentioned.
Personally, I will be forever grateful for
my eight years in the
You speak of the "forgotten orphans." Interestingly a psychologist (and university lecturer) I know well speaks of a child's "bereavement" from his family when he is taken away to a boarding school for a prolonged period of time. It's almost as if the child's family has died to him. Sure there are letters from time to time. But he can never reach Daddy and Mommy or little brother and sister.
Then the psychologist refers to his later removal from the boarding school and re-instalment in his biological family as a second "bereavement." He has grown attached over the years to his fellow-boarders, "siblings" if you will, and to his favorite teachers who have taken the place (however inadequately) of his own parents. Suddenly, in his early or mid teens he is wrenched from those who over the years have become intimately close to him. He is unlikely to hear from them again unless he himself is sufficiently motivated to write to them. Then a letter will come from afar.
But alas it's only a letter. His schoolmaster doesn't even live on the same continent as the boy, and certainly does not initiate the correspondence which soon dies out altogether.
As you say, there may be serious difficulty for the child to draw close to the Dad and Mom he idolized when he was little. He has long fantasized about the reunion with them and his younger siblings. It was really only a "dream," and doesn't work out in the ideal way he had pictured in his mind. The father is far stricter than the boarding school masters. Far stricter! The strains become almost impossible at home, and the boy rebels. Of course, he has reached the "rebellious" adolescent stage in his development. Perfectly normal ― although magified by the unusual circumstances. Dad is firm and strict. But he does not understand.
Dad doesn't grasp that he not only has a big rebellious teen-aged boy but down deep inside this difficult kid is a little boy who desperately needs his father's physical and emotional love. A boy who has never been physically cuddled since he left home at the ripe old age of six - some eight years earlier!
Unable to understand what he is going through, the boy's behavior becomes erratic in the father's opinion. Psychiastrists are consulted. The boy is hospitalized.
He is taken out of school and given shock therapy.
Then the father finds that he himself is being blamed, by the psychiatrists, for his son's "breakdown."
How the kid is able to grow up and lead a relatively normal life is really something of a miracle. But it does happen - amazingly! Also the father, whom the boy might well have never forgiven for his almost hopeless bungling, never loses his son's love and loyalty. By the grace of God the son is more than ready to accept the fact that his father truly meant well and genuinely loved him. The boy (and later the man) never doubted for a moment that his father's calling to be a missionary was genuine. And thus he deeply respects this wonderful man who made so many mistakes.
Autobiographical? Of course. I was that boy. I am that man. Has my life been picture perfect? Far from it.
But earlier this month my wife and I celebrated our fortieth anniversary! And in many ways our lives have grown richer as the years have passed. We have three wonderful grown children, a son and two daughters. And we have a great son-in-law and five delightful young grandchildren.
Not only that: but I look on the years gone by as the "good old days," in spite of their many imperfections!
I would invite comments and similar (or different) memories from others of you!
Sincerely
Another "Dawei"
David Birch
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: forgotten orphans
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
It suddenly dawned on me that I'm probably guilty of "hijacking" Margaret's email with my earlier reply.
Please forgive me if you feel that is so.
I do hope you will not let that deter you from answering the very perceptive questions in her email (below):
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Some internee's autographs and sketch of
block 2
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
Hello,
I don't want to seem greedy --- but --- I'm interested in everything! (--- and I guess that I'm not the only one---)
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005 16:22
Joyce,
Thanks for sending it. I found that the copy that I downloaded from Leopold's site was very satisfactory, but I appreciate your taking the extra effort.
Donald
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: memories
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
Ed,
I definitely remember the wall crumbling on the fourth of July and, like you, I don't know whether it was 1944 or 1945. I remember we were wading in water half-way up to our knees, and sailing little wooden boats we had carved out of little blocks of wood.
I don't have any memory of the other two events you list.
Regards,
Al de Zutter
De: "Greg Leck"
<gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: forgotten orphans
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
Several months ago, a correspondent of mine wrote the following about several studies which involved Chefoo students. I thought it might be of interest.
KAS is
Greg
I learned about the Spink study from Ian at
the KAS reunion. He is the new editor of the Chefoo Magazine and he brought the
two most recent issues of that magazine to the reunion. There is an article
about the Spink study in one of those issues (including an excerpt from the
study itself). The Spink study is a dissertation, prepared by Christina Spink
at
Whereas many of the Weihsien internees
chafed under the restrictions of life in an internment camp, the Chefoo students
found their internment experiences to be in some respects significantly less
restrictive than their old
De: "Pamela Masters" <pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Just a thought...
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005 20:11
Hi Friends --
I know that Sui Shude is sending out all the invitations to the Weihsien celebration, but I was wondering if anyone attending would like to suggest to him that it would be very gracious of him if he would send out one more -- to the retired Japanese ambassador to the Court of St. James. I heard indirectly from that gentleman through my friend Professor John Pritchard, who had met him at an embassy function early in September 2001.
When Pritchard told him of my book, The
Mushroom Years, he was intrigued and said he was a toddler of three when his
father was our camp commandant! He
invited my sisters and me to visit with him in
Incidentally, Bill Einreinhofer, a delightful person who is making a documentary on Old China Hands, wrote me yesterday to say he would be at the celebration to film the festivities. Just a heads up...sounds like you're going to have a ball!
Kindest regards -- Pamela Masters
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: forgotten orphans
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
Thanks Greg! That's a good lead for follow-up!
David Birch
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: <dmenzi@asan.com>
Objet: Re: Just a thought...
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
Thank you, Pamela, for this gracious idea
and wonderful suggestion. I recall that
Donald also wondered, in an earlier email to this site, about the possibility
of some of our Japanese friends being invited but thought that with the current
difficult relationship between
I think that your information could possibly change that. I hope it may be possible.
Donald, do you think you could take on the responsibility for writing to Mr Sui about this. I would think a brief note, including Pamela's email, could be appropriate and should certainly give no offence!
If you'd rather, I would be willing to do it, but you have such a beautiful knack for approaching people of different backgrounds that I would think you should be the one I would choose for the task.
Regards,
David
De: "Greg Leck"
<gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Just a thought...
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
The immediate past Japanese ambassador to the Court of St. James is Ambassador Hayashi.
His father was also the ambassador to the Court of St. James in the 1940-1941 time period.
He was NOT the commandant of Weihsien, but
of Lunghwa and later other
De: "David Beard"
<beard@xtra.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Re: forgotten orphans
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
Thanks David. Yes, this research does sound as if it might
be suspect, but it would still provide interesting information. Do you know where I could view a copy or
maybe get it on interloan via our university? Is it held in the CIM/OMF
Archives in
Not everyone has come through as well as
you. There are some who are not on this
List and who never attend
What you have to say about the schoolmaster is perceptive. I have read CIM/OMF literature that claimed that, in Camp, the teachers became substitute parents. The teachers had their own problems and could hardly become all things to all students. They were well equipped to meet educational needs - but social and emotional needs? Parents who move out of your life after camp, can hardly be counted as parents. If the only role model that was available was authoritarian did this produce future authoritarian parents?
Regards Margaret Beard
De: "C. Wayne
Mayhall" <solomon110@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: forgotten orphans
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005 21:58
This dialogue, under the re of "Forgotten Orphans" is both interesting and, on philosophical, sociological, and religious levels, somewhat unsettling.
Let me explain...there is a tendency from historical perspectives to sentimentalize history, that is in the case of Chefoo, I have seen many cases of what I will call "Chefoosian-speak'" exemplified in the use of such terms as "orphans" and "forgotten ones." These terms attach a level, or a degree of mythology to a reality that was otherwise so. No one is saying that the students, teachers and parents who experience Chefoo-Weihsien do not have the right to their experiences and the desire to preserve their memory "lest we should forget" or for whatever reasons...but many are saying that there is a core group of people who attempt to relive the experience in terms of nostalgia, sentimentality, and, yes, downright historical inaccuracy, and attempt to rewrite the history of things in terms of extreme documentation gathered to support their case.
De: "David Beard"
<beard@xtra.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: RE: forgotten orphans
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
Thank you Greg for these references. There
will be some interesting information here, which may need sifting through to
remove bias. Does UMI stand for
Does anyone know of any publication that was produced by an independent body?
Regards Margaret Beard
>
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: <solomon110@aol.com>
Objet: Re: forgotten orphans
Date: lundi 25 juillet 2005
Hullo
I've never come across you up till now and know nothing of your background. However, your comments in this dialog about Chefoo/Weihsien boarding school students are indeed a valuable addition to an important discussion.
It is most important that when a person recalls his past life, he should try to be fair and understanding to those whose lives had an impact on his. From my own experience, I believe it can be enormously helpful to engage in discussion with others concerning the process of my life and what helped to form the attitudes I have held over the years.
Discerning, skillful counselors and good friends have done much over the years to help me to have a thankful attitude regarding what I have lived through both as a child and as an adult. I've learned that it is vital for me to have a FORGIVING attitude while not trying to repress occasional feelings of resentment regarding the way I was treated at times by certain key individuals in my past life. It's important to recognize mistakes that were made and how they have affected my life. It's equally important to have an emphatically forgiving attitude toward the individuals whose actions and attitudes affected me adversely.
It's also, for me (and probably for most others as well, I think) to be able to see the humor in many things that happened in the past, and to really learn to laugh as certain events are recalled!
It's certainly possible to do a lot oneself to make one's memories more bearable! And by that I do not mean that one should create a "false reality" about one's past.
Also, however much we may have suffered, we can almost always find others who have suffered far more than we have - and yet have triumphed over their adversities.
Think of the Helen Kellers of this world for example!
Regards,
David
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Just a thought...
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005 3:39
Hi Greg --
That's an interesting comment, especially as John Pritchard mentioned that, sadly, the ambassador's father died before he became Japan's ambassador to Great Britain...a post his father, our commandant, was never able to achieve. I think at this time it would be best if we consulted with Dr. Pritchard, his email address: mail@johnpritchard.com
I will leave it up to those attending the celebration to follow through. You may mention my name, and send him my best wishes.
it's sure getting exciting!
Enjoy -- Pamela
De: "Dawei Beard"
<phoenix7788@hotmail.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Time Magazine review 2.9.66 of '
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
For general interest, I'm posting a Time Magazine review dated 2.9.66 we located on the internet recently.
Regards,
David Beard
Parable from Prison (Time Magazine Review of 'Shantung Compound 1966) Sept. 2, 1966
In 1943, Harvard-educated Langdon Gilkey,
the son of a Baptist minister and an English teacher at
There he lived for 2½ years in the company of 1,500 other interned civilians, most of them British and American missionaries or traders. Out of his wartime experience, Gilkey, now a professor of theology at the University of Chicago Divinity School, has distilled a fascinating memoir called Shantung Compound (Harper & Row; $4.95) that is both a vivid diary of prison life and a theologian's mature reflection on the condition of man in times of stress.
As concentration camps go, Weihsien was relatively civilized. The prisoners were not beaten or tortured by their Japanese guards. But there was never enough food—Gilkey lost 45 Ibs. during the ordeal—and prison life was dominated by tensions wrought by both boredom and fear. Living space was at a premium in the compound, a former Presbyterian mission. In the dormitories, chalk lines were drawn on the floor, carefully delimiting the area each man had for his bed and few possessions. Privacy was almost nonexistent.
Moral Breakdowns. As a prologue to Shantung Compound, Gilkey approvingly quotes Brecht's sardonic couplet: "For even saintly folk will act like sinners, unless they have their customary dinners." To his surprise, Gilkey discovered that the most devout missionaries were not immune from selfishness. Even ministers began to squabble with their fellow prisoners’ bout food shares and steal from communal supplies. Forgetting the lesson of the Good Samaritan, missionaries with families bluntly refused to share any portion of their living area with others who needed space. One preacher went so far as to contend that he needed extra room "in which I can have quiet to think out sermons." All in all, Gilkey concludes, life at Weihsien was a series of "moral breakdowns so serious that they threatened the very existence of our community."
The new demands of prison life, says Gilkey, frequently exposed the strict Protestant ethic as legalism wrapped in hypocrisy. Many of his fellow prisoners were critical of the compound's fundamentalist ministers. On principle, they refused to lend their canteen cards to heavy smokers—but they would not hesitate to barter the cigarettes they got from the Red Cross for extra tins of food. Far more popular were the Roman Catholic missionaries, who generally displayed a spirit of freedom from material wants that enabled them to play a creative, neighbor-helping role in the community.
One prison favorite was a Trappist monk who was caught smuggling 150 eggs into the compound under the prison wall. Sentenced to 45 days in solitary, he took the punishment lightly, since as a monk he was used to long and lonely meditations. Still another prison saint was Dick Rogers, a former British soldier. An alcoholic, he proved to be virtually the only man who could be trusted to guard the communal food store without stealing anything for himself. Nonetheless, writes Gilkey, "Many a pious diner, whose ration of food depended on Dick's strength of character, still thought of him as immoral because he drank."
Love of Neighbor. Many Jews lost their
faith in God's providence at
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Just a thought...
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
Thanks, David (Birch) for your kind assessment. I'll follow up on Pamela's suggestion to contact John Pritchard by email to see what he knows.
Thanks, too, David (Beard) for sharing the review of Gilkey's book. I wonder how many others share his assessment of the relative merits of Protestant and Catholic clergy in the camp. I know that my grandfather, who was a liberal Protestant missionary/teacher, wrote of the "marvellous Fathers" he had encountered there.
Altogether, there are some very interesting angles entering the discussion now - dark corners as well as light and shadows - like real life.
Donald
De: "David Beard"
<beard@xtra.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Re: forgotten orphans
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
Dear Wayne
Thanks for your message. I must confess to knowing nothing about "Chefoosian-speak" or the many cases of such instances to which you refer. I would be interested in your references if you could kindly send them to me off-List.
Your spelling suggests you are not an ex-Chefusian and I can't find you on the list of Weihsien internees. What is your interest in the Weihsien List?
Margaret Beard
This dialogue, under the re of "Forgotten Orphans" is
both interesting and, on philosophical, sociological, and religious levels,
somewhat unsettling.
Let me explain...there is a tendency from historical perspectives
to sentimentalize history, that is in the case of Chefoo, I have seen many
cases of what I will call "Chefoosian-speak'" exemplified in the use
of such terms as "orphans" and "forgotten ones." These
terms attach a level, or a degree of mythology to a reality that was otherwise
so. No one is saying that the students, teachers and parents who experience
Chefoo-Weihsien do not have the right to their experiences and the desire to
preserve their memory "lest we should forget" or for whatever
reasons...but many are saying that there is a core group of people who attempt
to relive the experience in terms of nostalgia, sentimentality, and, yes,
downright historical inaccuracy, and attempt to rewrite the history of things
in terms of extreme documentation gathered to support their case.
De: "Eddie Cooke" <shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: just a thought.....
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
Pamela,
Whilst I appreciate your suggestion is made with the best of intentions, I am sure that there are others, like me, who would feel somewhat uncomfortable and most guarded in what we say in the presence of the subject gentleman. I personally was never mistreated, but I have witnessed certain actions which are indelibly set in my mind and I think a GREAT DEAL of consideration must be given to the idea and to others like me who are part of this web site, as well as those who will be attending but do not take an active part in all these email discussions. I don't think his absence would take anything away from the activities planned. For some, his presence might. Apart from the above, Mr. Sui Shude and the Mayor, I feel, would be placed in an embarrassing position.
Ed Cooke
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: just a thought.....
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
Eddie,
I agree with you about the delicacy of the
suggestion. We are, after all, the
guests at Weifang's event, and a symbolic act with such historical and
international implications would surely have to be cleared all the way to
As they say, "In a perfect world..." (leaving the "But...." unsaid).
Meanwhile, Pamela, I tried sending an email to the address you gave for John Pritchard and it was returned as undeliverable. I'm curious to know whether he's related to the Pritchard who was author of "Ancient Near Eastern Texts" - a standard in the field when I was a student.
Donald
De: "
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Just a thought...
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
I must re-enforce Greg Lecks statement
Hayashi was Commandant at Lungwha not Weihsien and it was his son who was the
Ambassador to the
Rgds
Ron
De: "George Kaposhilin"
<gkapo@sbcglobal.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: just a thought.....
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
I completely agree with Ed Cooke. It would be an insult to our hosts to even suggest such a thing. Remember how the Chinese were treated around the camp!
George Watts
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Just a thought...
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
Well, it really was a kindly thought and a good-hearted one. But with the further thoughts and discussion of not only the implications of such a course but also the accuracy, or lack thereof, of the identity of the Japanese gentleman, we'll reluctantly have to admit that it has just been a well-meaning but "passing" thought!
David
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: The Wall
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005 18:25
Dear Christine:
Thanks for the clarification of the year of the collapse. I wonder if Ida Talbot's diary contained any mention of another event that stuck in my mind. At some point, quite early in our internment at Weihsien, there was a baseball game played with Japanese hard-rubber baseballs between the Japanese guards and a camp team on which the American priests - Father Wendolyn Kleine and others - played a prominent role. The camp team won by a large margin, as I recall, and the event was never repeated.
Al
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Just a thought...
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
Frankly I would be quite happy if there
were no Japanese representatives at this meeting. In my adult life I was transferred to
Then there mental computers went into
overdrive and they hesitantly asked me where I was during the war. In a Japanese Interment Camp says I. Well not one of the people there, all of whom
were older than I confessed to being in the military. I have never met so many ''agricultural and
cultural experts! lol. Except for one chap who was a Kamikaze
Pilot. He had gone through his funeral
and then
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: just a thought.....
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
Hi Eddie...and all you Weihsien Survivors --
Thanks for all the give and take, but I
can't help thinking that you might not be attending this great celebration in
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: just a thought.....
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
John Pritchard co-authored a gigantic tome originally entitled "Total War", which was subsequently re-issued under the title of "The Penguin History of the Second World War." It's in two sections. The first covers the European Theatre and the second the Pacific Theatre. It is a terrific book, and a 'must' reference book for WWII buffs. (ISBN 0-14-028502-4)
As the current consensus is to NOT mention the Japanese commandant to your Chinese hosts, we can let the matter drop. For myself, as I've included John's report to me in the Forward of the second edition of The Mushroom Years, I will probably call him some time soon, and double-check his version of the event/story.
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: just a thought.....
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
Thanks, Pamela. Your suggestion opened up some very interesting discussion topics.
I'll certainly get Pritchard's book, based on your recommendation, even though clearly he's not the Pritchard who wrote Ancient Near Eastern Texts.
Donald
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: just a thought.....
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
Pamela,
Your thought was a kind one, and it's really too bad that it doesn't seem as though it could be worked out!
I personally feel a great deal of warmth toward the Japanese, including those who were in charge of guarding us during WWII! But there are still (even after 60 years) some very deep hurts and raw feelings exposed at very mention of inviting Japanese to the celebration. Indeed, it does take a very long time for all wounds from the past to be healed.
Also,
So it would be, as one of our discussion participants has suggested, quite embarrassing for our hosts to be put into the position of having either to invite a Japanese gentleman, however exemplary, or else to have to tell us that such an invitation would not be appropriate.
I think it is great that you personally, as a friendly individual, are going to follow up this contact.
Communication between diverse peoples, even members of formerly combatant races, is vital in this mixed up world of ours!
Good for you, Pamela!
David
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: just a thought.....
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
I suppose that I am grateful for that. Just not certain that a celebration of liberation should include representatives of the wardens.
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: just a thought.....
Date: mardi 26 juillet 2005
Of course, if he really wanted to hear the
memories of the people who had been interned without any PC consideration for
his feelings including the fact that
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: just a thought.....
Date: mercredi 27 juillet 2005 0:40
No invitation is going out. Period!
**
De: "Eddie Cooke" <shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Joyce Bradbury's PC down
Date: jeudi 28 juillet 2005
To all interested parties and especially Mary Previte -
My sister, Joyce Bradbury, has asked that anyone wishing to contact her
through HER OWN email address, please do so through me and I will pass the
message on. My email address is shedco@optusnet.com.au
Ed. Cooke
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: New Photographs
Date: mercredi 3 août 2005
Dear Mary,
Thanks very much for your four new pictures --- perfect.
Could you add a story to each one of them --- for us?
They are already visible via:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
Click on "The magnificent Seven"
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: More Map Questions
Date: samedi 6 août 2005
Here's some more map questions.
The compund map on our website shows a
major
Also, Pamela mentions that the network of "lattice walls" between various courtyards within the compound was torn down and the bricks were used to enclose an additional area on the north end of the main compound. Other people who saw the walls in Gertrude Wilder's paintings have mentioned that they were torn down because they were home to rats, scorpions and other undesireable residents. Can anyone identify on our "standard" map where the "new" outside walls were built from the rubble of the old walls?
Finally (for now) is there a reason why Fr. Verhoeven's map is oriented with the south at the top, while the standard orientation is the reverse, with the north pointing up? I've used Fr. Verhoeven's map as the basis for the "walking tour" slide show, but wonder if there is any explanation for its S-N direction.
Thanks to anyone who can clarify any of this.
Donald
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: escapees
Date: samedi 6 août 2005
Was Mickey Boycott one of the ones who
'went over the wall'? Were there two
sets of escappes? or just the one? Did
we not get the Xray machine from the
Ted Pearson
De: "Natasha Petersen" <np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: from Mary Previte
Date: samedi 6 août 2005
Natasha, Would you post this from Ted
Pearson,
I have been trying to track down the magazine that printed a lot of drawings by William A. Smith who came to the camp after liberation and drew me amongst others. I have a page from this magazine which had a painting of a Japanese guard in Weihsien. I know he is now deceased. I tried Stars and Stripes but no.
Ted Pearson,
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: God-speed!
Date: samedi 6 août 2005
God-speed to those of you who are flying to Weihsien. Our thoughts will be with you and we will be very anxious to hear from you upon your return.
Natasha Petersen
De: "Greg Leck"
<gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: More Map Questions
Date: samedi 6 août 2005
I've seen dozens of maps of the various internment camps. The Japanese map of Weihsien is oriented in the traditional manner, with North at the top of the paper.
However, other versions are oriented differently. The only explanation I can offer comes from someone who was in Yangchow C. While all the maps I saw of this camp were in the standard orientation, his also placed south at the top. The explanation was this was how he always "saw" the camp in his mind, so that is how he drew it.
Greg
>Finally (for now) is there a reason why Fr. Verhoeven's map is
oriented with the south at the top, while the standard orientation is the
reverse, with the north pointing up?
I've used Fr. Verhoeven's map as the basis for the "walking
tour" slide show, but wonder if there is any explanation for its S-N
direction.
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions
Date: samedi 6 août 2005
Greg,
What walking tour? What have I
missed about Weihsien. Georgie
Reinbrecht
Knisely
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions
Date: samedi 6 août 2005
Georgie,
The "walking tour" is actually a slide show that combines Fr
Verhoeven's map with the paintings and sketches by Weihsien artists. Our hosts have squeezed 15 minutes in their
program so it can be viewed by participants at the "reunion." I'll also put it on a CD for whoever wants a
copy.
Donald
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions
Date: samedi 6 août 2005
Donald~
What is involved in getting a copy of the CD? Cost, etc.?
~Dwight
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: escapees
Date: samedi 6 août 2005
As far as I know, the only escapees were Arthur Hummel and Laurence Tipton.
Hummel later became ambassdor to
Albert de Zutter
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions
Date: dimanche 7 août 2005 2:16
Dwight,
I will be revising it based on the comments and corrections of people
who see it in Weifang. Then I will send
copies to anyone who gives me their mailing address. It has been a pleasure to work on the project. There will be no cost., but it won't be ready
until the end of the month.
Donald
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
I want it - the walking tour, revised and all. It sounds like an amazing memory for all of
us. Let us know how much and we will be
there. Donald, where do you live? Georgie
De: "Gladys Swift" <glaswift@cstone.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Walking tour
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
>Don - Please put me on your list of those who want your CD walking tour on Weihsien. Thanks.
> Gladys
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: God-speed!
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
Thank you, Natasha!
David
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions/also Camp overall
area.
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
Dwight,
Not to change the focus too much, but the more I've thought about the overall area of the camp, the more I think that your father, Elden Whipple Sr's estimate of the size of the compound was probably closer to the actual size than I had really 'guessed' it to be.
My weekend job as a commissionaire at HMCS
Discovery, the naval reserve base on Deadman's
Deadman's
David
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
Thank you Donald! You've done SO MUCH over the last few years to make Weihsien Camp and its significant place in both secular and church history come back to life! I'm sure your grandparents would be pleased with your dedication to discovering for their posterity the truth about all that happened in their part of the 'field.'
Thanks again!
David
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions/also Camp overall
area.
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
David~
I'm hoping that I hear "soon" from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) historical department with news of blueprints, etc. I'm guessing that kind of stuff would be saved/microfilmed or whatever. In the meantime have a great event in Weihsien/Weifang. And tell us all about it when you get back! Bon Voyage to all who are going.
~Dwight
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: weifang
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
Hello,
Many "happy landings" to all of
you who are on their way to ---
:-))
Leopold
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions/also Camp overall
area.
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
Thanks Dwight!
David
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Walking tour
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
Thanks for all you have been quietly doing
behind the scenes, Donald, to ensure that an accurate picture is presented of
Weihsien Camp, near
In case the crowd around you at Weifang is too thick for me to get near you, my address is:
G DavidBirch
21-101 K de K Court
V3M 6B6
David
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: weifang
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
Thank you Leopold! What an inspiration you are and what a gift of encouragement you have!
David
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>; "Edmund Pearson"
<tedp@videotron.ca>
Objet: new paintings
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
Dear Ted,
Hello again,
The paintings you sent my-way (this morning) are now visible on the Weihsien-picture-gallery-web-site: http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
Open the "log-book" and click on the last picture entered.
Have a good time ----
I asked Janette and Father Hanquet to help me to locate all these marvellous paintings and sketches. --- so, the map on the leftFrame is still un-active for the moment.
I hope that Donald will be able to include them in his *.pps-show.
The nice thing about all this --- is that it is never finished --- and so much the better !! :-))
A+
Leopold
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions/also Camp overall
area.
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
Dwight Whipple,
Where are you and yours? You name is so familiar, I think as children we used to meet in Iltus Huk at the Presby compound. I remember lunch - we were allowed whatever we wanted on our bread and you could only have peanut butter, jam or butter only two at a time???? Right??? What silly things we remeber from childhood. And I believe one of the Walton girls was stung by a stingray/octupus, whatever they were that could sting you at the beach in the water and she was miserable for a couple of days. Good times back there. Then you were on Presby Hill and we were on Lutheran side. Been back and looks so small in comparison to my memories and the hill up to your place isn't half as steep as I thought.
Men used to beat their horses pulling bricks up the hill, they would fall and have bloody knees and the drivers would just beat them to stand up.
More memories.
>From Georgie Reinbrecht Knisely
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: "Topica List"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet:
Date: lundi 8 août 2005
Hi Georgie~
Of course, I remember the Reinbrecht family. And I well remember the times at the
beach--just a couple of "blocks" down the road from our house. It was our cousin, Bobbie Walton, who was
stung so badly by the stinging jelly fish, as we called them. And I remember being told by our parents that
we had to first get our heads wet so we wouldn't get sun-stroke. I had my fifth and sixth birthdays (July) in
~Dwight
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: mardi 9 août 2005
Dear Ted and others with new pictures.
I love the new paintings and sketches. Unfortunately, I have already had to leave out some of those that were posted before in order to keep the "tour" within the 15 minutes of program time that was squeezed into the program for the Weifang version. However, I will put those I had to omit back in and add these new ones to the "final" version that everybody will get on a CD, so it will be as complete as possible.
Thanks for everyone's contributions.
Donald
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions
Date: mardi 9 août 2005 6:19
Dear Georgie,
I live in
Donald
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: "Christine Talbot Sancton"
<sancton@nbnet.nb.ca>; <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: 3 new paintings, ---
Date: mardi 9 août 2005
Dear Christine,
Thank you very much for the 3 new paintings. Superb!
They are now visible: (click on ---) http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
click on --- "Mrs. Ida Talbot"
or ---
click on "log-book"
A+
Leopold
De: "Emily Patterson Bryant"
<jebryant38@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: mardi 9 août 2005
Hi Donald
could you inform me as to how I can get one of thesecd's? My wife Emily
was an internee at weihsien.
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: mardi 9 août 2005
Hello all,
To get a CD (once it's corrected and finished) just email me your
mailing address.
My target date for mailing is the first week of September.
Donald
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: mercredi 10 août 2005
For the walking CD tour my address is -
Georgeanna Knisely
I would love it for when I return from Weifang!
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: More Map Questions
Date: mercredi 10 août 2005
You are wonderful, Donald, and I look forward to it with joy, Georgie
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Tsingtao
Date: mercredi 10 août 2005
Dwight,
I am in
O could not remember jelly fish. My son says, Mom are we playing 20 questions, and I say yep, till I find the right word! I remember Lorna, of course, have a picture of her on the stairs all the girls from Pres and Luth onmaybe, your front steps.
I have been back to Weihsien in 96 and
Yes, It has all chnged and grown and you have to look to find what you were certain was there.
I am going to the reunion. Am very excited, fly out Friday and will come back Sept 12th.
Georgie
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: mercredi 10 août 2005
Hi Donald, I was not aware you were making a CD. Certainly the cartoon
is a funny one. I would very much like to receive a copy. My
co-ordinates are E.T..
Pearson, 1545 Dr. Penfield Apt 209,
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: mercredi 10 août 2005
Ted,
Thanks for the offer, but the only real cost is the time it takes and that's my contribution. Material and postage is trivial and I'll absorb that. All I need is your mailing address (thanks) and your patience, while I work the new material into the program after returning from Weihfang. The finished product will be longer than their time slot - probably about 20 minutes. You will also be able to "click" through it at your liesure, but without the musical background.
Donald
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: mercredi 10 août 2005
Dear Donald,
Please put me on your mailing list.
Albert de Zutter
Thanks.
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Tsingtao
Date: jeudi 11 août 2005
Thanks, Dwight for the picture. Yes, as I remember it. That's really special.More after the reunion, Georgie
De: "Eddie Cooke" <shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: re God Speed
Date: jeudi 11 août 2005
Thanks,Natasha, for your good wishes to all of us attending and also for having established this web site, without which it may never have happened. My thoughts will be with you and with our rescuers. For a while there, I thought we were going to be lucky enough to have Jim Moore attending, but unfortunately it was not to be and we wish him a speedy recovery.
Ted Pearson, I think you were enquiring
about "Mickey" Boycott? Well,
Michael will be there..... a group of us is meeting in
See you in WeiFang.
ED COOKE.
De: "Eddie Cooke" <shedco@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: walking tour
Date: jeudi 11 août 2005
Donald,
I hope you're not going to be overburdened with all the requests for your "walking tour" extravaganza, but I too, would like a copy. I feel with all the time and effort you're putting into it, you should be compensated in some way....let me pay for my copy plus postage. Anyway, I hope to meet you on the big occasion! My postal address is:
Ryde, N.S.W. 2112,
Ed. Cooke
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: vendredi 12 août 2005 2:16
Hi Donald,
I would love a CD. My address is:
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: vendredi 12 août 2005 2:18
Dear Donald. I am sending this to you c/- topica because I have lost all my addresses.
My brother Eddie has just told me Donald
has kindly offered to supply a disc of the camp. May I have one please? Please
post it to me at
De: "Joyce Cook" <bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: vendredi 12 août 2005
I forgot to add this:
NSW
Many thanks
Joyce
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: FW: Remember "Oh, What a Beautiful
Morning"?
Date: vendredi 12 août 2005
I have just read some old emails. The parachutes were red, bright yellow, green and white. Tsolik Balianz made me a blouse and skirt out of the red parachute. My first new clothing in 3 and a half years. The loudspeakers were strung on trees and perhaps some posts. I do remember the trees. I have very happy memories of hearing "Oh what a beautiful morning." Because I remember feeling how beautiful mornings were in our new found freedom. Joyce.
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: "Topica List"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: CHINA INTERNMENT
CAMP
Date: vendredi 12 août 2005 17:18
Hello Everyone~
I have just received this message from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It doesn't look promising to come up with any useful information regarding dimensions of the Weihsien camp. But I have followed up with William Bynum, suggested in the message. We may be able to uncover some data.
~Dwight
----- Original Message -----
From: "Reference User"
<refdesk@history.pcusa.org>
To: "Dwight & Judy Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005
Subject: RE:
> August 12, 2005
> Dwight and July Whipple
> 4728A lakeshore Lane SE
>
> Sent via email: thewhipples@comcast.net
> Dear Dr. and Mrs. Whipple:
>
> Thank you for your email regarding the
missionary compound in Weihsien,
>
> Our PCUSA collections do not have any
materials specifically for Weihsien. I did find that our PCUS records have
stations reports up until 1938. But I
doubt that these would have the type of detail that you want. Also, as you mentioned you were PCUSA
missionaries so it may not be applicable. But if you would like to follow up on
these reports, please contact William Bynum, Assistant Director for Reference
Services at 828-669-7061 or wbynum@history.pcusa.org as these records are at
our Montreat,
>
> I hope this helps you with your questions. Further information about our services, collections, and locations may be found at our website, www.history.pcusa.org <http://www.history.pcusa.org/ > . Please remember to send any e-mail inquiries to our general reference e-mail account, refdesk@history.pcusa.org , which is checked daily and allows us to respond in the most efficient manner. You may also contact us by phone at 215-627-1852.
>
> Sincerely,
> Beth Bensman
> Manager of Public Service and Outreach
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dwight & Judy Whipple
[mailto:thewhipples@comcast.net]
> Sent: Wed 7/6/2005
> To: Reference User
> Cc:
> Subject:
>
>
> Dear Margery~
> Some of us who were interned by the
Japanese during World War II inWeihsien,
> Do Presbyterian records show those dimensions? Are there maps, plot plans, etc.? Please let me know (I am a retired PCUSA minister) so that I can pass this information on to other former internees that are interested.
> ~ The Rev. Dr. Dwight W. Whipple
>
> Dwight & Judy Whipple
> 4728A
>
> thewhipples@comcast.net
> Tel: 360.456.4300
>
De: "John de Zutter"
<jjdz@optonline.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: vendredi 12 août 2005
Hello Donald,
Please add my name to the list of inmates who have asked for the disk. Your kind offer is very much appreciated. Sorry I cannot join all of you at Weifang.
John de Zutter
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: wiefang-photos
Date: samedi 13 août 2005
Hello,
To all our Weihsien folks and friends all over the world:
I think that we are now ready to view all the best photos and comments coming from Weifang for the 60-year-anniversary-celebrations-of-our-liberation-by-America.
Tried it out with Donald Menzi and it seems to work OK. :-))
So:
go to: http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
click on: --- = pictogram on the Home-page.
Click on the photographer's name (in the left-frame) and you will reach a new page full of thumbnails and comments.
(--- so far, only Donald's page is active with three sample pictures)
- click on the thumbnail to view the picture -- "bigger" on-the-computer-screen.
- Click on the yellow magnifying glass if you wish to print it. You can download the picture on your Hard-Disk-Drive and print it with the help of your favourite photo-software or download them (the picture-files) on a CD (or a memory-card) and give them to your local photographer for professional-printing.
Hope it is OK for everybody.
Any suggestions?
A+
Leopold
De: "
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: samedi 13 août 2005
Donald,
Pu me on the list as wll please I ahve been away for the past two weeks hence have not entered the fray earlier.
R W Bridge
Chillies Oast
Chillies Lane
Crowborough
TN6 3TB.
If it is not too late hep that those who visit Weihsien have or have had a great time.
Rgds.
Ron
De: "Greg Leck"
<gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: samedi 13 août 2005
I've taken a look at the new paintings. The one of the Japanese in the tower doesn't look accurate - I suspect the artist employed some artistic license. The individual looks like a regular army solider - steel helmet, uniform, Arisaka rifle - instead of the dark, blue black consular guard uniform, with pistol and wooden holster.
Of the paintings for which the artists are not identified, some clues are there. One has the monogram which looks like "MTS" monogram represents.
There was a Sambo Tremlett who painted watercolours but his middle initial is A, not M.
I particularly like the painting by AG Cameron, who was a taipan with the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank.
Greg
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>; <weihsien@topica.com>;
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Japanese Sentry
Date: samedi 13 août 2005
Greg,
Very interesting. Ted Pearson's note says that the sentry picture was done by a war correspondent, not an internee. It certainly looks like the inside of the "ball field" watch tower. Ironically, it was the one "new" picture that I decided to use it in the "slide show" for the program because it embodies so well the fact that this was forced confinement, backed up by guns. Could there ever have been a time when a soldier in this uniform would have been a sentry - maybe toward the end of the war - or is this image just historically wrong?
Ted,
Do you know anything more about this painting, or who William A. Smith was?
Anyone,
I'm still waiting for an explanation of how "Tin Pan Alley" got its name. Anyone know for sure? Or even as a guess?
Donald
De: "Greg Leck" <gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Japanese Sentry
Date: samedi 13 août 2005
Donald,
After the OSS Duck Mission team landed, the Japanese guards were utilized to help guard the camp against marauding bandits, or communist units which were in the area. But no regular Japanese units were allowed into camp. In fact, there was an incident a few days later when regular Japanese troops at the Ershilipu airstrip prevented an American plane from landing, causing Major Staiger to blow up at the Japanese commandant.
I'm presuming the image was published somewhere after the war. No doubt the American public would have recognized the Japanese soldier depicted, but a consular guard might have seemed strange to them.
The internees I've spoken with were adamant and certain that no regular army Japanese were allowed into camp.
As for Tin Pan Alley, I would guess that many of Weihsien's top notch musicians may have been quartered there.
Greg
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Japanese Sentry
Date: dimanche 14 août 2005 5:22
Greg,
Of course I accept your testimony as to who was and was not in the watchtower. Did the consular guards' uniforms have the same pattern - "riding" pants with sort of a balooning top, with high boots - as is shown in this picture?
I noticed that the guard who appears in Cameron's drawing of the un-covered guard tower in the sourtheast corner has a similar style uniform, with what appears to be the same sort of cap as the picture we're discussing. This led me to think that it could have been accurate.
Donald
De: "Christine Talbot Sancton"
<sancton@nbnet.nb.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: best wishes
Date: dimanche 14 août 2005
I wish to all Weihsieners: a happy thanksgiving anniversary of our liberation on the 17th August.
I am unable to go to Weihsien and accept the kind hospitality of Mr. Sui Shude. I look forward with great interest to the accounts of the celebrations.
We have been lucky to have been able to visit with several Weihsieners this our special year of celebration.
While is Brussels in May, we had the
delightful privilege of meeting Leopold and Nicky Pander and Fr Hanquet at
Janette Pander's beautiful home. Monique Walravens, whose father was chief
engineer at the KMA (I think) drove us to
We had a wonderful time with these special people.
Then in
Then before returning to
Just this week my sister, Gay Talbot Stratford and brother, Peter Talbot and I were all together with our spouses, for our own celebration of Thanksgiving.
We do feel grateful and so very lucky.
With best regards to all.
Christine Talbot Sancton
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: dimanche 14 août 2005
I remember the guards wearing faded khaki uniforms and wearing caps. Those on guard duty did, indeed, carry the regulation Japanese bolt-action rifle.
I don't remember anyone in the camp wearing a dark blue uniform or carrying a pistol in a wooden holster -- which would have been a Mauser. The officers carried a smaller side-arm in a shiny brown leather hoslter.
Albert de Zutter
De: "Gay Talbot Stratford"
<stillbrk@eagle.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: best wishes
Date: lundi 15 août 2005 0:52
Good for you Christine. you expressed
sentiments for all of us in St. John.(That is
To be alive is a great privilege, especially heightened by an anniversary. The Mass of Thanksgiving said it all.
Safe journey and a happy stay to those on their way to Weihsien.
May God keep you in all your ways.
Graham and Gay Stratford
De: "Gay Talbot Stratford"
<stillbrk@eagle.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: best wishes
Date: lundi 15 août 2005
Graham and Gay Stratford
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: mardi 16 août 2005
Dear Albert,
Thank you Albert. Your memory seems to confirm the authenticity of the "Japanese Sentry at Weihsien" painting.
How about it, Greg?
Donald
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: First Photos - Arrival Day
Date: mardi 16 août 2005
Hello back home -
I just sent Leopold a few photos to post, and here's a brief report to go with them.
Many people came a few days early to go to their old Chefoo haunts. They'll have to tell you about that themselves, but I can report that they say the school is now part of a military compound and it took some talking to get the authorities to let them through the gates. It was apparently a very emotional re-connection, which I am sure that Mary Previte and other Chefoo-ites will detail for you.
My own family group (8 of us, spanning 3
generations) were met at the airport by a number of young volunteers from
The opening banquet followed a brief rest
at the hotel. The dishes were delicious,
and all were recognizable (not always the case with banquets here) with an emphasis
on seafood -
After the banquet some of us got to see part 2 of a four-part TV documentary about the story of Weihsien on the local TV station.
A very full day is planned for tomorrow and Thursday. Stay tuned...
Donald
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: mardi 16 août 2005
Dear Donald,
While I have not seen the painting in
question, I should also say that I do not recall any of the guards wearing
helmets in the camp. What I do remember is that the guards looked just like the
Japanese soldiers I saw in
Albert
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: First Photos - Arrival Day
Date: mardi 16 août 2005
Hi to all of you! I'm writing at this time to give you the name of the gentleman doing the PBS documentary: he is Bill Einreinhofer. Treat him nicely -- he's a gem !
Have a wonderful reunion -- Pamela Masters
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: First Photos - Arrival Day
Date: mardi 16 août 2005
Hello,
Thanks Don for the first three pictures ---
They are "on"
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
Keep them comming :-))
A+
Leopold
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: mardi 16 août 2005
What I remember about the guards in Weihsien is that they wore hats, not like baseball hats, but rather a short brim in the front -- sort of like a Greek hat. I remember it because my cousin and I would sneak up behind them when they were sitting down and we would knock off their hats and then run as fast as we could. They were good natured about it and would run after us, making a game of it.
~Dwight W. Whipple
De: "Sui Shude - Weifang
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Date: mercredi 17 août 2005
News For Weihsieners From Sui Shude in Weifang:
Thank you for your best wishes to the Weihsien Celebration 2005 in
Weifang!
The Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Weihsien Camp Liberation is going in Weifang.
Yesterday, Aug.16th, 63 former Weihsien
Internees as well as their families and friends arrived in Weifang(Weihsien)
from the
Also more than 200 people from the world
main medias, reporters, jounalists, ambassadors, and government officials of
the
Aug. 16th, the city government of Weifang
held a grand welcome banquet for all the guests in Weifang Hotel from
Aug. 17th, all guests gathered in Weifang 2nd Middle School for the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Weihsien Camp, which started at 9:30am, with the welcome masses of nearly 1000 Weifang people.
The city mayor and government officials of
the national, provincial levels, as well as Mary Previte gave speeches
representing the Weihsieners of the
After the ceremony, the guests visited the
Weihsien Camp Exhibition House, the
In the afternoon, all 63 former Weihsien Internees as well as their families and friends, togather with representatives of Weifang people, such as Mr. Zhang, the son of Mr. Zhang Xingtai, who worked in the Weihsien Camp as a cleaner 60 years ago, the Chinese government officials as well as leaders and representatives of the Weifang 2nd Middle School, Weifang Hospital attended the meeting of the First Friendship Party Between Weifang People and Former Weihsieners & Their Families and Friends.
The mayor of
Estelle Cliff Horne representing the
Weihsieners of the
Xingtai gave a speech also. The meeting was
ended with the excellent slide-show of the Video-CD designed and produced by
Dr. Donald Menzi, professor of
In the evening, all guests were invited to enjoy the theatrical performances in Weifang Theater.
The music, dancing and singing performances are all designed kindly by the Weifang People's Government specially for the celebration.
Tomorrow, the Weihsieners and their families and friends will return to visit the Weihsien Camp place once again to evoke ther past memories the whole morning, and then sightseeing in Weifang, to see the changes.
News From Sui Shude and thank you for reading.
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet:
Re: Celebration of Weihsien Camp Liberation is going
on
Date: mercredi 17 août 2005
Thank you Mr. Sui Shude for the report on the Celebration activities at Weihsien. It is very much appreciated. We look forward to receiving a copy of Don Menzi's video CD. We are very sorry that we were unable to attend.
Thanks again for all that the people of Weifang have done!
~Dwight W. Whipple
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet:
Re: Celebration of Weihsien Camp Liberation is going
on
Date: mercredi 17 août 2005
Dear Mr. Sui Shude --
Thank you so much for your excellent report on the 60th Anniversary Celebration at Weifang. I deeply regret not being able to attend, but through your words I can see Weihsien again in my mind 's eye, and feel the warmth and caring of the Chinese people.
I know, for all my friends and fellow internees who attended the anniversary festivities, your gracious hospitality will be remembered for years to come.
Sincerely, Pamela Masters
(Miss P. Simmons, Weihsien Camp #498)
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet:
Re: Celebration of Weihsien Camp Liberation is going
on
Date: mercredi 17 août 2005
Dear Weihsien,
Thank you Weifang for remembering 60 years ago. So far, we have seen just
the 21 first pictures sent today by Don Menzi on:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/ --- and my e-mail box is announcing 9 more pictures comming ---
I have difficulties to find the good words to express what I feel.
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: First Day Photos
Date: mercredi 17 août 2005
Hello back there,
I just sent Leopold 30 photos from the first day of the Weifang Municipal Government's official celebration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Weihsien concentration camp. He will be posting them to the web site soon, I am sure. Through this email I will try briefly to put them into the context of the day's activities for those of you who couldn't make. (They are numbered in chronological order. The gaps in the numbers represent photos that were taken but not sent.)
===================
We took a bus from the hotel to the site,
now the grounds of
A light mist made the weather pleasantly cool - a great and welcom surprise to those of us who expected temperatures in the 95 - 105 degree range. (The non-Anglos among you will have to convert that to centigrade yourselves.)
The ceremony took place in what once was the semi-circular courtyard in front of Building #23. The ceremony itself opened spectacularly with fireworks (!!!) - each exploding shell releasing a tiny, colorful parachute - seemingly hundreds of them - which floated slowly across the gray sky (201).
Then came speeches by representatives from each of the 7 or 8 sponsoring organizations (206) - Mary Pevite (211a) representing the "Weihsieners." The seated (and hatted) Chinese gentleman being interviewed by a reporter (207) we found out later is the youngest son of one of the Chinese "sanitation workers" who carried out the cess-pool and WC contents for use as fertilizer by local farmers. His father had risked his life carrying messages into and out of the camp on slips of paper wadded in his mouth, and he had also helped Tipton and Hummel in their escape, at great danger to himself. Today the son was the official representative of all the local Chinese who had helped Weihsien internees through their difficult years by operating the "black market" and acting as secret go-betweens.
The ceremony also included the dedication of plaque for the "Weihsien Concentration Camp Exhibition House" (248), which contans a great many photos and artifacts from the internment camp, all well-displayed around the walls of what had once been the general storeage house for internees' in the "out of bounds" area.
A real highlight of the ceremony was the performance by a children's chorus who sang some spirited songs exceedingly well (250). Their performance was climaxed by the release of dozens of "peace doves" (really pigeons - 263), which ending the opening ceremony. I was amused to see my son-in-law Robert wiping some of their droppings off his shoulder, thinking that they could have deliberately targeted him because he is a professional teacher of traditional Japanese martial arts - until my wife, Jane, pointed out that they had hit my own shoulder, as well.
The walk to the Exhibition House provided an opportunity for the local "Weifangers" who had gathered to observe the ceremony to informally express their greetings to the former "Weihsieners." These totally spontaneous expressions of heartfelt, warm welcome to the former internees by the local population, (268 - 374) was one of the most touching aspects of the whole day.
The crowd around it prevented Jane from getting any get good photos of the laying a memorial wreath at the Eric Liddell monument, but she later got one of the monument itself (375).
Next came the ringing of the enormous "peace bell" by the oldest "Weihsiener" present, together with a little girl from Weifang (412a).
Finding the names of former internees on the memorial wall containing the names, in English and Chinese, of all the inmates who were liberated (437c) was a moving experience for many.
We left the compound grounds through a quite elaborate park and recreation area, still under construction, that includes some interesting use of water to form a series of arches, under which my grandchildren enjoyed running (437d).
The Wefangers said good bye to the Weihsieners (437a, 454)as we boarded the buses to return to the hotel.
After lunch and a brief rest, we reconvened for the "First Meeting of the Council of Friendship Party Between Weifang People and the Former Weihsieners" (469 - 529). This include speeches by the Mayor and other local officials and by internees representing the U.S., U.K, Canada, Australia, New Zealand; and most warmly applauded of all, by the son of the former "sanitation worker." (A translation of his very moving speech will be forwarded to Leopold to be included in the web-site - filling the gap in our memorial collection, which now includes the local Chinese people who were so generously helpful to the internees while they were emprisoned.
After the speeches the constitution of the newly formed Party organization was read and adopted unanimously by those present. I'm sure the constitution in its entirety will be added to the web site.
Following the meeting I did the "walking tour" slide show and took the names of anyone present who wanted to be sent a playable copy of the CD (538).
After dinner, most of our group went to a Commemorative Theatrical Performance, which I skipped to work on the photos.
It has been a long and wonderful day - far beyond anything that any of us imagined would take place. The Weifang government officials have organized a great event, which we all deeply appreciate, but the real stars for many of us were the ordinary citizens of Weifang, who turned out in great numbers, and whose genuine, open warmth and sincere expressions of welcome transcended any language barriers, making many of us feel like this was truly a homecoming, even for those of us who weren't there 60 years ago.
More about tomorrow, tomorrow.
Donald Menzi
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: jeudi 18 août 2005
Gee Dwight, you must have been a brave lad to mess around with the guards like that. How old were you at the time? Your name doesn't appear on my camp list, so, could you have been one of those luckier ones repatriated in September '43?
There was nothing good natured about the guards reaction the day I was hauled off to the guard house after being caught retrieving a soccer ball outside the camp wall. Granted the degree of the 'offence' was different and besides a tall lad of 15 or 16 years of age has to be taught some 'respect' ! ( ?) ! I guess.
They must have scared the daylights out of me, at the time, because I can remember every detail of it, today.
Then, some of you (ie: Albert de Zutter), seem to have extraordinary memories for detail, such as the colour and shape of their uniforms and head gear worn etc. I agree khaki registers in my mind, as their predominant uniform colour but didn't the likes of Sgt. 'Boo shing dee' always appear wearing a uniform bordering on the colour black? Or was it his 'foreboding' image colouring my recall, there?
Donald is certainly doing a great job getting words and pictures for all to see. He's certainly giving me the feeling of missing out on the fun.
Last but certainly not least of all, Sui Shude 'Hsien Shung', the whole organising committee and the Weifang People's Government are to be congratulated and applauded for organising such a wonderful 'once in a lifetime' event, honouring this lucky little group of WW 2 internees from the Weihsien camp.
A.(Zandy) Strangman
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: jeudi 18 août 2005 3:56
Hi Zandy~
I was seven years old, and yes, we were
repatriated in September 1943. The whole
experience was a great adventure for "us kids," though our parents
didn't think so. We were all together,
actually two families since December 8 when
~Dwight W. Whipple
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: New paintings
Date: jeudi 18 août 2005
Thanks Dwight for such a prompt and nice reply. What you had to say sounded familiar, so I have a feeling I've been down that same path with you in an earlier e-mail, a couple of years ago. Such is the curse of a failing memory and an even worse habit for repetition.
Donald's doing a great job with the camera but I hope he will eventually put some names to the faces. Or have I missed it somewhere?
Cheers, Zandy
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: New paintings
Date: jeudi 18 août 2005
Hello,
I closed my computer too soon last night and missed Donald's last message (texts and explanations) for the 30 photos he sent to us! It is OK now. Thanks Donald for doing all this ---- you are number ONE :-))
Comming next: David Beard's aerial photos of Weihsien taken in 1945 --- (fantastic)
--- and "all pictures welcome" ---- (with the names)
A+
Leopold
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Weihsien
Date: jeudi 18 août 2005
Folwoing publsihed in todays' London Daily Telegraph
Chariots of Fire hero honoured in homeland -
Richard Spencer
(Filed: 18/08/2005)
The residents of a grimy Chinese city paid an unusual tribute yesterday to the Scottish runner Eric Liddell, hero of the film Chariots of Fire.
As part of a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Japanese internment camp where he died, Chinese officials, old friends and fellow inmates laid a wreath at a memorial marking his grave.
Eric Liddell won the 400m
Liddell, a devout Christian, became famous for winning the 400 metres at the 1924 Paris Olympics after refusing to run his best distance, the 100 metres, because the heats were on a Sunday.
Less well known is that he was born and spent much of his life in
"Eric Liddell was a great Olympic champion who gave it all up to
come to teach the youth of
What was once the Weihsien Internment Camp is now
More than 2,000 people were held in the camp, including 327 children, mostly from a western-run boarding school nearby.
Many were children of missionaries, as were some of the older westerners
held there, a fact little mentioned yesterday. The huge missionary presence in
Nevertheless, the two dozen former internees who attended were touched by the ceremony's mixture of thoughtfulness and eccentricity. At its climax, to a fanfare of the Star Wars theme tune, fireworks exploded into miniature parachutes, representing the American servicemen who jumped from a B24 bomber to liberate the camp on Aug 17, 1945. Then, 1,500 pigeons were released, one for each of the inmates.
An exhibition hall showing photographs of the camp, and a garden of remembrance containing sculptures and the names of all those held, were also opened. For many of the children, nearly all separated from their parents, Liddell became a father figure. As well as teaching classes, he ran a Sunday school and organised sports competitions.
He eventually came round to the idea of sports on Sundays, refereeing football matches after hearing that teenagers with little to do were getting into trouble.
"He gave me two things," Mr Metcalf said. "One was his worn-out running shoes." It was winter, and like many boys Mr Metcalf had nothing to wear on his feet.
"The best thing he gave me was his baton of forgiveness. He taught me to love my enemies, the Japanese, and to pray for them."
After the war, Mr Metcalf spent 40 years as a missionary teacher in
Liddell died of a brain tumour in the camp hospital on Feb 21, 1945. "We all trailed along behind his coffin," remembered another former inmate, Estelle Cliff Horne. "My brother was one of the pall-bearers, and we buried him just by where the ceremony was."
The camp had been a mission school for Chinese children, and several of
the buildings, including the hospital wing, are still standing. The Liddell
memorial was erected by
After the Japanese left, the camp's history was quietly forgotten within
Christian missionaries are also returning. Though missionary activity is
formally banned, there are believed to be hundreds working under the guise of
charity volunteers and teachers in
rspencer@telegraph.co.uk
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: jeudi 18 août 2005
Sgt. "Booshindy" wore the regulation khaki or the alternate olive drab.
I have specific memories of him because I foolishly said his nickname when he came to our block for roll call one morning. He heard me and started yelling, wanting to know who said "Booshindy." I was too scared to answer, so my older brother John, stepped forward and said he did it. Booshindy yelled some more, and the incident ended without any serious consequences.
I don't remember any black uniforms.
Albert de Zutter
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Second Day
Date: vendredi 19 août 2005
Hello again, all.
I've sent Leopold some photos of the second day's activities, and here's the narrative to go with them. Once again, the numbers are in chronological sequence, but have started over again. Gaps in the sequence represent pictures taken but not sent for posting.
Thursday, August 18
Today we visited the Foton Heavy Industry Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. (#38) - of special interest to anyone who (like me) likes to know how things are put together. They were making tractors today (47, 58), but a lot of other really cool farm vehicles and machinery were parked on the lot - combines, front-end-loaders, and other things I couldn't name, but to anyone whose kids ever played with "matchbox" toys, these looked like great big toys that would be fun to drive around the sand box.
Next stop was the
A change of schedule allowed us to stop again at the Weihsien Center site where, without the crowds of yesterday, we were able to wander at our own pace around the grounds, swapping stories about what had happened to us where, and getting to know each other better. Jane and I had the good fortune of meeting a Chinese couple whom I might have called elderly once, but wouldn't now because they are close to our own age, who had lived near the camp and remembered that time well (#93). We took their address and plan to send them this photo and copies of some of the paintings of their own village, viewed "over the wall" over 60 years ago.
It took me a while to get the old buildings that are still standing fitted into the map of the compound that is now embedded in my brain from working on the "walking tour" slide show - a process rather like playing with those toy puzzles that we give to very little children, with five or six cutout shapes into which they are supposed to fit various animal-shaped pieces. I finally "got it" and it was quite moving to be able to visualize where on the map I was standing while looking at the hospital (97), two rows of 9 x 12 rooms (100), the Block 50 men's dormitory (105), and one of the "out-of-bounds" Japanese-occupied residences.
After lunch we visited a kite museum and
factory - Weifang is the kite-making capital of
That evening after dinner, group pictures were taken of those who were actually interned (190), and of the former Chefoo-ites among them (192).
Jane then took some portrait-shots of individuals. These will be sent later for posting in the future.
Stay tuned...
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Second Day
Date: vendredi 19 août 2005
Hello,
Thanks Donald --- all this is fantastic ---
On: http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
I filled in the empty gaps with the text you just sent to us. Hope it fit's OK. Just that the last pictures are missing. The group pictures. I hope (we hope) that your Chinese escapade is ending more relax than the three previous days and that you are all taking advantage of the excellent Chinese-chow and of their most loving hospitality. Promise: Mr. Shude: --- we will come to say "hello" to Weihsien one of these days --- (near future I hope) ---
A+
Leopold
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: photos
Date: vendredi 19 août 2005 20:00
Hi Bill --
It's me again. Reading over your message, and checking it against my map, I realized that Building 61 was the old hospital building where I worked as a cook in the 'diet' kitchen down in the basement. If they restored that area, and you went down there, you would have seen the kwas (huge steam kettles) and steel plates I cooked off. Now that, for me, would have been nostalgic...but still not worth traveling thousands of miles to see.
Thanks again for all your updates. Give my kindest regards Hwei Wei.
As always -- Pamela
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Help needed !
Date: jeudi 25 août 2005
Hello,
Thanks Don for sharing your 50 new photos with us ----
They are now visible on: http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
Could you all help me for the "Who'sWho" ---
I think that each photograph needs a story --- a comment --- ???
Thanks in advance,
Leopold
PS --- remember --- if you want a good print: click on the yellow magnifying glass.
PS --- is there a recording of Mary Previte's speech? I could add it in MP3-format ---
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: vendredi 26 août 2005 19:24
Dear Zandy,
In Weihsien I chanced to meet a couple who had lived near the camp when they were children. He remembered that sometimes the children in the camp would come outside - he thought they were being let outside to play ball, but it was probably retrieving a ball, as you describe. Did you (or anyone else reading this) ever see any of the camp's Chinese neighbors when outside? If so, he may have been one of them.
Donald
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: vendredi 26 août 2005
Figment of imagaination no one got out of camp except the escapees until after the liberation thereafte I can recall going out to retrieve a ball but it wuld have only occured during the period Sept/Oct 1945
Rgds
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <gregleck@epix.net>
Cc: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Japanese in
Weihsien
Date: vendredi 26 août 2005 20:13
Greg,
Well, I am happy to report that at last we have some hard evidence for the authenticity of the painting of the Japanese guard.
One of the former internees I met in Weifang brought with him an article written by the artist who drew the sketch - William A. Smith - which he had kept because it includes a sketch by Smith of him (the internee) in a lineup waiting for boiled water. The following is a quote from Smith's article:
"...Inside the gate conferences were held which resulted in the surrender of the camp. One of the conditions of the surrender was that the Japanese should continue to furnish sentries to guard the camp against any possible outside danger..."
"...I climbed the wooden ladder in one of the guard towers and when I got to the top I found a somewhat embarrassed Jap sentry. When I greeted him with "Konnicic-wa" he snapped to attention, saluted me and handed me his rifle. Naturally I was surprised, but I accepted the weapon, inspected it and handed it back to him. He again saluted and after returning his salute I descended the ladder, leaving him with the mutual "sayonaras." I felt that if it was as easy as that, I could certainly get him to pose for a sketch. The next day I made the painting of him in the tower which is reproduced on the third cover. That night I found a bottle of saki that he had left in my quarters as an expression of his gratitude."
I think this proves conclusively that the sketch is accurate, and argues for the correctness of memories of khaki uniforms by internees who were actually there.
As I mentioned before, if you look closely at Cameron's pencil sketches in Norman Cliff's collection on Leopold's web site you will see a sketch of a guard in a guard tower with what appears to be exactly this type of uniform, which is another piece of contemporary documentary evidence arguing for its authenticity, Desmond's memory notwithstanding. (I'm attaching the sketch, though the resolution make make it a little "sketchy," and I'm not sure it will fit topica's size limit)
The only irony in all this is that at the time William Smith's sketch was made, the guard was actually protecting the camp from "outsiders" (communist guerilla's were nearby) not preventing internees from escaping. That would also explain the helmet. If they were expecting possible trouble from armed guerillas outside the camp, it is perfectly reasonable that they would have issued helmets to the guards. It's also perfectly reasonable to assume that helmets were a standard issue for tower guards all along, who had the dual rold of preventing escape and protecting the camp from outside assault. The internees would not necessarily have seen them being worn, however, and they wouldn't have been worn by the ground-level guards that they had daily contact with.
By the way, the other sketches accompanying
Smith's article show him to be an excellent respresentational artist. A sketch of one of the members of the
Your reasoning about memory's tricks is quite valid in a general way, but in this case the hard evidence is all on the other side. So the question becomes, how to explain Desmond's scoffing? Any theories?
In conclusion, there does not seem to be any reasonable doubt left about the drawing's accuracy, which pleases me greatly because I will be able to continue using it in the "walking tour" slide in good conscience, though I may have to add a footnote at the end about when it was actually drawn.
I think this whole discussion is reminiscent of the History Channel series that goes by the lurid name of "Secrets of the Dead," but which is actually rather good at unravelling questions like this.
Best regards.
Donald
P.S., I'm sending this to the entire topica.com group because I'm sure that many of them will find the whole discussion fascinating.
==============================================
-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Leck <gregleck@epix.net>
Sent: Aug 16, 2005
To: Donald Menzi <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
Cc: despower@shawcable.com
Subject: RE: Japanese in Weihsien
Dear Donald,
I wasn't there, so all I can say is that memory is a funny thing.
I have spoken to over 60 ex internees. Some of their memories are just plain wrong. More than one internee who was at Yangtzepoo swears that they were in that camp for over a year. When I tell them they are mistaken, and that it was only 2-1/2 months, they vehemently argue with me, despite the fact that I have Japanese and American official documents and contemporaneous diary entries that show otherwise.
We have two internees who remember something very differently. Only one can be correct. Can we sift through the historical evidence to determine what really occurred?
I don't know if Desmond will care to be dragged into an argument of this nature, but I will forward Albert's recollections to him.
I have never seen a photograph or drawing by an internee showing regular Japanese Army personnel in a camp. That in itself I think is evidence against them being there, though not conclusive. But why would all pictures depict consular guards, and none of regular Army?
I also suspect that Albert was very
familiar with the sight of Japanese Army soldiers in the streets of
Based on my research, the historical record, and Desmond Power's memory, I would agree with Desmond. I could be wrong, but that is how I would vote.
As for the machine guns, I suspect this is hyperbole. I don't think I have ever come across a contemporaneous account of machine guns in Weihsien, or any other camps. Who has recorded or stated that they were covered with machine guns when they entered the camp? Such an act should have engendered a large body of documentary evidence in letters and diaries, and I have yet to see any of it. Again, I think it is the emblematic depiction of the post WW II "Stalag Escape" movies which have reinforced the archetype of the sentry in the watchtower with a machine gun. I don't think the Consular guard were issued with such weapons. In an incident at Lunghwa, after an internee near riot, Army soldiers were called into camp and brought a machine gun on a truck.
sincerely,
Greg
-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Menzi [mailto:dmenzi@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005
To: Greg Leck
Subject: Re: Japanese in Weihsien
Greg, and Desmond,
There seem to be some conflicting memories here. (See Albert DeZutter's email.)
Would the consular guards have been manning the machine guns that other internees say were aimed at them from the watchtowers when the first arrived?
Donald
-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Leck <gregleck@epix.net>
Sent: Aug 14, 2005
To: dmenzi@earthlink.net
Subject: Japanese in Weihsien
Donald,
I wasn't there, but I am familiar with Japanese uniforms and arms of the 1932-1945 period. The soldier has a steel helmet which was not part of the consular guards uniform.
Perhaps the best I can do is give you this reply I had after showing the picture to an internee, Desmond Power, who was there, as an adult, at the time:
<snip>
Never seen or ever heard of that painting of the guard. If I had I would have scoffed at it, so far from reality. The guards in all the camps I was in were Consular Police who wore black uniforms and peak caps. The subject of this painting is a Japanese storm trooper in jack boots with a steel helmet strapped to his back. And aiming a rifle! As I remember the camp guards had side arms only which were German Mauser pistols whose wood holsters could double as rifle butts.
The
<end>
Photos of consular guards are rare. I've found a number of photos taken by Japanese
of camps during the war, but only the civilian administrators are pictured. Another photo depicts a guard in
I'm not sure which drawing or painting you are referring to by Cameron. I've seen colored drawing of Weihsien guard in an open watchtower, as well as several of them on the rollcall field. But none are professionally done and because they are amateurish they don't help very much with the details. Is the one you are referring to on the website? I'll take a look at it.
Greg
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: vendredi 26 août 2005
Dwight,
Do you remember the color of the guards' uniforms - khaki or blue? As you can see by the exchange with Greg Leck, this is a matter of some dispute.
Donald
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: vendredi 26 août 2005
Ron,
Actually, I've read in some accounts by other internees about rare forays outside to retrieve a ball, under close supervision by a guard. I don't remember the exact citation but if I come across it again I'll send it on.
I'm inclined to believe that he remembered accurately seeing kids outside - at least once, as your account proves - though his interpretation of what it meant was certainly incorrect. It may even have been you that he saw, though that would be too great a coincidence to be likely.
Donald
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: vendredi 26 août 2005 20:44
Hi Donald~
No, I don't specifically remember the color of the uniforms, but I do have a memory of kids going outside the camp. My sister and a neighbor child (as I remember, Astrid by name and Norwegian) of about the same age (3), walked out the main gate one day, apparently unobserved. Someone must have spotted them walking down the road because a guard was dispatched and brought them back hand in hand.
~Dwight
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: vendredi 26 août 2005
Thanks, Dwight,
This is another example of the un-wisdom of making absolute categorical statements about the past - i.e., no one ever went outside the camp - when one can really only speak from one's own imperfect recollections one's own experiences, which may differ from others.
Donald
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: vendredi 26 août 2005
In 1943 I was 11 years old, and I was 13 when we were liberated. Any implication that I was not in the concentration camp is preposterous, as is the implication that I do not have specific memories of the appearance of the Japanese guards.
I have no documentary evidence as to whether
our guards were regular army or consular guards. I know for a fact that there
were no dark blue uniforms on the Japanese guards in the concentration camp,
and that the guards were dressed just like the regular army Japanese in
I saw no machine guns in the Weihsien
compound, but again, my memory of Japanese guards carrying the same bolt-action
rifles I saw in
Albert de Zutter
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Remaining Buildings
Date: vendredi 26 août 2005
For those who are interested in what's left of the camp, and who have access to Fr. Verhoeven's map, the remaining buildings are:
1. # 56 and 59-60 (flanking "Wall Street"), which are being restored.
2. # 50 (Men's dorm)
3. # 61 (Hospital), which is currently housing an art exhibit on the ground floor.
4. The "general store" (i.e.,
miscellaneous storeage, not "general store" in the American
small-town sense), now the Middle School #2's
5. The northernmost Japanese residence (out of bounds).
During our visit, I was able to go inside all of these except #50 and the Japanese residence. I'm curious if anyone who was there was able to get inside those two buildings. If so, please describe what you saw.
Thanks.
De: "David Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Remaining Buildings
Date: vendredi 26 août 2005
Thank you, Donald.
Thank you as well for chatting, albeit
briefly, with me. It was a privilege and honor to meet you and your wife, Jane,
and your step-grandson, young Master Abiden!
What a delightful family! I am a privileged man to have met you
folk! My own family were most pleased to
see "Grampa" again following my return from Weifang via the 'Qifu' or
Chefoo district on the outskirts of Yantai, then on to
Regards
David
gdavidbirch@yahoo.com
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Japanese Uniforms in Weihsien
Date: samedi 27 août 2005
There is a very simple expalntion of the uniforms which is absolutelyt obvious they had " Winter uniforms" whch were Blue and summer unifir,ms which were Khaki" A procedure qwhch many military forecs throughut the world have I know intimately haviong served int he RAF for 20 years from the North Pole to the tropics.
Rgds
Ron
De: "Rebecca Shanahan"
<rks@wideopen.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Joe and Judy Kemball
Date: samedi 27 août 2005
Hello
I'm writing on behalf of my mum, Judy, who
was a Weihsien internee as a child with her mother Joe. She lives in
Thank you!
Rebecca Shanahan
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Remaining Buildings
Date: samedi 27 août 2005
Some one should tell the Weifang people in charge of the camp buildings to add to the brass plaques the identity and number of the buildings.
When I was at the Middle school museum, a lady came out with some family's photo album. Unfortunately, none of the pages had a family name, only first names were inscribed. They said it was left behind.
So sad.
Teddy
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Japanese Sentry
Date: samedi 27 août 2005
If you google on WilliamA Smith you will get a note on his career. I was his guide taking him around the camp and he drew many drawings of me. Unfortunately I do not have any. The one of the sentry was on a page torn from an unknown magazine. Teddy
Donald Menzi wrote:
>
> Greg,
> Very interesting. Ted Pearson's note says that the sentry picture was done by a war correspondent, not an internee. It certainly looks like the inside of the "ball field" watch tower. Ironically, it was the one "new" picture that I decided to use it in the "slide show" for the program because it embodies so well the fact that this was forced confinement, backed up by guns. Could there ever have been a time when a soldier in this uniform would have been a sentry - maybe toward the end of the war - or is this image just historically wrong?
>
> Ted,
> Do you know anything more about this painting, or who William A. Smith was?
>
> Anyone,
> I'm still waiting for an explanation of how "Tin Pan Alley" got its name. Anyone know for sure? Or even as a guess?
>
> Donald
>
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: samedi 27 août 2005
Donald your presentation was simply spectacular. I don't know if you can also insert photos of the remaining buildings (if you have them?)
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Japanese Uniforms in Weihsien
Date: samedi 27 août 2005
Nice try at conflict resolution. But there were no blue uniforms at Weihsien. Their winter uniforms were olive drab, probably wool.
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: 3 new paintings, ---
Date: samedi 27 août 2005
Gosh, there is a memory for me. My late brother Micky Pearson worked in the shoemaker shop part time, and he would have been 14 in '45.
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Date: samedi 27 août 2005
I was amazed at the hospitality shown by
the people and administration of Weifang.
Even providing us with the booklet with the group photo inserted at the
last minute. Unfortunately the CD (DVD)
was probably formatted for
Teddy Pearson
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Japanese Uniforms in Weihsien
Date: samedi 27 août 2005
I only remember olive drab also.
Was there a sentry called Soapy San? Did he not beat one of the cesspool chinese on his goitre?
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>;
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: new paintings
Date: dimanche 28 août 2005
Ed,
Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.
I think that rather than inserting photos into the artwork, I'll do a separate unit on what's left, combining paintings and photo and map for those alone.
Donald
De: "Brian Butcher" <bbutcher@mac.com>
À: <info@weihsien-paintings.org>
Objet: Pictures
Date: dimanche 28 août 2005
Hello,
My name is Brian Butcher. Our family was interned at Weishien and I stumbled across the Weishein list serve and then the web site of camp pictures. My dad drew a number of pictures and only one survived. I think it is the main gate.
I also have my identification tag with the name and number on it. I have scanned both the picture and the tag and could send them if you are interested.
Dad was assigned to the bakery and the story of his experience there is an incredible story. My memories are so vivid including my own run in with the guard during roll call one day. I have emailed the owner of the list serve but have not heard from her to date.
Brian Butcher
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Help Needed
Date: dimanche 28 août 2005
I am trying to put together a supplement to go with the slide show that will show the buildings that still exist, in relation to the compound map and the paintings from 1943-45, and I have some encountered a problem that someone else who was there may be able to resolve.
I recall from a previous visit to Weifang
that there were two old buildings facing the new school entrance, to the left
and the right of the area where we were sitting in front of the podium. I can't tell from the photos we took last
week whether there were two or only one old building there. I'm sure about the one to our right as we
faced the school - now the home of the school's
I'm not talking about the old hospital, or the old men's dorm (block 50), or the old Japanese residence that is across from tblock 50. Can anyone who was there last week help on this?
Thanks.
Donald
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: "Brian Butcher"
<bbutcher@mac.com>; <weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: "Janette & Pierre @ home"
<pierre.ley@pandora.be>
Objet: Re: Pictures
Date: dimanche 28 août 2005 8:56
Hello,
--- extract from a listing on the Weihsien web-site ---
Butcher William Frederick Rev British 05.02.11 M Assembly of God 47/2
Butcher Elsie Clara Mrs British 01.07.11 F Housewife 47/2
Butcher Brian D British 21.01.41 M Child 47/2
Many thanks for your message.
Fantastic! We are the same age --- I was born in April '41--- and was in
Weihsien too! (Block-22)
Yes, do send me all you have about Weihsien --- I'll gladly open a new "chapter" with all your documents and texts and adapt them the best I can to all I already have on the picture-gallery-web-site.
You can do it via e-mail or send it to me (copies - of course) to my address
in
Leopold Pander
Sentier du Berger, 15
B - 1325 Corroy-le-Grand
---
All this adventure started a few years ago when an ex-internee (Natasha) had the idea of creating a chat list ---
http://lists.topica.com/lists/weihsien/read
I found a few reproductions of paintings at the bottom of an old shoe box and it all started like that. About Weihsien: I'm completely amnesic --- so --- I put the few paintings I had on the Internet and cried for help.
Well, I got help --- lots of help --- and now, we are writing "history".
But, honestly, except for our "liberation day" I don't remember "Weihsien" ---
How about you?
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: dimanche 28 août 2005
Dear Donald,
No, I never saw any Chinese within view of the camp till the day of our liberation. Even from the limited vantage points within the camp, I can't recall even seeing any stand out villages within our view.
Now, regardless of someone's recent "Figment of imagaination" accusation, softballs and soccer balls regularly ending up on the 'other side' of the wall. Our sporting equipment was limited, so what ever went out of bounds had to be retrieved, one way or another.
Retrievals during spectator games, naturally were 'sanctioned', and I can't recall any Jap guards doubling as ball boys, for us. Maybe it was the fairies?
It was during one small group knock around session that my kick went over the wall and a bad choice was made.
At the time it seemed easier and quicker to go over, get it, and be back in a 'flash' before anyone could react.
While out there, I remember feeling secluded with the view from that area limited by a 'L' shaped wall to one side and a raised trench mound beyond.
Mean while the ball after all was only about 10 paces beyond the wall and I soon had it in my hands, but to my horror, and no figment of my imagination, so was a Jap guard rounding the corner tower and coming at me.
With an angry guard manhandling me back to the guard house, sight seeing was definitely out of the question, now. Anyway, I hope I went some way to answering your query.
I must say, I've truly enjoyed following your illustrated account of the (once off) 60th Weihsien Commemorative, so much so, I felt a real loss at not being there, myself. Did you manage to look over the ground floor (or basement as it has been referred to) where the Diet Kitchen was located?
An area of particular interest for me, as that was were I worked for the last couple of months.
Will you be putting some names to the faces in your group shots? It would take a lot of the guess work out.
Keep up the good work,
Zandy
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien" <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: email address
Date: dimanche 28 août 2005
I have not been getting email messages sent by our members. I have noticed that the full name weihsien
was not typed. Perhaps this is the
reason. Would you please us the
following email address
weihsien@topica.com Thank
you.
Natasha
PS I am still unable to
reinstate Mary Previte.
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: email address
Date: dimanche 28 août 2005
I am at a complete loss! I
am going to try again. I apoligize in
advance for taking up your time.
Natasha
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: same subject
Date: dimanche 28 août 2005 16:42
Now I am apologizing for my bad spelling in the previous message. Our email address should be weihsien@topica.com With weihsien spelled out. What does ISP stand for?
Natasha
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien" <weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: <np57@cox.net>
Objet: email address
Date: dimanche 28 août 2005
Please send help and
suggestions to me at np57@cox.net Thanks,
Natasha
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>; <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: new paintings
Date: dimanche 28 août 2005 20:11
Dear Zandy, et. al.
I guess that if "sanctioned" over-the-wall retrieval of balls was common, a Chinese child of 10 might have gotten the erroneous idea that you were occasionally allowed out to play, or might remember it that way, at least.
Unfortunately I am not able to put names to faces, but Leopold is asking people to send in the names of people they recognize in the photos, hoping to accumulate a complete roster of the "rogues gallery." For me it would still be purely guess-work.
I just finished a supplement to the slide show that compares currently existing buildings with paintings done in the camp, where these are available. I will include it on the "distribution" CD. Nex step is to splice in some of the "new" paintings - at least those that don't duplicate views that are already included. I hope to be finished by next week, though it seems that ideas for new angles keep popping up.
Donald
De: "georgeanna knisely" <jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Help Needed
Date: lundi 29 août 2005
Donald, I sent you a letter and it came back, so doing this the correct way. Yes, there were two old gray buildings, one the museum when we were there in 1997 and yes, they are still there on either sa\ide of where we sat. The second across from the museum looking just like the museum - almost.
And since my letter camp back. I cannot remember if I emailed you asking to send me three CDs, one for me, one for my sister who could not come and one for Wies de Jongh, my best friend in camp, who also could not come and wanted to desperately. I want to give it to her and talk with her about her memories and what happened at the amazing Celebration.
With deep appreciation, Georgie (Reinbrecht) Knisely
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: messages
Date: lundi 29 août 2005 17:01
Thanks to those who responded to "ISP" I got in touch with my server, but they need
the "Incoming mail server" for Topica. If any of you can give me the info, I will
get back with my server. I have written
again to Topica.
For your information, if you
find that you cannot access Topica, send a blank message to:
weihsien-subscribe@topica.com
Natasha Petersen
De: "Gay Talbot Stratford"
<stillbrk@eagle.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Help Needed
Date: lundi 29 août 2005
Hullo Georgie,
So great to see your name come up. I always envied you your long blonde hair. Also delighted to know that you are still in touch with Wies.
Regretfully we lost touch some time ago much to my regret. Do ask her to write.
Presumably you are both in the States,
Peter Christine and i arein
Love to hear from you.
Gay
Graham and Gay Stratford
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: "Weihsien Chatline"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Eric Liddell's Grave
Date: lundi 29 août 2005
I have recievd the following inquiry can anyone help with an answer.
Rgds
Ron
"
A friend of mine up here, Murray Watts (who
is a fairly well known screenwriter, producer etc.) is writing the script for a
sequel to Chariots of Fire and asked me to go over to coffee Saturday morning
as he had Eric Liddell's daughter staying and she was anxious to meet me,
knowing I had been in Weihsien.
Apparently her mother had taken her home for the birth of her younger
sister and of course she never saw her father again. Unfortunately, as I was only 4 at the end of
the war, I was unable to tell her much although I did show her some
pictures. They showed me an article in
the Daily Telegraph which described the August re-union in Weifang and asked
whether I knew anyone who had gone as they would like to know whether the
I can't remember the name of the lady who was organising the trip, although she sat opposite me at the AGM dinner, and I seem to have lost the latest copies of Bamboo Wireless, which is a pain as I normally file them all together and remember taking these out after the AGM so don't understand why I can't find them. Did you go on this trip or can you give me contact details for someone who did? Sorry to bother you with this but I would like to help Patricia if possible. It would also be nice to put her in touch with someone who knew her father in camp. Any suggestions?
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Eric Liddell's Grave
Date: lundi 29 août 2005
Ron,
You can certainly assure them that the Liddell memorial is being well maintained, and in fact has a place of high honor in a beautiful memorial park setting.
Several people in the email group remember Eric well and I am sure that they will be happy to share their memories.
Donald
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Eric Liddell's
Grave
Date: mardi 30 août 2005 1:27
Ron,
You say Murray Watts is writing the screen version for a sequel to Chariots of Fire??? I had spoken with Julian ? from hongkong, about 8-10 years ago who wrote Surrender, a book about Eric Liddell. Do you know if they are working to gether on this. He said then he wished to make a sequel.
His memorial site is lovely and now is
really in a beautiful, full setting. I
read an article on line from a
Eric Liddell was my maths teacher in camp when I was 11 and 12 and he also taught me and my class to play basketball. He was very patient, kind and had a great sense of humor with us.
Georgie (Reinbrecht) Knisely
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Help Needed
Date: mardi 30 août 2005
Dear Gay,
What fun.
Wies wanted to come to the
When she comes back or I get back on Sept
12th, we will get in touch. I am still
in
So good to hear, more after the 12th. Georgie Reinbrecht knisely
De: <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Eric Liddell monument in Weihsien
Date: mardi 30 août 2005
Hello, Everyone:
Honoring Eric Liddell played an important -- and very moving -- part of the August 17 celebration in Weifang. A large, new memorial monument is located in a spacious setting behind the old hospital. On August 17, in a standing-room-only ceremony beside the monoment, former Chefoo student Stephen
Metcalf spoke, telling of the powerful influence Eric Liddell has had on his life, starting while Stephen was interned in Weihsien. Becauise of Eric Liddelll's message of reconciliation to Stephen -- a message about forgiving the
Japanese --Stephen has dedicated his whole life to service as a missionary in
In Weihsien, Liddel recruited Stephen to help him on the camp's recreation committee. They worked side by side in repairing athletic equipment. Shortly before Liddell's death, Liddell gave Stephen his running shoes.
I'm trying to talk Stephen into writing these memories for Leopold Pander's
Weihsien web site. What a moving story it
is! Stephen's book on reconciliation
has sold out in
Stephen Metcalf's speech at the Eric Liddell monument was a last-minute add on to the reunion schedule -- recommemded by Dr. Neil Yorkston, another Chefusian.
Frankly,
I was astonished that Stephen's
message calling for reconciliation with the Japanese was approved for this ceremony.
By the way,
a newspaper in
You can reach Stephen Metcalf by e-mail -- _stephenmetcalf@hotmail.com_ (mailto:stephenmetcalf@hotmail.com
) He lives in
Mary Previte
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Help Needed
Date: mardi 30 août 2005
Dear Georgie, --- and Dear Wies,
We, would very much like to have Wies' address too.
Our father took a short sequence in 16mm. movie when we went to visit the de
Jongh familly in
you by post! :-))
Best regards,
Janette and Leopold Pander. (Block-22)
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Eric Liddell monument in Weihsien
Date: mardi 30 août 2005
Mary, Is Stephen's book on reconciliation in Japanese? It sounds like it is. If not, what is the title??? Thanks, Georgie
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Eric Liddell's
Grave
Date: mardi 30 août 2005 14:21
Dear Ron,
Can this link help your friend?
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/NormanCliff/people/individuals/Eric01/leftFrame.htm
--- if you click on the little brown house two times, you go two steps backwards to find a chapter: "who died" in Weihsien camp with a map and the location of the tombs and the names of "who" was buried! You will reach a map with a magnifying glass. Click on it. You will then reach a zoomed picture of the same map and when the mouse's arrow is in on plot No.59, you will be able to read the details ----
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Eric Liddell monument in Weihsien
Date: mardi 30 août 2005
Just a little off topic here but on the
subject of reconciliation with the Japanese.
Last year about this time I was travelling through Bangok from
She said that she was sure that the reason the Imperial family has not..and will not have a male heir is because the Imperial Ancestors feel dishonoured by the Government's refusal to give reparations and apologize and acknnowledge their criminality and will not allow a male heir. She also said that she had heard.again, just rumour, that a curse had been placed on the family by ex-internees. She said that it would be too bad if these people died of old age before being able to lift the curse.
Just thought I would pass that on for what it is worth. Teddy
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: WEIHSIEN MEMORIES FROM PETER BAZIRE,age
14 when Weihsien was libera
Date: mardi 30 août 2005
Regarding the bull. I seem to recall a (cow or bull) that died and it was buried or burnt instead of being eaten. I seem to recall anthrax or something. Teddy
MTPrevite@aol.com wrote:
> Hello, Everybody:
> Leopold, please use these for your "I REMEMBER" feature on your Weihsien web site.
>
> Here is a collection of Weihsien memories from Peter Bazire. Peter, dictated these to me on our bus trip from Yantai to Weifang. . Peter was age 14 when we were liberated. Mary Previte
>
> I remember a few days after liberation in 1945, Ronnie Masters and I made our way to a secret airfield -- a small landing strip -- a few miles south of the camp. We'd heard of the strip, and find it we did.
>
> On the strip, we saw two or three small Japanese fighter planes with their pilots nearby. I don't know how we had the nerve to climb up and look in the cockpit, but we did.
>
> Ronnie could speak Japanese because he was 1/2 Japanese. He said to me,
>
> "Peter, they're talking about shooting us. So move away from the plane. Don't rush, but move on into the woods. "
>
> The pilots looked pretty tough and hard-faced. It was a relief to get out of their sight and range.
>
> ***
> I remember two of us were catapulting pigeons on the roof of the church. A Japanese guard shouted at us and gave chase. I ran between two blocks where four people were outside playing cards. I don't know how, but they knew I was being chased. They pulled me down under their table and between their legs. For about five minutes I was surrounded by four pairs of shins.
> When it was all clear, I crawled out and slunk away.
>
> ***
> I remember one day when two of us sneaked into the Japanese quarters to climb trees. It was such a thrill to climb a tree. We hadn't done it in a long, long time. But this tree had a bull tied to it. We'd been up in the tree for a while and the bull seemed docile, so we took turns sitting on it.
> That bull died a few days later.
> I remember another occasion, we sneaked to that tree. We had to creep along the ground so as not to be seen. We loved staying hidden in the branches -- until the Japanese commandant came along with a book to read and sat under the tree. Of course we had to stay put. However, after about 30 or 40 minutes, we knew we were in trouble because afternoon roll call was approaching. We dropped from the branches. With hardly a glance from the commandant, we dashed away as fast as we could. He must have had a benign disposition, because no one pursued us.
>
> ***
> I remember i pitched for the
> One day when our Chefoo boys were playing Weihsien, I heard one of the Kitchen # 2 players say, "This guy Peter Bazire should pitch for us."
>
> My modesty has held me back from mentioning this for 60 years.
I remember when I was batting that day and the bases were full. I hit one that sciored two players.
>
> ***
> I remember one of the Japanese used to give me Judo lessons in the guard house near the church. One of the Japanese high ups put a stop to that.
> ***
> I remember when Chefusian Alvin Desterhaft was to be repatriated; he gave his trumpet to me. I taught myself to play it and then joined the Salvation Army Band. We practiced once a week and played marches and hymn tunes a couple of times a week.
>
> On a bitterly cold day in February, my lips were chapped and I couldn't wear gloves because the trumpet valves are to close to play with gloves on.
> The Salvation Army Band gathered outside the hospital window to play for Eric Liddell -- Finlandia -- "Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side."
>
> I think Eric died the next day.
>
> I have that trumpet still.
>
> (EDITIOR'S NOTE: For the last 41 years, Peter Bazire has played violin for the Bath Symphony Orchestra
in
Peter Bazire,
>
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Help Needed
Date: mercredi 31 août 2005
Janette and Leopold, I will send you
Wioes's address as soon as I can.
Probably have it with me.
Mysuitcase is downstairs in this school.
I am flying from
Isn't this exciting, finding people of so long ago and catching up and connecting agin.
Thank you, again for your great continuing contributipons and so sorry you were not at the Celebration. Soon, Georgie
De: "Stanley Nordmo" <shnordmo@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Attendance at reunion
Date: mercredi 31 août 2005
Hello, Everyone
In all the reports from the reunion, I have not seen a list of those who were there.
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Attendance at reunion
Date: mercredi 31 août 2005
The following former internees attended the Weihsien reunion:
Peter Bazire, Chefoo;
David Birch, Chefoo;
David Beard, Chefoo;
Joyce Cooke Bradbury,
Mary Hoyte Broughton, Chefoo;
Michael Calvert,
Maida Harris Campbell, Chefoo;
Ed Cooke,
Angela Cox Elliott,
Beryl Welch Goodland, Chefoo;
Estelle Cliff Horne, Chefoo;
George Kaposhilin (formerly Georgie Watts),
Georgeanna Reinbrecht Knisely,
Marian Bevan Lauchlan, Chefoo;
DIana Walsham Linley,
Stephen Metcalf, Chefoo;
Teddy Pearson,
Mary Taylor Previte, Chefoo;
DouglasSadler, Chefoo;
James H. Taylor, Chefoo;
Gerry Walsham,
Neil Yorkson, Chefoo
Many of these brought along spouses, children, grandchildren.
Mary Previte
----- Original Message -----
From: Donald
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Subject: Re: Attendance at reunion
Thank
you Mary for the list. Jane and I will attempt to add names to the
"portraits" that we posted on Leopold's list this weekend, for as
many as we can match up.
It
would be nice to have a complete list of attendees, including people such as
myself who are related to former internees. Is that
possible?
Donald
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Attendance at reunion
Date: mercredi 31 août 2005
Hello, Donald,
I can ask Mr. Sui if he has such a list. But I'm not hopeful. I asked him repeatedly for a list before the reunion, so I could prepare a directory. I got no response.
So I created my own directory, listing ONLY former internees that I knew were attending this celebration. At first I was also going to include the relatives of internees who were attending, but it was absolutely hopeless trying to get this informatiion. Responses were so incomplete, that I gave up on that.
I ended up with an accurate list of former
internees who attended the event -- and
blasted it in advance to them by e-mail.
I brought a few extra to give to those who couldn't download
my list. At Joyce Cooke Bradbury's
suggestion, I included where they had come from in
When I sent the list of former internees to nthe Topica site this week, I took them straight off my directory.
Mr. Sui told me about 60 people attended -- including former interneehe s, their relatives, Flying Tigers and dignitaries. I doubt that I'll get that list. Maybe I could ask him to send it to you, because he says is unable to get e-mail through to me either at home or in my legislative office.
Mary
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Attendance at reunion
Date: mercredi 31 août 2005
Mary,
I have a copy of the list that was part of the party organizing meeting, which is a staring point. Maybe I can scan it and send it to the group for corrections. I'll see what I can do this weekend.
Donald
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Attendance at reunion
Date: mercredi 31 août 2005
I'm going to scan and send the list that was handed out at the event, but it will need corrections. It will be sent if a few days.
I'll also send Leopold a scanned copy of the panoramic photo of the entire group, which he can post on the web site.
Donald
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: From The Philadelphia Inquirer: Survivors celebrate liberation
Date: mercredi 31 août 2005
The
Survivors celebrate liberation
By Mary T. Previte
Push bombings and hurricanes and grief off the front page. Today is the anniversary of our Liberation Day: August 17, 2005. The day the American heroes came.
What does a child remember from almost three years of imprisonment in a Japanese concentration camp?
Yesterday, I remembered the gut-wrenching hunger, guard dogs, bayonet drills, prisoner numbers and badges, daily roll calls, bedbugs, flies, and unspeakable sanitation. Yesterday, I remembered the Japanese soldiers commandeering our school, marching us, shipping us, trucking us to internmemnt camp.
Guards with unfettered power over 1,500 prisoners. Yesterday, I remembered my 5 1/2 years separated from my missionary parents, with warring armies keeping us apart.
But not on Liberation Day.
Today, a world away, we children (all senior citizens now) will stand in
that place in
Someone will remember the ragamuffin crowd of scrawny prisoners stampeding through the gates -- stumbling past Japanese guards -- into the open fields
Screaming, Dancing. Weeping. Hysterical with joy.
Teddy Pearson from
"I was the first to reach him," he will say. He will remember Orlich's brush-cut -- 1945 flattop -- and his glasses taped with pink "medicasl tape" around his temples. In 1945, the 10-year-old walked Orlich back to the camp, chattering with a hero.
My brother, Jamie, from Hiong Kong -- imagine it! -- finding himself locked outside the camp. As the stampede dashed out to welcome the liberators, Jamie raced with his classmates through the wide-open gate, through he fields, running to explore the sleepy, farming town nearby. When they returned, after almost three years of being locked in, they found themselves locked out!
And, yes, someone will remember the Salvation Army Band playing a
victory medley. The Salvation Army had guts. The band coupled hymns of the failth with the
national anthems of
A teenager in the band crumpled to the ground and wept. We were free.
Someone will surely remember the Juicy Fruit gum the Americans gave us children. They chewed it, then passed the sticky wads from mouth to mouth.
I
remember tailing these gorgeous librators around. My heart went flipflop over every one of them.
I wanted to touch their skin, to sit on their laps. We begged for souvenirs, begged for their autographs,
their insignia, their buttons, pieces of parachute. We cut off chunks of their hair. We begged them to sing the songs of
Only three of our heroes are alive today -- all 85 years old. They are too frail to join us in
O, yes.
________
Assemblywoman Mary T. Previte
writes from
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: From The
Date: jeudi 1 septembre 2005
Beautifully said, Mary -- it gives me goosebumps all over again!
Pamela
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: From The
Date: jeudi 1 septembre 2005
Gosh Mary, you are such an eloquent person. I never knew Pete Orlich was only 21! Gee whiz, I was just turned 10.my birthday was August 10. However, I cannot remember guard dogs or badges.roll calls absolutely. My memory says 2 times daily until the lads escaped.then it was 3 times. . However, I do remember always being hungry. My memories were of ''soup of the gods''...hot water, scallions and the odd piece of bread. This for the first few months. David Birch has other memories.
But being hungry.yes. In fact, there are times even today when I am always eating. Lots of Girl friends have commented on this. :)))
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Anyone Recognize Him?
Date: jeudi 1 septembre 2005
Stanley Fairchild has copies of a magazine
article by William A. Smith, the artist with the
Donald
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Anyone Recognize Him?
Date: jeudi 1 septembre 2005 9:16
Hello, Donald,
I think it's Teddy Pearson, who has been trying to track down those very pictures. Bless my soul! The internet is a miracle worker!
Teddy was part of our Weihsien reunion group.
Mary Previte
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: From The
Date: jeudi 1 septembre 2005
Thank you, Teddy.
Your wonderful memories of Peter Orlich have splashed his widow, Carol Orlich, with joy. She loves hearing every memory of her husband. She's collected a big box of the stories, cards, and photos I've sent her over the last
8 years.
When I tell this story at schools, I get the children to write letters or create cards to send to our heroes. Often the heroes -- especially Carol and Jim Moore -- write letters back to the school. You can imagine the delight on both sides.
If you'd like to giveCarol a call and tell her your memories personally, you can phone her at 718-746-8122. Please do. She's an incredibly bubbly, upbeat person that exudes love of life. You will make her day and you will make YOUR day.
She's due to have knee replacement anyday.
Tell me about it when you finish talking to her.
Mary
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: From The
Date: jeudi 1 septembre 2005
Thank you, Pamela,
I loved writing that story.
Mary
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: web-site
Date: jeudi 1 septembre 2005
Thanks everybody,
Dear Ted,
I just finished loading your pictures on the web-site. Could you check and - if possible - add an explanation to each picture. Each picture has a number --- It can even be a "long" story ---
Dear
--- Thanks for finding and sending the sketch --- which is most certainly of Ted Peason. If it is OK? --- I added it to his photo-chapter as "introduction picture"
Dear Mary ---
Thanks very much for the additional pictures. As you can see --- they are easy to add --- there is also a link to your speech --- Could you check?
Dear Don, ---
Your slide show is "professional quality" --- really perfect. Do you have vocal comments for the slides? In fact, I did two slide shows --- one for a 800 x 600 screen and the other one for a full 19"-screen. Could you check?
Wow! --- and I still have to complete all the "IRemembers" --- and the painting-locations ---
Thanks to all for sharing all this with us --- = from all those who couldn't come !!!
:-))
Leopold
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: web-site
Date: jeudi 1 septembre 2005
Leopold, you giver of joy!
Your web site fills me with delight and awe. I've spent hours and hours enjoying it. In
I've also forwarded the web site information for the family of Carol Orlich to use. Carol is the widow of Peter Orlich.
Absolutely spectacular.
I'll e-mail you a corrected verson of my August 17 article in The Philadelphia Inquirer -- correcting the typographical errors I made in retyping it to you -- for those of us senior citizens that need larger print. .
Today, my office will scan to you you some VERY old photos of buildings in the Weihsien compound -- when it was used as a missionary school and hospital.
Unfortunately, the photos are very faded, but I think these pictures have historical value. The author of the book in which these photographs are found, tracked me down in Weifang to give me this book about the Presbyterian school and hospital.
Keep up the good work, Leopold. You have given a gift to the world.
Mary
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Anyone Recognize Him?
Date: jeudi 1 septembre 2005
The model for that drawing is none other than myself. Teddy Pearson. I would dearly like to have a copy.
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Anyone Recognize Him?
Date: vendredi 2 septembre 2005 1:15
Hello, Teddy,
What and exciting finish to your search! I LOVE the drawing -- now posted on Leopold's weihsien web site. Absolutely amazing!
What an adorable 10-year-old you were! I'm going to print the drawing and send it to Carol Orlich. She'll love it.
Mary
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: addition
Date: vendredi 2 septembre 2005 14:00
Dear List Members,
Messages to weihsien@topica.com do not get to me via email. I am told
that eventually this will be corrected.
I am able to get the messages via the topica website. My weihsien messages are going out to the
list members. Therefore I ask each one
to please add my email address to the weihsien@topica.com
either in the "to" or
"Cc line when you send messages.
My address is np57@cox.net
Thank you.
Natasha Petersen
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien" <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: my email
Date: vendredi 2 septembre 2005 19:46
Mary (Previte),
Would you please let me know whether you have received my email sent today, Sept 2 to Weihsien@topica Send your answer to the Weihsien and to my personal address.
Thanks,
Natasha
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Anyone Recognize Him?
Date: vendredi 2 septembre 2005
What do you mean 'adorable 10-year-old''? What wrong with me now?
Hehehe.
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: addition
Date: vendredi 2 septembre 2005 22:12
Hello, Natasha,
Yes, I got an e-mail message from you about adding your name to any mailings to the Topica network.
I think I know how frustrated you feel. Until I got reinstated last week,
I felt I had missed a whirlwind of messages about the Weihsien reunion. I hate to miss any of the chatter. You've given all of us a wonderful gift with this network.
Did you get the miracle story of the 1945 sketch of Teddy Pearson? I connected withg Teddy only recently when he joined the group going to Weihsien
He started chatting with me about his
search for a Stars and Stripes artist who had sketched drawings of him shortly after
liberation. I had suggested that he
might find the drawings in the Stars and Stripes archives in
This week Don Menzi sent out a mesage on Topica: "Who is this person?" and posted a sketch of a Eurasian boy drawn by a Stars and Stripes artist,
William Smith. in 1945. Stanley Fairchild in HongKong -- who was one who attended our reunion -- had kept the Stars and Stripes article since 1945!!!! Right away I knew it was Teddy.
See what a miracle you've created with this network? Quite amazing.
I've downloaded the sketch and will send it to Carol Orlich, widow of our liberator, Peter Orlich. Teddy Pearson -- at age 10 -- was the first person to reach Peter Orlich when Peter parachuted into the gaoliang stubble outside Weihsien.
Mary
Mary
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Help Needed
Date: samedi 3 septembre 2005
Wies toe Water
Walnut
She lives near
I loved it.
I have been to
I cannot wait to get back to the
Big Hugs to you and your wife, Dusty
De: "Bobbie Bridger Backhouse"
<backie@ihug.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: Weihsien Guards' uniform
Date: samedi 3 septembre 2005 17:49
----- Original Message -----
From: Desmond Power
To: Bobbie Bridger Backhouse
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2005
Subject: Weihsien Guards' uniform
Let me introduce myself. I am Desmond
Power, born in
I've long vowed never to allow myself to become involved in the controversies that stir up members of Weihsien Topica, for I am a firm believer in the old maxim, so well put by, I think, Tolstoy, "that it is the endless variety of men's minds which prevents a truth from ever presenting itself identically to two persons."
To my extreme regret, however, I discovered that without my knowledge or authorization I had been thrust headlong into the wrangle as to form of dress worn by the guards at Weihsien camp. With no wish to impose my view, rather only to stop my name being bandied about in Topica's exchanges, I wish to clarify my position on the matter.
In my formative years I lived through the
1937 Japanese invasion of north
In March 1943, as an adult aged 20, I was
sent to Pootung Internment Camp,
I was in Pootung for 194 days, and on each of those 194 days I lined up for roll call conducted by a black-uniformed sergeant, with a long sword in a shiny scabbard dangling from his belt, and two of his black-uniformed Consular Police underlings with our block monitor in attendance.
In September 1943, one hundred fortunate inmates, including myself, under escort of black-uniformed Consular Police, were transferred by ferry, truck and bus to Lunghwa Camp, where I was to spend the next 116 days. So, on 116 occasions twenty of us who had our bunks on the stage of the Assembly Hall lined up as if taking curtain call to be counted off by black-uniformed Consular Police. After confirmation that we were all present and correct, we had a ringside view of the lines in the auditorium being counted off. One day, right before our eyes, an internee who arrived late for roll call was beaten up severely by a black-uniformed sergeant. (The victim's name was Reuben. I knew him having played against his Shanghai United Field Hockey Club when I came down in March 1941 with the Tientsin Interport Hockey team.)
In January 1944, two other internees and
myself were taken out of Lunghwa and driven to
How different, Weihsien! Fresh champagne
air, trees galore, a maze of picturesque courtyards and moongates and tingzis
such as you would see in the
I lined up for roll call once a day for 146 of those 580 days, and following the Tipton/Hummel escape on June 9 1944, twice a day for 434 days. So I stood in line over a thousand times to be counted off by a Consular Police sergeant and his men in police black. But we did not always line up shoulder to shoulder. After I was moved from Room J Block 24 (where we were counted off in the pleasing courtyard with the picturesque tingzi) to Room 9 Block 23, we stood in the stairwell leading to the tower, one internee to a step. (Eric Liddell in Room 8 when not Block Monitor would have stood on one of the steps.) One particular roll call is indelibly carved in my memory. As the roll call bell rang I saw Sergeant Bushingdi in the yard below berating people to get a move on. Mindlessly I shouted a Chinese curse at him. He saw me, but I dashed down to my place in the stairwell. Not knowing who was the culprit, he grabbed hold of David Clark, the 15 year old ward of Reverend Simms-Lee and began throttling him. I had no alternative but to present myself as the perpetrator. To this day I can see Bushingdi's toothy snarl, I can feel the vice like grip on my neck, and I can smell the nap of his black uniform. I was lucky the war was nearly over. My punishment was only several slaps to the face.
Weihsieners who have read the Duck Mission account will see how Mayor Staiger made a distinction between "Major Koyanagi Chief of Consular Police" and "Colonel Jimbo of the Japanese Army" (whom he gave short shrift). The account which names the seven brave paratroopers who liberated the camp makes no mention of William A Smith who obviously arrived with a later group. Therefore Smith's statement: "Inside the gate conferences were held which resulted in the surrender of the camp," (actually at the Commandant's HQ) is based on hearsay. His painting of a Japanese storm trooper is beautifully rendered, but the rendition is totally unlike any guard I ever saw in Weihsien, Pootung, or Lunghwa.
"Cameron's pencil sketch of a guard in
a guard tower" deserves comment. That scene of the searchlight platform
(not a guard tower) was the subject of the art class in which Sandy Cameron
participated. And in donating the sketch to the collection Weihsien Memories,
he made the annotation: "A Beginner's Contribution." Another sketch of his in Weihsien Memories is
of the basket court quadrangle in which he shows a priest reading his breviary
and two internees forming coal briquettes. For none of the three did he fill in
details of their dress. He left them in outline form just as his sketch of the
guard on the search light platform is hardly more than outline.
In that same art class doing that same scene of the searchlight platform that day were other neophyte artists. One, whose signature on the drawing is hard to decipher, shows the guard either in shadow or deliberately in black. But another, Nick Mihailoff (my boss when I worked at BMC Electricity Dept in 1940), who named his watercolour "If I Had the Wings of an Angel," paints the guard's uniform in vivid blue/black.
But what settles the colour of uniform question in my mind, if by now that is still needed, is the illustration in Laurance Tipton's most excellent book, "Chinese Escapade". Opposite page 88 is a picture of a roll call in progress in what looks to me like Block 47 or 57. Those wearing white are painted in white, those in darker clothes painted in darker colour, and those in black are painted in black. The black is not shadow. All figures are given the same treatment no matter which way they face. The Japanese sergeant with the dangling sword is painted in the BLACK UNIFORM of the Consular Police.
A last word before I close this already too lengthy email.
The men who occupied Room J Block 24, my
first quarters in Weihsien, included among other 'oldies' from Tsingtao, Percy
Whitting, a senior manager of British American Tobacco Co. Interested in my
stay at Pootung and Lunghwa, we had long discussions about various BAT
personnel in those camps, and we became good friends. Weihsienners from the
Desmond Power.
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Weihsien Guards'
uniform
Date: samedi 3 septembre 2005 18:19
Hi Des --
Thanks for your very detailed explanation regarding the guards' uniforms. Like you, I decided to stay out of that very rambling controversy.
In The Mushroom Years, at the top of page 131, I mention a couple of young guards in black uniforms up in the guard tower. And again in para 2 on the following page, describing King Kong, I wrote: "He also wore a black uniform, and I learned later that it designated that he, like the young guards, was a member of the consular guard and not an officer in the Imperial Japanese Army."
As I read all the input on Topica on this subject, I couldn't help wondering what camp they'd been interned in...
Have a good one -- Pamela
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "Previte, Mary"
<mtprevite@aol.com>
Cc: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: The same
Date: mardi 6 septembre 2005
Dear Mary,
I have not received any messages via Topica.com since Sept. 3rd (Pamela Masters) Please reply to me both to my email address and the weihsien email address. I truly am at a loss how to proceed.
Natasha
Weihsien list members,
I am still trying to straighten this. Please bear with me.
Natasha
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <np57@cox.net>; <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: The same
Date: mardi 6 septembre 2005 16:53
Hello, Natasha,
I have not recreived messages on the Weihien Topica network since September 3.
Mary Previte
De: "Edmund Pearson"
<tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: photos
Date: mardi 6 septembre 2005 22:12
I have been going through the book/magazine that the officials in Weifang gave to us after the celebration. I am very curious to know when and who took the photos of the children and adults in the camp.
Who would have taken the picture of Eric Liddell in his room in the camp? and how did they get it developed? Who took the picture of the B-24 with the parachutes coming down?
Teddy Pearson
De: "Mary Previte"
<mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: photos
Date: mercredi 7 septembre 2005 0:21
I wish I knew.
These photos have been passed from hand to
hand for 60 years. Norman Cliff of the
Weihsien Topica network might know who took the photos of the Chefoo Boy Scout
and Girl Guide groups.
When The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine published my Weihsien story as its cover story to commemorate the 40th anniversary of th ending of World War II, its art department took a collection of tiny, black and white snapshots I'd collected from my brother, enlarged them, then had an artist "colorize" them for the magazine cover and its inner pages. I was unable to give proper credit for the people who took those photos
You might get answers by posting your question on the Weihsien Topica site.
Try it.
When I tracked down our liberators in 1997, I asked each one to send me snapshots of what he looked like in 1945. That's how I got those pictures.
The newspapers have used those photos over and over again.
Mary.
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: photos
Date: mercredi 7 septembre 2005
Edmund,
Once again, the old proverbial question has been raised!
Who in fact, took those pictures? And how and when were they developed?
Maybe we will never know for certain, but we can speculate on the answers, Isuppose.
I'm pretty sure I know who had a loaded camera in camp, during ourinternment and
I suspect 'he' took the one of the B-24 parachute drop. Unfortunately, heis no longeraround to verify it himself and as his daughter has previously said she isnot sure about it,
I think I should keep that 'guess', to myself.
However, I doubt the same person took the one of the man (& I don'trecognise him as Eric L.), sitting and reading, which only adds to the mystery.
Of course, all the photos could have been held over and developed well after our liberation.
Now I've got a couple of questions of my own.
Are you the 8 year old listed as E.T. Pearson with a 12 year old brother (M.F.), in 1944?
I see Peter Bazire was at the reunion but I can't recall seeing anything from him on this
Topica chat list. Do you know if he is connected to it?
At last, someone (P.B.) has actually mentioned Ronnie Masters. I was beginning to think he never existed in camp, at all!
All the best,
A. (Zandy) Strangman
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: photos
Date: mercredi 7 septembre 2005
Zandy yes I am the E. T. (Teddy) Pearson and my brother Mickey (Michael Frank. He has passed on now several years ago. Was the cub scouts and boy scout pictures only of Chefoo students? Teddy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Assemblywoman Mary T. Previte, D., NJ
Legislative District 6" <AswPrevite@NJLEG.ORG>
To: <MTPrevite@aol.com>
Cc: <sanny@aol.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005
Subject: FW: WWII-60-China: Local News Coverage of
Ceremonies to Mark the Liberation of the Weixian Concentration Camp
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bishop, Donald M [mailto:BishopDM@state.gov]
> Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 12:16 AM
> Subject: WWII-60-China: Local News Coverage of Ceremonies to
Mark the
> Liberation of the Weixian Concentration Camp
>
> http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/17/content_3367653.htm
>
> http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/17/content_469879.htm
>
> http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/17/content_469883_2.htm
>
> http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/17/content_469883_3.htm
>
> http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/17/content_469883_4.htm
>
> Chinese:
> >
> > http://news.163.com/05/0818/06/1RDSUF400001121S.html (NetEase)
> >
> > http://news.sohu.com/20050818/n226708156.shtml (Sohu)
> >
> > http://news.sina.com.cn/s/2005-08-18/01006716765s.shtml (Sina)
> >
> > http://news.tom.com/1002/20050817-2396543.html (Tom)
> >
> > http://www.dzwww.com/xinwen/guoneixinwen/t20050817_1161399.htm (Da Zhong
> > Daily)
> >
> > http://www.dfdaily.com/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=61382 (Dong Fang Daily)
> >
> > http://cdleaders.people.com.cn/GB/channel78667/79520/200504/28/23397.html
> > (People Daily)
> >
> > http://www.sd.xinhuanet.com/news/2005-08/18/content_4909305.htm (XinHua
> > ShanDong Net)
> >
> And a previous article on Eric Liddell:
>
> http://app1.chinadaily.com.cn/star/2004/0805/vo2-2.html
>
>
>
>De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: FW: WWII-60-China: Local News Coverage of Ceremonies to Mark the
Li
Date: jeudi 8 septembre 2005
Hi
Mary, what is this all about? Teddy
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: FW: WWII-60-China: Local News Coverage of Ceremonies to Mark the
Li
Date: jeudi 8 septembre 2005
Sites
where you can read what the Chinese press wreote about our reunion.
Mary
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: email from Mary P
Date: vendredi 9 septembre 2005 13:34
Dear Mary,
Your message of yesterday -
Am I the only one to receive this?
Natasha
De: <gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: test message
Date: vendredi 9 septembre 2005
I've been disabled by the list for the last two weeks. This is a test message.
Greg
Greg,
Your test message received.
Cheers!
David Beard
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: email from Mary P
Date: lundi 12 septembre 2005 21:30
Hello, Natasha,
I intended to send it to the whole topica
network. It lists news sites in
Mary
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: "Moved to tears," says Douglas
Sadler
Date: mardi 13 septembre 2005
Douglas Sadler dropped me a note today, expressing what so many of us felt about our reunion experience in Weihsien. Mary Previte
"It really was an incredible
experience and I don't know how many times I was moved to tears through what we
were seeing and hearing. All of us from
the
Naturally I am sorry I didn't get the chance to get to know you better and the same applies to Jim to whom I hardly spoke a word apart from when he told me that he had found the room we used to sleep and live in. Actually being in that room was such a memorable experience.
Thanks for sharing with us various memories recounted by fellow schoolmates. All very interesting.
With lots of love from all of us Brits.
Douglas Sadler"
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: My everlasting gratitude
Date: mardi 13 septembre 2005
With this 60th anniversary celebration, Weifang gave us much more than a master renovation. This whole celebration was a work of art.
Who did not weep when the announcer boomed out, "Exactly 60 years ago at this hour...."
Who did not weep when fire works exploded with parachutes falling from the sky?
Who did not weep when hundreds of pigeons burst from their cages and soared free to the skies?
Am I making clear how extraordinary this event was?
Weifang officials have earned our everlasting gratitude for their vision, their commitment of money and artistic effort for this 60th anniversary celebration.
Planning started in February, 2005. Construction started only in May.
Workers were adding finishing touches even hours before the celebration, August
17.
In the Exhibit House, formerly one of the residences in the Japanese quarters, every wall is beautifully displayed, floor to ceiling, with enlarged photos and posters from our internment and liberation. Some of these appear to have been chosen from the Weihsien web site. In May, a delegation from
Weifang also visited several
of us in the
The largest picture of all -- euphoric internees and liberators crowding the entrance to the camp -- covers almost a whole wall of one room of the Exhibit Hall. One of the liberators in the foreground of that picture is radio operator, Peter Orlich.
Outdoors in the newly-created memorial park, a huge wall is engraved with the names of every internee. Our names -- in Chinese and English -- are also carved in marble at the base of a giant peace monument located across a stream from that wall.
Mary Previte
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: "Greg Leck" <gregleck@epix.net>
Objet: listing
Date: mardi 13 septembre 2005 15:05
Dear Greg,
You were "off" again.
I have contacted Topica many times, and the answer is that they are
aware of the problem, and are working on it.
I am still unable to get messages on my email.
I am opened to suggestions.
Greg, you should be getting tow emails with this message.
Natasha
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Was William Smith a member of the Weihsien
rescue team?
Date: mercredi 14 septembre 2005
Subject: Was William Smith part of the Weihsien liberation team?
Hello, Donald,
Does the exerpt you quoted from William Smith's 1945 article imply that William Smith was with the American liberation team when the Japanese handed control of the camp to the Americans? I have not seen this article.
William Smith did not accompany the 7-man team that liberated Weihsien.
He may have come with a later group.
Jim Moore, one of our liberators, and I chatted about this last week.
The seven men who parachuted and took over the camp on August 17, 1945, were Major Stanley Staiger. Jim Moore, Jim Hannon, Tad Nagaki, Peter Orlich, Raymond Hanchulak, "Eddie" Chen Han Wang. Five of the seven were members of the Office of Strategisc Services (OSS).
All the sketches of that parachute drop on August 17, 1945, show 7 men. I have a piece of silk parachute embroidered with the rescue scene and signed by each of the 7 liberators. William Smith is not among them.
Jim Moore says that William
Smith was not present when the Japanese
turned over the camp to Major Stanley
Staiger. He says that any other
account is revisionist history. Jim Moore was second in command of this
In a conversatiion with me a while ago, Liberator Jim Hannon also weighed inon the subject of other people's claiming credit for being part of the "Duck Mission" that liberated Weihsien. He cited a hand-written thank you letter to "Internees, Weihsien Civilian Assembly Centre" dated September 6, 1945. Part of that letter reads "We want each of you to know than any success achieved in the performance of our duties, from the moment of our arrival to the completion of the mission, is largely due to the excellent administrative organizatiion already in existence and the complete co-operation so freely and cheerfully displayed by all on our behalf."
The letter lacks real signatures, but in place of signatures, lists names of eight men and their ranks. Seven of these are the liberators. The eighth is Captain Willis Georgio. ( By the way, this letter is exhibited on Leopold Pander's Weihsien web site.)
Jim Hannon told me that when this letter was first posted for internees to read, Hannon personally crossed out the name of Captain Willis Georgio, because Captain Georgio was not a member of the liberation team.
Mary Previte
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: William A. Smith
Date: mercredi 14 septembre 2005
Mary,
William A. Smith was not, and never claimed to be, part of the "liberation team." His biography states:
"...To learn further about Chinese
art, history and language, during World War II, Smith "consented to be
recruited" for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and was sent to
The complete biography is at http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/3aa/3aa117.htm.
You can ask Ted Pearson about details of Smith's time in Weihsien. He will know when he arrived there. Ted says that he (Ted) spent a lot of time with him and that he (Smith) did a lot of sketches for him, including the one of Ted himself that is included in the article Smith wrote about his time at Weihsien. The introduction to that article, which I will have to send you separately since it is too large to fit into Topica's size limits, says:
"...During William A. Smith's eight
months' service with the OSS in China, a special mission took him to Weihsien
prison camp, where he spent a month with the internees. Some of the sketches Mr. Smith made in other
parts of
I don't think there's anything in the article that would be considered "revisionist history" since it seems to conform very will to what various internees say happened there, allowing for the fact that he is reporting on what he was told by internees, plus what he observed after he arrived, and second-hand reports are never 100% correct.
The name of the publication isn't on the copy, but it was apparently a monthly magazine - maybe McCall's. Perhaps Stanley Fairfield, who has the original, knows. Let me know what you think of it.
By the way, I had to get your email from Jane because it never arrived directly to me. I guess it's the current topica "bug" that's going around.
Donald
P.S. I can send a copy of Smith's article to anyone else who wants it.
Donald
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: bouncing
Date: mercredi 14 septembre 2005
Please read the following:
mail Loops
Often a subscriber will go away on vacation and set an auto-responder
to reply to all messages sent to their email address. This can wreak havoc on a
Topica discussion list because every time the auto-responder replies to the
list, it creates a new message to the list, which bounces back again to
activate the auto-responder, which in turn replies, and so on. This creates a
mail loop, which causes a huge volume of unwanted mail for all the subscribers
on the list.
The list owner must either delete the subscriber or, if they have a 'My
Topica' account, set their subscription to web hold in order to stop the loop.
For this reason, its important for discussion list owners to tell their
subscribers not to use auto-responders, since they tend to generate large
amounts of unwanted email and create unnecessary strain on list participants
and also on our system resources.
Some members, including me, can only read messages by going to the
Topica website
Topica.com Others are being
bounced. The reason given by Topica
"blocked bounced message" I am
not sure what this means. Perhaps I will
need to delete the member and then ask that he send a blank message to:
weihsien-subscribe@topica.com
I have found two or three who were "bounced, marked
"off") I have changed the
"off" to "on"
This is most frustrating.
Natasha
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: William A. Smith
Date: jeudi 15 septembre 2005 0:58
Wuilliam Smith was not part of the original crew. He showed up much later. Somehow he sought me out as a model, and did a lot of drawings. I guided him around different parts of the camp. I thought he was just the greatest. (Nearly cried when I saw what was the caption on the copy that Donald sent to me.) When I didn't have classes or chores I watched him paint or draw. of course my parents did a lot of that as well. Ihaven't seen the article at all, nor do I know the magazine.
Teddy
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien" <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: deleting email
addresses
Date: vendredi 16 septembre 2005 15:14
The message sent to six people, and a cc to other members may be a bit
unclear. These six keep on being bounced, and the deletion
is not ALL members, but the six only.
Natasha np57@cox.net
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Did you know why the Japanese detained you
in Weihsien?
Date: samedi 17 septembre 2005
Hello, Everyone:
An article about our 60th anniversary celebration that appeared in People's Daily Online, August 18, 2005, offers an new explanation for why the Japanese locked us up in Weihsien.
I quote exactly from People's Daily Online:
"
in
order to retaliate the activities that the
Yes, that's what it says!
Mary Previte
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Did you know why the Japanese detained
you in Weihsien?
Date: samedi 17 septembre 2005
Ah, isn't revisionist history wonderful? If
you can believe that one, I've a got a bridge in
Imperial
Like
Pamela Masters
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: My everlasting gratitude
Date: samedi 17 septembre 2005
Thanks Mary, for the nice message with further excellent descriptions of what I missed seeing and it's clear that those of us who didn't make it, missed a lot.
I can imagine many shed a tear at the significance of the displays you mentioned, because I must admit, upon seeing the picture of the release of 1500 pigeons on my screen, brought a lump to my throat.
I take it the large picture covering almost a whole wall of one of the rooms, is the one circulated some time ago on Topica, with a prominent bald 'gent' out front?
Getting all our names on to the base of the giant peace monument must have been a work of art and a feat of endurance. Especially, as they are in Chinese as well! They must have had 'fun and games' working each name out, phonetically?
Yes, well done Mary and I hope you will think of more things to share with us in coming days.
Re your last short e-mail about the 'Poms'
celebrating in
The other one, you may remember, was cut
short by the
Take care,
Zandy
De: "rod miller" <rmmiller@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Did you know why the Japanese detained
you in Weihsien?
Date: samedi 17 septembre 2005
I quote exactly from People's Daily Online:
"
in
order to retaliate the activities that the
Yes, that's what it says!
Mary Previte
De: "C. Wayne
Mayhall" <solomon110@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Did you know why the Japanese detained
you in Weihsien?
Date: samedi 17 septembre 2005
One must be careful here, however. Sure, it
seems obvious given the piles of
documentation to accuse a "revisionist" of perfecting the craft.
However, there are always bits and
pieces in good journalism that find us somewhere in the middle of extremes. For example, imperial
Japan might not have cared for the
well-being of its citizens in America during the time of conquest, yet
they may have ordered internment at
various places around the globe to retaliate for America's attempt to incarcerate their own,
as well as the sheer fact that they
wanted those they could control outside the states to be incarcerated. Both could be the case. They are not mutually
exclusive. Often it is the tendency and temptation for the amateur historian,
in knee-jerk reaction to the revisionist,
to claim opposites if only to correct grave error. Of course, there are
obvious claims to be instantly disputed such as those engaging in holocaust
revision, i.e., it never
occurred...silly claims based on idiocy. I am not sure of all the reasons why people were interned by the
Japanese. One must consider the fact, however, that as ruthless as the Japanese
were about the islands of the South
Pacific and in their
De: <gregleck@epix.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Did you know why the Japanese detained
you in Weihsien?
Date: samedi 17 septembre 2005
I've gone through the Japanese National
Archives and looked at policy vis a vis Allied civilians in
There might be a problem with the language, but as we all know, the Japanese did not "build" Weihsien. You can't even say they converted the compound to an internment camp, because apart from looting the place, they did virtually nothing in the way of repairs or upkeep.
However, the Japanese apparently were quite
sensitive about the treatment of their nationals in the
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: My everlasting gratitude
Date: samedi 17 septembre 2005
Hello, Zandy,
In her speech at the August 17, 2005, afternoon Friendship Ceremony in Weifang,
Estelle Cliff Horne spoke of the two
incidents in
She connected
One from each country represented by the internees spoke at the afternoon Friendship ceremony:
Estelle Cliffe Horne -- U.K.; James Taylor -- Hong Kong; Maida Harris Campbell -- Canada; Joyce Cooke Bradbury-- Australia; David Beard -- New Zealand. Mr Zhang, son of the Chinese sanitation worker who used to empty the cesspools in Weihsien, also spoke. I'm trying to get a copy of his speech to post on the Weihsien web site.
I had spoken in the opening ceremonies outdoors in the morning.
Mary
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fwd: Sentry Sketch
Date: dimanche 18 septembre 2005
Diana Linley has given me permission to post her recollections about Japanese uniforms.
Mary
----- Original Message -----
From: Dclinley@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2005
Subject: Re: Sentry Sketch
Hello Mary
Thank you once again for forwarding this interesting e-mail. I
print every thing you send to me, and read it again and again. This past life
of mine was just a faded memory. However reading every ones memories on the
computer and meeting the wonderful people in
My brother and I would play with marbles in the dirt, and often we
would be so engrossed in the game that we never heard the guard and the next
thing we would see among our marbles was a pair of black boots and we would
look up to see the stern face of one of the many guards. He did not do anything
to us but it would scare us and we would run away.
Once, a guard pointed his gun at us (I cannot remember the
reason) and my brother firmly believed that if we both ran fast enough we could
out run the bullets if he decided to shot!
Let me know if any one else remembers the color of the
Japanese uniforms. Thanks.
Diana Linley
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Birthday of Jim Moore, Weihsien liberator
Date: dimanche 18 septembre 2005
Hello, Everyone,
Jim Moore, one of the Americans who liberated Weihsien, will celebrate his 86th birthday on October 5. He is recuperating from major surgery that prevented his going to the August 17 reunion in Weifang.
If you'd like to drop Jim a card, his address is:
Mary Previte
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: My everlasting gratitude
Date: dimanche 18 septembre 2005
Mary - and others,
I didn't realize that you didn't already have a copy of the speech by Mr. Zhang, the former sanitation worker's son. I had asked my friend Zhou Bao to get me a copy after the meeting and somehow he managed to do it. I assumed that you had received one to.
I've converted my copyt to a "pdf" file and am attaching it to this email so everyone can print it out and read it. I hope they do. In clear and simple language it restores the connection between the Weihsien internees and the villagers who supplied them with food via the black market and helped in other ways.
Perhaps Leopold can put this file directly onto the web site. (How about it, Leopold?) If not, I can send it to him as a Word document.
Mary, I think that the speech you gave should also be posted there, if you haven't already sent it to him. I'm sure that it expresses very well what many internees remember and how they feel about Weihsien.
Donald
A SPEECH TO
THE FRIENDSHIP PARTY BETWEEN WEIFANG AND THE
FORMER
WEIHSIENERS BY ZHANG XIHONG
Respected
leaders, dear friends - Good afternoon!
My name is
Zhang Xihong. I live in
My father’s
name is Zhang Xingtai. He was a sanitation worker in the concentration camp.
His work was to sweep away daily rubbish and he got in and out of the concentration
camp every day. He was familiar with the internees. In 1966 he died.
My eldest
brother Ziang Xiwu and second brother Zhang Xiguang helped father to do
cleaning in the concentration camp. At that time I was still young and all of
what I know about the concentration camp came from my father’s words.
Originally my
father had been running small dealings in the Ledaoyuan [“Courtyard of the
The interned
foreigners lived a hard life without enough food or medicine. My father
sympathized with them and detested the cruelty of the Japanese. Dr. Davies secretly
contacted my father and asked him to take letters to the local pastor, Mr. Huang
Lede, for measures to help the internees. Later the local people of Weihsien collected
a lot of money, bought a large quantity of materials in the name of the Red Cross
and sent them into the concentration camp through Qingdao Agency. Thus, the
life of the internees became much better.
Afterwards
Dr. Davies asked my father to try to contact the local anti-Japanese guerrilla
forces. My father inquired everywhere and got in touch with a sanitation worker,
Yang Ruilan, in the
The day after
their escape, the Japanese searched all around for them and happened to meet my
father and eldest brother. The Japanese arrested my eldest brother. My father
went up to stop them but was beaten onto the ground by the butt-stocks of their
rifles. The Japanese forced my eldest brother with guns to searched for a long time
in the corn field to the north of the camp. My eldest brother was still young
and was too frightened to say a word. At last the Japanese had to give up and
set my eldest brother free.
After the
liberation of the concentration camp, Mr. Arthur W. Hummel Jr., Mr. Tipton and
Mr. Raymond Jaegher came back and visited my father and had a photo taken as a memento.
During the war years, what my father and two brothers did for the concentration
camp was kept secret for personal safety. Neither the interned foreigners nor
the other family members knew much about that. In 1983 when Mr. Arthur W.
Hummel Jr. was working as Ambassador to
Today for the
60th Anniversary of Weihsien Concentration Camp’s Liberation, the Weifang
municipal committee of CPC and the Weifang People’s Government set up the
Friendship Party and have invited me to join in this celebration. I feel
extremely pleased to see so many old friends of Weifang.
I would like
to extend hearty congratulations on the establishment of the Party. And I wish
an ever-lasting friendship between the people of Weifang and the world, and wish
all of us a peaceful environment. Thank you!
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Date: dimanche 18 septembre 2005 12:21
Donald,
Thank you so much for the speech by Zhang Xihong. That was wonderful. The others were great, but I remember that we were so silent during his speech and then automatically stood up and clapped loudly as a group. Wow! One of the hilights, of so many, of our 4 day trip to Weifang.
Thank you so much for all you are contributing. Georgie Reinbrecht Knisely
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: two messages
Date: dimanche 18 septembre 2005 15:20
I am unable to read the two following messages:
a forward by Mary Previte, subject sentry sketch by Donald Menzi - Zhan's speech, I believe forward from Mary - My Everlasting Gratitude.
What do I do in order to make the readable?
Natasha
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: two messages
Date: dimanche 18 septembre 2005 18:07
Dear Natasha,
hello,
try clicking on this link ---
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/60YearsAfter/texts/zhang_speech.htm
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: My everlasting gratitude
Date: dimanche 18 septembre 2005
Hi Donald, If there is an attachment to this post, I have not figured out how to open it. Could you clarify please? I have tried to right click, double click, all to no avail. Teddy
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: two messages
Date: dimanche 18 septembre 2005 18:09
Hello again,
here comes a copy/paste of the "sentry sketch" message
Best regards,
Leopold,
""
Hello Mary
Thank you once again for forwarding this
interesting e-mail. I print every thing you send to me, and read it again and
again. This past life of mine was just a faded memory. However reading every
ones memories on the computer and meeting the wonderful people in
My brother and I would play with marbles in the dirt, and often we would be so engrossed in the game that we never heard the guard and the next thing we would see among our marbles was a pair of black boots and we would look up to see the stern face of one of the many guards. He did not do anything to us but it would scare us and we would run away.
Once, a guard pointed his gun at us (I cannot remember the reason) and my brother firmly believed that if we both ran fast enough we could out run the bullets if he decided to shot!
Let me know if any one else remembers the color of the Japanese uniforms. Thanks.
Diana Linley
""
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: two messages
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005
I'm not able to read Donald Menzi's posting of Mr. Zhang's speech.
Donald, can you post it in a different computer language?
Mary
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Weihsien pictures taken by Swedish
missionaries
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005
Georgie Reinbrecht Knisely sent me this recollection:
" I remember a friend, Swedish
Baptist misssionaries, who were not
interned because they were neutral. We all
lived in Kiaochow, a town halfway between
I had tried to locate them at the
Georgie
Has anyone seen these pictures?
Mary Previte
De: "David Beard"
<beard@xtra.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Re: two messages
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005 2:55
You need Acrobat Reader to read it. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, go to http://www.download.com/3000-2378-10000062.html for a free download. Check the requirements. If it's not successful click 'Alternative download links . ." (We still use Windows 95 and Acrobat reader 4.0, but it can read that document.)
Margaret Beard
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Did you know why the Japanese detained
you in Weihsien?
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005
Greg,
Have you found the pictures by our Swedish missionary friends in the National Archives???? It would be wonderful if we could see them? Are they pictures or are the 8mm movies? My sister, who is older than I am so has better recollections thought they were 8mm film.
It gets more exciting all the time.
Georgie Reinbrecht Knisely
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: <glaswiftc@stone.net>; "Donald Rictor"
<rictord@afo.net>; "Greg Leck" <gregleck@epix.net>
Objet: discussion group
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005 16:16
Dear members of the Weihsien discussion group,
As many of you have noticed, we are having problems with Topica. I really do not know what else to do. I ask that someone, one of you, who is more knowledgeable than I about computers, find out what other discussion web-site we can join.
Please let me hear from you in this regard. When you email, please Cc my address np57@cox.net
Natasha (Petersen)
De: "Dwight W. Whipple"
<thewhipples@comcast.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: discussion group
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005 17:37
Hello All~
For what it's worth, we have had no trouble receiving Topica Weihsien postings. I, too, think it may have something to do with individual email settings.
~Dwight
De: "David Allen" <dandya@fidalgo.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: discussion group
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005 18:56
Dear Natasha: 9/19/05
Thanks for doing your part to keep these memories alive. I like to know what others are thinking about an issue, but I don't necessarily want to write to everyone about that issue. I prefer to write to only the party that presented the question. When Topica.com cut off the email address to respond (presumable to protect the rights of the individual) it forced those that wanted to respond to write to everyone on the list.
This is like getting in a meeting and everyone talking at the same time and nothing being heard. In speaking, one raises their voice to be heard (hollers)... In writing, one pontificates to appear more knowledgeable.
The end result is bedlam.
Is there some way that we can get the complete address without breaching the ISP etiquette of protecting the Internet Service Provider?
This might mean that someone on the list would have the complete email address of all members and that the members would have to contact this member to get the full address.
The threads, where a letter is written, and everyone that wants to respond, has to tie their two bits worth on to the end of a message, is flooding the emails with much unnecessary repeated information.
I would prefer to write to you personally with this suggestion, but I guess it will have to go to all members.
Dave Allen dandya@fidalgo.net
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: discussion group
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005 19:00
I agree with Margaret. I have received every single e-mail generated by Weihsien Topica.
Pamela Masters
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Second Day
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005
Hello,
Thanks Donald --- all this is fantastic ---
On: http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
I filled in the empty gaps with the text you just sent to us. Hope it fit's OK. Just that the last pictures are missing. The group pictures.
I hope (we hope) that your Chinese escapade is ending more relax than the three previous days and that you are all taking advantage of the excellent Chinese-chow and of their most loving hospitality. Promise: Mr. Shude: --- we will come to say "hello" to Weihsien one of these days --- (near future I hope) ---
A+
Leopold
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: discussion group
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005
Except perhaps the ones you never received. hehehehehe Teddy
Pamela Masters wrote:
> I agree with Margaret. I have received every single e-mail generated by
> Weihsien Topica.
> Pamela Masters
Ted Pearson
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: discussion group
Date: lundi 19 septembre 2005 22:08
Hi Ted -- are you always as smart as this, or is it only on Monday mornings!?!
Pamela
De: "Stanley Nordmo"
<shnordmo@yahoo.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:Discussion Group
Date: mardi 20 septembre 2005 0:50
Dear Natasha
I also agree with Margaret Beard. After having been'bounced' off and then back on a number of times I checked with my ISP and discovered that they had a policy of blocking out Topica. They recommended that I set up an email account on a free web site like Yahoo.
Since then I have had no problems either receiving or posting messages.
----- Original Message -----
From: julia woolley
To: Weihsien-Paintings
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2005
Subject: Re: William Warner
Dear Leopold
I would be pleased if you would forward my message,any information would be interesting.
Regards Jim Warner
----- Original
Message -----
From:
Weihsien-Paintings
To: james warner
Sent: Sunday,
September 18, 2005
Subject: Re:
William Warner
Dear Jim,
May I forward your message to :
http://lists.topica.com/lists/weihsien/read
maybe somebody can help you ----
Best regards,
Leopold Pander
----- Original Message
-----
From: james warner
To:
info@weihsien-paintings.org
Sent: Sunday,
September 18, 2005
Subject: William
Warner
I am wondering if there has been a book written about Hut 50 where my father was captive or any story relating to that Hut.
Many Thanks
Jim Warner
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: discussion group
Date: mardi 20 septembre 2005
Hi Pamela, who was it who said, If I am not there to see the tree fall in the forest, did it fall at all? Dinno about being smart anytime.
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: discussion group
Date: mardi 20 septembre 2005
Remote? Hell I thought it was the centre of the universe. Certainly close to a gastronomical centre for sure.
De: "David Beard"
<beard@xtra.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: RE: discussion
group
Date: mardi 20 septembre 2005 23:22
Ted, it sounds to me rather like Barclay's
philosophy, which produced the following
"There once was a man who said, God
Must think it exceedingly odd
If he finds that this tree
Continues to be
When there’s no one about in the Quad"
Reply:
"Dear Sir, Your astonishment’s odd:
I am always about in the Quad.
And that’s why the tree
Will continue to be,
Since observed by
Yours faithfully, God."
Margaret B
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: discussion group
Date: mercredi 21 septembre 2005 4:12
Bravo, Margaret!
Mary
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: discussion group
Date: mercredi 21 septembre 2005 12:01
I ahve just got back form 2 weeks in rural Picardie ( no E mail!!) as onlymobile phone. And Have got all the very lively topics discussed in my absence in the 234 e-mails that were waiting for me thus it is just individuals with problems asn Tpica itslef is doing it's stuff.
Rgds
PS for ABCIFER members I proof read the next Bamboo Wireless this morning
and it will be in the post next week.
De: "Tracy Strong" <tstrong@weber.ucsd.edu>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: RE: discussion
group
Date: mercredi 21 septembre 2005 19:44
Lovely -- at the risk of being pedantic was it not Bishop Berkeley who is being rhymed?
Tracy B. Strong
UCSD Distinguished Professor
Department of Political Science - 0521
University of
California, San Diego
La Jolla, CA
92093-0521 USA
Tel.: 858 534 7081/3548
Fax: 858 534 7130
Cell: 619 723 4161
De: "David Beard" <beard@xtra.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: RE: discussion
group
Date: mercredi 21 septembre 2005 23:38
thanq I txt 2 much &'v 4gotn how 2 spell :)
[Translation: Thank you. I text too much and have forgotten how to spell]
Margaret
De: "rod miller" <rmmiller@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Did you know why the Japanese detained
you in Weihsien?
Date: jeudi 22 septembre 2005
At
>I've gone through the Japanese National
Archives and looked at policy vis a vis Allied civilians in
>
>
Greg I am no expert but do you realise how many documents the Tokyo Burio Joho Kyoku alone destroyed at the end of the war?
I would be happy to forward you a list of the documents destroyed by the Bureau that covered 1942 to 1945.
Could this be a reason you are only finding early documents that the Japanese deemed non incriminating?
The Japanese may not have had a detailed
policy on civilian internees but I believe they did have a ethic minority policy
which possibly covered Allied internees in
Rod
De: "rod miller" <rmmiller@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Did you know why the Japanese detained
you in Weihsien?
Date: vendredi 23 septembre 2005
>
>Greg I am no expert but do you realise how many documents the Tokyo Burio Joho Kyoku (oh dear ;-) that should have read Huryo Joho Kyoku in other words the Tokyo Prisoner of War Information Bureau) alone destroyed at the end of the war?
>I would be happy to forward you a list of the documents destroyed by the Bureau that covered 1942 to 1945.
>Could this be a reason you are only finding early documents that the Japanese deemed non incriminating?
>The Japanese may not have had a
detailed policy on civilian internees but I believe they did have a ethic
minority policy which possibly covered Allied internees in
>
>Rod
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>; "Sui
Shude" <suishude@sohu.com>
Objet: missing names ?
Date: dimanche 25 septembre 2005 8:17
Dear Mr Shude and Weihsien Friends,
Hello,
By clicking on this link, http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/ you will reach the Weihsien-picture-gallery-web-site.
Click on: David Beard ---
Click on: 2005
Click on: picture No.180
--- and you will reach the picture of a very large group of happy people who participated in Weifang at the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Weihsien concentration camp.
I would like to congratulate the people of Weifang for the organisation of this grandiose event. Thanks to all the photos sent by ex-prisoners to the web-site the whole world can now appreciate the importance of the event.
For the ex-prisoners, David Beard (who sent me the picture) helped to locate as many names he could but many are still missing.
Click on: the magnifying glass ---
Move the mouse pointer: --- on the people's faces --- and the name will appear!
Many names are missing.
They are symbolised by a number and an invitation to send me a mail.
Could you send me the names ? ---- with the reference number (of course) and a little bit more info about each person --- All these people on the picture had something to do for the success of such a marvellous and historic meeting.
Many thanks in advance to all of you,
Leopold
(ex-prisoner of Weihsien)
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: "Menzi, Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>;
"Greg Leck" <gregleck@epix.net>; "Alison Holmes"
<aholmes@prescott.edu>
Objet: wehsien listing
Date: dimanche 25 septembre 2005 16:28
Attention subscribers,
Some subscribers get bounced off the listing over and over. I have not been able to do anything. I have contacted the Topica Customers Service. I am told that although they are aware of a
problem, there is not much that they can do.
That it must be the individual's server.
I contacted my server and was told, that no, it not the server who is at
fault.
I have opened an email address with yahoo, then I subscribed to
topica. I now can get and send email
using Yahoo.
To subscribe to Weihsien listing, send a blank message to:
weihsien-subscribe@topica.com
Natasha
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Gao-liang by any other name...
Date: lundi 26 septembre 2005 0:54
September 24, 2005
Gao-liang -- by any other name...
Mary T. Previte
Estelle Cliff Horne made my day today.
Her
package arrived in
Remember gao-liang? It grew tall in the fields beyond the barbed wire and those barrier walls. And, yes, we ate it -- boiled animal grain.
“Maltabella porridge has been a trusted favourite with South African families for over half a century,” said a notice on the newly-arrived package. It also said “tasty breakfast.”
It looked like -- gao-liang.
“ Maltabella brings home the good rich flavour of malted grain sorghum…” the package said.
I knew it! Gao-liang!
Bless my soul! Cooking instructions told me how to cook it the convenient way -- by microwave. No one made gaol-iang by microwave in Weihsien. Remember the giant metal guos heated over coal dust fires? And no one served it with milk and sugar -- the way I served myself today. But it flooded me with memories.
I remember marching with young girls from the Chefoo Lower School Dormitory into Kitchen Number One carrying my spoon and my white, chipped enamel bowl.
I was one of the lucky ones. Lots of folks ate out of empty tin cans with the lid fashioned into a handle. I had a bowl. At the breakfast serving line, someone would ladle me a scoop of goa-liang gruel -- sometimes cooked smooth, sometimes cooked un-ground and rough.
I didn’t like gao-liang. But I liked hunger less. So while our Chefoo teachers were watching someone else at those wooden tables, I’d let a classmate spoon her gao-liang into my white enamel bowl. And I’d eat it -- just as I ate the green lu dou bean gruel -- which I hated even more.
At a very proper reception last month at our Weihsien celebration, I found myself sitting on a couch, side by side with the mayor of Weifang in a roomful of government dignitaries all dressed in very proper suits and ties.
What do you talk about in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like that -- one American woman in a roomful of important Chinese leaders?
I said thank you, of course, for their exquisite generosity that had brought a whole group of us from around the world to Weifang as their guests. I talked of my wonder at the tiny, country town called Weihsien 60 years ago -- turned now into a thriving, beautifully-landscaped metropolis called Weifang.
I talked about Chinese students competing successfully in American universities with the best-of-our-best. I talked of Chinese friends eating Thanksgiving dinner turkey at our house in New Jersey for more than twenty years and our eating a Chinese New Year’s feast at their house every year.
And I talked about -- gao-liang.
I put my hand on the sleeve of the Mayor. “Do people in Weifang still eat gao-liang”? I asked him. I had switched too quickly from the sublime to the ridiculous. He needed the translator to repeat my question.
I laughed as I told them the story of how watery gao-liang gruel helped keep us alive in Weihsien.
Do we eat gao-liang today? Well, not gao-liang like that, the Mayor replied. Today, people of Weifang eat gao-liang -- as dessert!
A few minutes later, I was ushered into our reunion’s opening banquet.
Amidst all of the elegance of the tables and the exquisite bounty -- course after course of this sumptuous Chinese feast, I saw on a plate by each of our wine glasses an unfamiliar, cupcake-shaped, reddish-brown -- uh -- lump.
“Gao-liang,” my host said.
For my pleasure and to satisfy a childhood memory, they had rushed out and bought gao-liang -- the 2005 version. I felt overwhelmed with wonder -- as I did throughout our visit. What unexpected thoughtfulness!
And, my! How gao-liang has changed! In pure delight, I walked it around from table to table of former internees. It was my evening’s “show-and-tell.
”
Try as I might to like that delicacy on the elegant China plate at that opening-night banquet just a month ago, and try as I might to like the steaming Maltabella porridge in my breakfast bowl today, my memories of long ago get in the way. Every bite is seasoned with memories of crowded wooden benches and wooden tables in Kitchen Number One and hungry children struggling to stomach -- gao-liang gruel. #
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Gao-liang by any other name...
Date: lundi 26 septembre 2005
Hello,
The very first message we got on Topica was about Gao-Liang --- remember?
Could you send me a scan of the Maltabella cardboard box? I'd like to add it (with the texts) in your chapter on the Weihsien-picture-gallery-web-site.
Thanks in advance,
Leopold
----- Original Message -----
From: Donald
Sent: Monday,
September 26, 2005 5:30 PM
Subject: Re: Zhang Xihong
Leopold,
Isn't
Zhang just the new (pinyin) way of transliterating the same name as
Tchang? If so, that's his father in the picture.
I
wonder if he has a copy of the picture, and if not, can we get this to
him? Perhaps Mary has an address for him.
Donald
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: toilets
Date: lundi 26 septembre 2005 19:27
I can remember the Chinese coming in with the wooden tank cart to clean out the cesspools, but for the life of me I cannot remember anything about the toilets/latrines.
Teddy Pearson
De: "Albert Dezutter"
<albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: toilets
Date: lundi 26 septembre 2005
Teddy,
In Block 2 we had a one-hole toilet consisting of a small building with a door and a glassless window, a hole in the ground, a board with a strategically shaped hole in it, and flies, flies, flies.
In the block that housed the bakery and showers, close to the ball field, there were toilets with regular toilet seats.
Those were the two places that I had much of anything to do with.
Perhaps others can recall where they most often did their business.
Albert de Zutter
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: toilets
Date: lundi 26 septembre 2005
Ted and Albert,
Not to go too deeply into the subject, but now that you've raised it, what did you have as "toilet paper?" I'm sure that there was nothing like Scott's tissues there.
Donald
De: "Mary Previte"
<mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Zhang Xihong
Date: mardi 27 septembre 2005
I'll ask my brother, Jamie, to telephone Sui Shu-de to get the address of Mr. Zhang Xihong.
Jamie also has a very nice photo of Mr. Zhang giving his speech at he Friendship Ceremony in the afternoon of August 17, 2005. I'd like to send that to him.
Mary Previte
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Gao-liang by any other name...
Date: mardi 27 septembre 2005
Hello, Leopold,
My chief of staff -- who writes to you so much that he thinks of you as one of his old friends -- will have quite a time scanning the MALTABELLA box -- which is still full of ground gaoliang. We'll try.
Tomorrow, he will also forward to you a lot of Weihsien pictures from my brother James H. Taylor, III. Please create a photo chapter, credited to James H. Taylor III. . On your web site, you'll be able to find a good photo of him to add to your index. I'm especially pleased that Jamie has the first pictures I've seen of the wonderful theatrical performance created especially for us and performed on the night of August 17.
By the way, I keep prodding people to send you photos they took at Weihsien.
Has Gerry Walsham's disk arrived at your house yet? I mailed it last week.
I previewed Donald Menzi's two slide shows today. They brought tears to my eyes. Do you know whether or not you'll be able to add these to your web site? They 're both professional quality -- even with Chinese music in the background. Can you believe it?!!! . Absolutely spectacular!
I've not yet had time to go to the State House to get our photographer to improve the quality of the photos I scanned to you.
Mary Previte
De: "David Beard"
<beard@xtra.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Cc: <phoenix7788@hotmail.com>
Objet: Re: Re: Gao-liang by any other name...
Date: mardi 27 septembre 2005
If someone there has a digital camera good enough to take a closeup shot, it might be easier.
Margaret B
>
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Gao-liang by any other name...
Date: mardi 27 septembre 2005
Bless my soul, Margaret! Why didn't I think of that?
Too many of these electronic gadgets are way beyond my understanding. But not a microwave.
Peter Bazire sent me the most amazing
photos today, taken in
"Douglas Sadler and I stayed in
Exactly what I'd expect from the
irrepressible Peter! If you've read Peter's "I remembers"
in Leopold's Weihsien web site, you'll
know that Peter played in the Salvation
Army Band in Weihsien and now plays with
the Bath Orchestra in
Mary
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: toilets
Date: mardi 27 septembre 2005 19:15
I can't remember Donald. I do remember the flies. We had a campaign on killing flies as I recall.
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Gao-liang by any other name...
Date: mardi 27 septembre 2005 22:34
Dear Mary,
Bingo!
I found the DVD in my letter box this morning with an extra letter with the photocopy I asked you. Thanks very much. I will now try to solve the technical side of the problem --- which is isolating the sound track into MP3 for the web site.
Also thanks for all the scans of your brother's photos and the Maltabella box !!
I'll try and fix that tomorrow ---
All the best,
Leopold
De: "Albert Dezutter" <albertdezutter@worldnet.att.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: toilets
Date: mardi 27 septembre 2005
Donald:
I vaguely remember sheets of rough paper. How it was issued, or how muchof it there was, escapes me. I am sure we weren't pulling up our pants over soggy bottoms, so there must have been something. I admit, I have never thought about that question before this. Maybe someone else can help?
Albert
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: toilets
Date: jeudi 29 septembre 2005
There was a newspaper called the Peking Chronicle edited by Germans with Editorial comment controlled by the Japanese which was alloweded into Weihsien I have exerpts ie cuttings from several editions including one illustrating the holiday atmosphere in Weishien Camp dated 1943. the remainder of the paper has succumbed probably for the use that you describe.
Rgds
Ron
De: "Edmund Pearson"
<tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: toilets
Date: jeudi 29 septembre 2005 20:52
There must have been a lot of copies then. lol
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Speech by
Weifang Mayor Zhang Xinqi, at Liberation Day Opening Ceremony
Date: dimanche 2 octobre 2005
Hello, Everybody,
Thanks
to the efforts of my brother, James Taylor, in
By the way, the dotted lines on the text of the speech indicate the pause for the translator interpret to English. As I recall, the translator in all of the events was a woman.
Ron, you are are our eminent historian on all
things related to Japanese internment camps in
Mary Previte
Speech by Zhang Xinqi, Mayor of Weifang at Liberation Day Opening Ceremony,
August 17, 2005
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning!
At this very moment 60 years ago, on the occasion of the victory of the
world anti-fascist war and anti-Japanese
War, the biggest foreigners’ concentration camp in
Commemorative Conference for the 60th Anniversary of Weihsien Concentration Camp Liberation.
We have with us at the conference totally over 3000 people including Ms. Mary T. Previte, state legislature of New Jersy and other former Weihsieners and their relatives and friends, domestic and over seas guests and reporters. It is a pleasure that a delegation headed by Ms. Charlene Fontaine, spokesman of the US Fly Tiger Club is present at the conference on invitation.
It is our great honor to have Mr. Wang Yunze vice president of the
Chinese People’s Association for
Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. Donald Bishop,
Minister-Counsellor of Culture and Press
of the US Embassy in
It is our great honor to have the city leaders with us at this conference. Mr. Zhang Chuanlin, Secretary of Weifang municipal committee of CPC and Chairman of Standing Committee of Weifang People’s Congress, Mr. Zhao Xingtao, Vice Secretary, Mr. Chi Zhaohou, Chairman of the People’s Political Consutative Conference of Weifang, Mr. Bi Keren, Vice Chairman of Standing Committee of Weifang People’s Congress, Mr. Hu Gang, member and secretary-general of municipal Standing Committee of CPC, and Mr. Jiang Wencai, vice mayor of Weifang.
The Commemorative Conference for the 60th
Anniversary of Weihsien Concentration Camp Liberation,
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>;
<jht3@msi-professional.org>
Objet:
Speech by Zhang Quanlin, Party Secretary, Weifang
Municipal CPC
Date: dimanche 2 octobre 2005
Thanks to James Taylor for acquiring this speech, delivered by Party Secretary Zhang Quanlin at Liberation Day Opening Ceremony, August 17, 1945. The speech was delivered outdoors near the site of the former Block 23.
Mary Previte
Speech by Zhang Quanlin, Party Secretary of Weifang Municipal Committee of the CPC, at Opening Ceremony of Liberation Day, August 17, 2005
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning!
On the occasion on the 60th anniversary of victory of the world anti-fascist war and Chinese anti-Japanese War, friends from different places of the world are gathering in Weifang and solemnly commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Weihsien Concentration Camp. It is of important historical significance and current significance. Above all I would like to extend hearty welcome on behalf of Weifang municipal committee of CPC and the People’s
Government to the former Weihsieners, their relatives and friends, domestic and over seas guests and friends of the press circle.
During the anti-fascist war over 60 years
ago, the peace loving people of the world united as one and safeguarded the
dignity of mankind with blood and life and won the peace of the world. During
the war, the Chinese Communist Party led the Chinese People in defeating the
cruel militarist of
After the Pacific War broke out，the Japanese fascist set up the biggest foreigners’ concentration
camp of
There were about 2008 innocent foreigners
including many international public figures such as Mr. Arthur Hummel, the former
In those years, with adverse circumstances and no personal freedom, the internees were still keeping a active and optimistic state of mind and cherished the most glorious aspiration. They thirsted for peace and freedom. They had an active attitude and took care of each other. The spirit permanently encourages people in seeking for the happy bright future.
In the hard years the internees got disinterested assistance and sympathy from the local people and anti-Japanese guerrilla forces and thus formed profound friendship with Weifang people. Precisely because of the special emotion we come together again.
The war is a common disaster of mankind. Our commemoration today is to remember the history well so that treasure the peace. Let’s go forward hand in hand to brighter future of mankind insisting on the theme of peace and development.
The past six decades have witnessed the earth-shaking change in Weifang under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. Now Weifang is forging ahead with rapidly developing economy, stable society and politics toward the goal of prosperous modern city
I sincerely hope during your stay the guests look around for more understanding on the long history and development of Weifang. All guests and your relatives and friends are always welcome to come Weifang for tourism, communication and cooperation.
Lastly, wish a full success of the commemoration!
Wish all the guests good health and merry heart in Weifang!
Thank you
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Lilla's Feast
Date: lundi 3 octobre 2005
Just a note that Frences Osborne's book, "Lilla's Feast," was mentioned again in the New York Times Book Review's column "Paperback Row." They quote an earlier review by Stacy Schiff (which I missed) that "Osborne succeeds...in the melding of small-scale life and large-scale history."
Congratulations again,
Donald
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Speech by Zhang Quanlin, Party Secretary, Weifang
Municipal CPC
Date: lundi 3 octobre 2005
Dear Mary,
All the speeches are "in" . Could you check?
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
Five so far. Hope they are in the good order?
I also added (at the begining) your text about how you got the copies thanks to James --- That was a real "tour de force" (can't find the right expression in English!). Anyway, BRAVO and thanks.
I finished the "introduction" in James' chapter. Is it OK? --- and also added the captions to the photos (-- noticed that I had forgotten them).
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Zhang Xihong
Date: mercredi 5 octobre 2005
Dear David,
Thanks for the new document ---
I just added it to the picture-gallery in your chapter with the "1945" pictures --- and with the caption you sent to me. Well, finally there are two photos of the "escape team" with the Chinese folks who helped Tipton and Hummel ---- I wonder if there are any more? The other Chinese men?, --- were they also cess-pool coolies? Yes! I guess? --- does Zhang Xihong know their names?
---
Leopold
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: "weihsien"
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: are you writing?
Date: mercredi 12 octobre 2005
Dear Weihsieners,
I have not received any messages since October 5th. I have checked the website as well as my account with Yahoo.
I am very interested in personal feelings and observations of those of you who were interned in Weihsien. What did you think of the camp as it is now? Were you surprised at the size of the individual rooms? The size of the camp? and so forth.
Does anyone have a list, even a partial one of those who attended the reunion at Wehsien?
Natasha
De: "Jorge"
<reelfocuspro@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: [Norton AntiSpam] Re: are you writing?
Date: mercredi 12 octobre 2005
Natasha.
What is your interest in the Weihsien story? Are you a writer?
Clay
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: are you writing?
Date: mercredi 12 octobre 2005
Clay, what is your interest? No, I am not a writer. I was interned in Weihsien for almost three years. That is why I am interested in the personal emotions.
Natasha
De: "Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Weifang-Weihsien - Viewed from above
Date: mercredi 12 octobre 2005
Leopold, or anyone,
Did we ever figure out where the camp is located on a "modern" map of Weifang? I recently downloaded a truly fantastic program from Google ("Google Earth") that lets you virtually fly over and zoom in on any location on earth - as if you had a jet propelled helicopter. The views are from sattelite photos, and in some areas the resolution is fine enough to see people crossing the street at the time the photo was taken. Other areas with less interest have lower resolution, but cities have very fine detail.
Unfortunately, if you simply enter
"weifang, china," it takes you to a different place of the same name,
somewhere in
You can download this program free from Google.com. To do so, go to google.com, then click on "other" or "more" (I forget which) and scroll down to "Tools," and click on "Earth."
I would like to look at the camp, but am not exactly sure just where to find it. Do we have its lattitude and longitude?
Donald
De: "Jorge"
<reelfocuspro@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: are you writing?
Date: mercredi 12 octobre 2005
That is amazing. I'm interested, because a friend explained to me what happened there and I've become consumed with finding out more.
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet:
List of internees who attended August
reunion-celebration
Date: mercredi 12 octobre 2005
Hello, Natasha,
I havde a list of all former internees who attended the recent reunion at Weihsien. I think I listed these before but here they are with their city of origin:
From Chefoo
Peter Bazire
David Beard
David Birch
Mary Hoyte Broughton
Maida Harris Campbell
Beryl Welch Goodland
Estelle Cliff Horne
Marian Bevan Lauchlan
Steven Metcalf
Mary Taylor Previte
Douglas Sadler
James H. Taylor
Neil Yorkston
From
Michael Calvert
Angela Cox Elliott
Teddy Pearson
Diana Walsham Linley
Gerry Walsham
From
Ed Cooke
Joyce Cooke Bradbury
George Kaposhilin (formerly
Georgeanna Reinbrecht Knisley
I do not have a list that includes the many spouses, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends of internees who joined this celebration. Donald Menzi may have a complete list.
Mary Previte
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: The old airstrip
Date: jeudi 13 octobre 2005 0:20
Does the old airstrip still exist that was a few miles from the camp? I don't recall anyone mentioing this during our reunion.
Peter Bazire has a wonderful memory of that airstrip in his "I REMEMBER" feature in Leopold's Weihsien web site.
Mary Previte
De: "Alexander Strangman"
<dzijen@bigpond.net.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: are you writing?
Date: jeudi 13 octobre 2005
Hi again, did you receive the other 2 e-mails just before this one?
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Weifang-Weihsien - Viewed from above
Date: jeudi 13 octobre 2005
The co-ordinates for Weihsien ( Weifang) Camp in the Allied Military intelligence reports of the time held at the UK National Archives show the
following:
36 47 N 119 08 E . A word of caution the typecopy of the minutes of longtitude ( ie the 08 for those not of navigational bent) is not very celar but that should get you the aerial view.
rgds
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Weifang-Weihsien - Viewed from above
Date: jeudi 13 octobre 2005
Hello Don, thanks for the tip ---
Google "world" --- it was easy to download ---
Extraordinary indeed!
:-))
Try these coordinates for Weihsien concentration camp: 36° 41' 53,85" N
and: 119° 07' 41,89" E of
---
On "Google-World", I had a look
at the summit of the Eiffel-tower in
We will have to ask some "intelligence service" for a better picture!
---
Anyway, have a look at:
- http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
- click on "60 years after"
- click on "introducing modern Weifang"
- click on "Geography"
- click on the blue arrow (several times-----)
- until you reach a map with the streets of modern Weifang ---- (try moving the mouse around and you will have a pop-up-picture !! --- of Weihsien CAC)
- click again and you will have a satelite picture of the same city -
- click once more, and near a "school" and at a particular bend of the river I placed the shadow of what could have been the location of our camp.
--- and this is what Mr. Sui Shude wrote when I asked him:
""
Thank you for your email. I saw your map posted and the camp draw on it. I think the camp draw is too big for the map, I mean the size of the draw. The location you put is quite close. I am trying to find a detailed map of that area, not so far. I said to David birch to find him one, but not find one yet. I am keeping the try. Sui Shude
""
my location was more or less correct --- so I reduced the size.
Question: Did David get a map of N°2 Middle School? and the aerea surrounding it ????
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Dawei Beard"
<phoenix7788@hotmail.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Weifang-Weihsien - Viewed from above
Date: jeudi 13 octobre 2005
Don and Leopold, the "Google-World" 'spy in the sky' sounds quite fascinating.
In answer to Leopold's final question: 'Did
David get a map of No 2 Middle School? and the area surrounding it'?, this
David sadly has to report back in the negative. Life was too much of a whirl.
We really needed several extra days. Nevertheless, what we experienced was
quite fantastic. With the help of my wife, who went with me to the '60th', I'm
trying to develop a reasonably full pictorial/narrative coverage in my 2005 and
'
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org We've started adding information and pictures about the 'Flying Tigers'. Am still beavering away at it, hoping it will prove interesting and informative. Cheers!
David Beard
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Weifang-Weihsien - Viewed from above
Date: jeudi 13 octobre 2005
Can't wait to see it, David.
Mary
De: "Ron Bridge"
<rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Weifang-Weihsien - Viewed from above
Date: jeudi 13 octobre 2005
I thnk that we are in danger of making the site too full and should stick to Wehsien then and now The flying Tigers is a great story but nothing to do with Weihsien.
Rgds
Ron
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Weifang-Weihsien - Viewed from above
Date: jeudi 13 octobre 2005
I agree. When we were with the Mayor of Weifang and the Flying Tiger Cubs (sic) were holding court, they told me when I asked why they were there at all, that their parents were the pilots of the planes. Of course, the Flying Tigers were disbanded in '43 I believe. This generation are just capitalizing on their forebears' exploits.
De: "David Beard"
<beard@xtra.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: RE: Weifang-Weihsien - Viewed from above
Date: jeudi 13 octobre 2005
Dear Ted
If you shut your Euro eye and look through
your Asian eye, you might see things differently. These people were considered
important enough for the Weifang delegation to visit on their tour of
Margaret Beard
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: are you writing?
Date: jeudi 13 octobre 2005
Thank you,
I will try the website you suggested. Mary had a partial list.
Natasha
De: "Dawei Beard"
<phoenix7788@hotmail.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: 'Flying Tigers': their relevance to Weihsien
C.A.C.
Date: vendredi 14 octobre 2005
In response to Ron Bridges and Ted Pearson,
who have questioned the relevance of the 'Flying Tigers' to Weihsien C.A.C., I
make a plea for ex-Weihsien internees to take a broader view of the historical
events in
It was the success of the original 'Flying Tigers' of Burma fame during their seven month heyday from late 1941 to early 1942 that paved the way for the subsequent exploits of their successors - the China Air Task Force (CATF) followed by the 14th Air Force - in keeping Free China free. The CATF and the 14th Air Force inherited the mantle of the 'Flying Tigers': the logo, the mystique and the same gungho attitude, which made them effective despite operating on shoestring resources.
The memory of these men is still revered in
By the end of the War of Resistance, they
had shot down 2600 Japanese planes and ferried more than 800,000 tons of vital
military cargo over the Himalayan 'Hump' into beleaguered
Keeping
Need I say more? For the benefit of those who find access to Leopold Pander's Weihsien website difficult, I will paste below, the article I am going to post on Leopold's website.
David Beard
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 'Flying Tigers' of
In July 1937, the now legendary American
Claire Lee Chennault, a retired Army Air Corps instructor, was invited to
Because Japan during 1939 and 1940 carried
out a sustained effort to break the back of Chinese resistance by sustained
bombing of major population centres in Free China, Generalissimo Jiang Kai Shek
sent Chennault to America in the autumn
of 1940 to seek American planes and pilots to end the Japanese bombing. This
American Volunteer Group proposal was opposed by the military and navy, but
thanks to powerful advocates in the White House and Cabinet, Presidential
approval was gained for a cloak-and-dagger volunteer operation: a secret
fighter pilot unit recruited from the ranks of the US Army, Navy and Marine
Corps and sent to the British R.A.F.Keydan airfield at Toungoo,170 miles inland
from Rangoon, Burma for intensive training in flying the P 40 Tomahawk fighter
plane. The A.V.G.s mission: to defend the
By late 1941, the newly promoted Brigadier
General Chennault had whipped a highly trained gung-ho group together into the
1st, 2nd and 3rd Pursuit Squadrons. The exploits of the A.V.G.was to become legendary. Pitted
against a vastly greater number of Japanese planes, they significantly halted
When the A.V.G. was disbanded on 4 July, 1942 after only seven months in combat, it had officially destroyed 297 Japanese planes - although Japanese records show the figure as approximately 115.
After disbandment, five A.V.G. pilots and
28 ground personnel joined the Army Air Corps and stayed on in China, where
they formed the cadre of the 23 Fighter Group. Major General Chennault assumed
command of the
Keeping
All ex-Weihsien internees have good reason to be grateful to Major General Chennault, to the original 'Flying Tigers' and to those who subsequently inherited the 'Flying Tiger' logo and fought so effectively to keep Free China FREE.
Let us salute their memory.
David G. Beard
References:
http://www.flysouth.co.za/news/archive/2003-08-22/2003-08-22-images/
http://www.341stbombgroup.org/intel/hq_14.htm
http://www.warbirdforum.com/clc.htm
'Chinese Escapade'(1949) Laurance Tipton, pps 178-182
'Shantung Compound' (1966) Langdon Gilkey pps 60-82
De: "Edmund Pearson" <tedp@videotron.ca>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: 'Flying Tigers': their relevance to
Weihsien C.A.C.
Date: vendredi 14 octobre 2005
I have absolutely no problem with the contributions to the war effort made by the Flying Tigers to the Japanese Asia war. I however, was present at the pre-dinner session with the Mayor, a few Weihsien internees and a lot of Flying Tiger cubs. (sic). He stated that he had no idea what they had done until he had been provided with some history earlier that day. I, on the other hand asked specifically why they were present at a Weihsien event. I said, ''Did the Flying Tigers fly the planes..the B24 and the B29s?'' and I got a yes from the lady with the blonde hair. Subsequently, I discovered that the Flying Tigers disbanded in 1943, and that it was their offspring who were busy travelling around basking in the reflected glory of their parents.
So, let's be clear. My view is lets keep the Weihsien site to things relevant to the internees, the Japanese, and the Chinese. The Flying Tiger Cubs have their own site and their own agenda. I think is a bit of a stretch to claim that they had serious influence on Tipton and Hummel success.
Reams of historical essays on the Flying Tigers do not contribute much towards the Weihsien theme. Teddy
De: "cockorchard1"
<cockorchard1@tinyworld.co.uk>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: MGI PhotoSuite III
digital photo......Internee mail cover
Date: dimanche 16 octobre 2005
It is some 2 years since I placed a message on the Topica Weihsien site,then I said my interest was the postal history of the mail to and from internees in China during WW2, I am interested in various aspects of Chinese stamps and their uses,yes,a stamp collector/philatelist.
I have followed the correspondence on the site with much interest,much of it I have saved........my reason for this note..........I have around 100 covers[ envelopes ] cards ect. to and from internees/POWs in China,among these are 20 or so with a Weihsien connection, these I have "written up " and they will be displayed at a few local philatelic societies in the postal history/social philately class.
What I would dearly like to know about is the postal arrangements in Weihsien camp. As part of the displaying of this material one likes to give a background. I have learned much from the emails,but little mention of mail.
Would anyone care to give me details of how postal matters were organised in camp ?
Was there a postmaster ?
Were stamps freely available in camp ?
How often did mails arrive/leave camp ?
Did a "postman" deliver ?
In fact anything appertaining to camp mail.........I enclose a scan of one of my sheets as an attachment which may be of interest.
Regards,
Richard Morris..Derbyshire..
De: "David Beard" <beard@xtra.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet:
Re: MGI PhotoSuite III digital photo......Internee
mail cover
Date: lundi 17 octobre 2005
Dear Richard
I think you will find some of the information you want if you visit Leopold Pander's fabulous web site at http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/
His handy Search Engine,is full of surprises!
Norman Clff's Chapter has an article about the Temple Hill Internment in Chefoo. When you find it, scroll to the sub heading 'Communications'
Since you say your computer knowledge is very basic, you may have difficulty finding your way around the site, so I will paste here an interesting excerpt from Father de Jaegher:
"We all did what we could in that close communal living to keep things on an even keel. We were cut off from the outside world completely at first and we had no means of knowing how the war was going, whether we were winning or losing. We were allowed to write letters, and the Japanese collected them regularly to censor and mail. They imposed restrictions on this correspondence, however, limiting the number of letters any one person could write in a month and insisting that the letters contain no more than twenty-five words -what they called "Red Cross" letters written on paper supplied by the International Red Cross and sent through them to the addressees. This was highly, unsatisfactory, and when we learned that even these skeleton epistles were held by the Japanese for a year before they bothered to send them on, the indignation of the camp was intense.
A few of us talked together about a way to
circumvent these restrictions, and I devised a scheme which I was sure would
work. Through our Chinese agents on the outside, our own private black market,
I purchased several Chinese-style envelopes and addressed them in Chinese
characters, of course, to loyal Chinese friends of certain prisoners in camp
who joined me in the plot. Some of these old
However, while we now had certain fixed, sure addresses of persons outside to whom direct letters could be sent, or messages for others enclosed for relaying from the first point, we had to make sure mail from a Japanese concentration camp could pass through the Japanese-controlled Chinese post office once it was safely over the prison wall and in the post office. The name and address of the writer of every letter had to appear on the envelope. This stumped me for a while until, fortunately, I found in the hospital files, which were intact and had been overlooked by the Japanese, a list of former patients with local addresses. This solved the problem. I used these names and addresses on the Chinese envelopes, changing them regularly, of course, and keeping careful secret records of my own.
When the outgoing letters were written and
scaled inside the properly addressed envelopes, I weighted the package with a
brick and threw it over the wall with money to cover the transaction to the
Chinese waiting to receive it. He stamped the letters and routed them to other
trusted agents, who posted them at different places. We never used the local Weihsien
post office for this business, and our letters always arrived safely at their
distant destinations,
Good luck!
Margaret Beard (wife of an internee)
De:
"cockorchard1" <cockorchard1@tinyworld.co.uk>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: MGI
PhotoSuite III digital photo......Internee mail cover
Date: lundi 17
octobre 2005
Thank you very much Margaret,
This gives me an insight into aspects of the mail out of camp, particularly the method of bypassing the Japanese censors, It may explain the odd messages I have on a couple of cards.
My best regards,
Richard.
De:
"Nicky & Leopold" <tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: MGI
PhotoSuite III digital photo......Internee mail cover
Date: mardi 18
octobre 2005
Dear Richard,
--- Yes! --- Our most famous and un-official "postman" was Father deJaegher and Margaret gave you the right tip to reach his chapter. There is a good deal about the subject in Norman Cliff's chapter and also --- have a look at the Red-Cross messages. --- In David Beard's chapter/1945 --- there are two envelopes ---
I am at the origin of the Weihsien-Picture-Gallery-Web-site and I'd like to have your permission to create a new link towards the documents you have about Weihsien. Do you already have a web-site?
If not, you could send me *.jpg-copies of your documents to include in my picture-gallery. What you possess is a little part of our "history" and it would be a great idea to share it with the www. (whole-wide-world) ---
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Ron
Bridge" <rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
'Flying Tigers': their relevance to Weihsien C.A.C.
Date: mardi 18
octobre 2005
I have NO OBJECTION to the broader view and it must be encouraged but I Do Object to the Weihsien web site set up by Leopold Pander being used by the Flying Tiger Fraternity. By all means have a cross link if you must but the Flying Tigers are well enough publicised and had nothing to do with us in Weihsien in the Sexond World War.. Not all of us are in a geographical position to have broad band and cluttering up the primary and I believe the only site for Weishien is counter productive.
Rgds
Weihsien 1943-45
De:
"Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: List for
Mailing CDs
Date: mardi 18
octobre 2005
Dear Weihsieners,
I am about to put into the mail the CDs with the Weihsien PowerPoint presentation, to which I have added "slide shows" of the Gripsholm repatriation voyage and the Weifang celebration. I have addresses for the following people. If your name is NOT on this list and you would like a copy of the CD, please send me your address, even if you have already sent it and think I have it. If it's not listed below, it means I have misplaced it somewhere in cyberspace. Thanks.
Donald
last name First name
Abbott Margaret
Allinson Catherine
Bazire Peter
Birch David
Bradbury Joyce
Briidge Ron W.
Broughton Mary
Calvert Michael J.
Cook Ed.
Cook Joyce
de Zutter Albert
de Zutter John
Deng Hua
Einreinhofer Bill
Elliot Angela
Fairchild
Goodland Beryl
Han Yichun
Jiang Wencai
Kaposhilin George
Kehl Dorothy and Frank
Kemball Joe and Judy
Kniseley Georgianna
Leck Greg
Ley Pander Janette
Li Yuejin
Linley Diana
Liu Zewen
Makris Susan
Mougey Phillip A.
Pander Leopold
Pearson E. Ted
Petersen Natasha
Previte Mary T.
Sancton Christine Talbot
Shanahan Rebecca
Sui Shude
Thompson H. S.
Walsham Gerald
Whipple Dwight
Whipple Dwight
Wu Rongqin
Yorkston Neil
Yorkston Ruth
Zhang Guoliang
Zhen Shiguang
De: "Timothy
McIntire" <tim@skyword.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: List
for Mailing CDs
Date: mardi 18
octobre 2005
Please send CD to:
Tim McIntire
Editor, America West magazine
ATTN: Personal for Tim McIntire
Thank you
De: "Pamela
Masters" <pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: List
for Mailing CDs
Date: mardi 18
octobre 2005 22:41
Dear Donald --
I'm pretty certain I didn't send you my address, so here it is:
Mrs. Pamela Masters
Camino, CA
95709-9508
U.S.A.
I haven't been following things too closely on Topica, so would appreciate your advising how I pay for the CD.
Thanks for all you're doing -- Pamela
De: "Tracy
Strong" <tstrong@weber.ucsd.edu>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: List
for Mailing CDs
Date: mardi 18
octobre 2005
I would very much like a copy -- please send it to the address below (without the pompous title....)
Many thanks
Tracy B. Strong
UCSD Distinguished Professor
Department of Political Science - 0521
La Jolla, CA
92093-0521 USA
Tel: 858 534
7081/3548; Fax: 858 534 7130;
Cell: 619 723 4161
De: "Mary
Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Mr. V.
E. Egger's March 9, 1944, report on Weihsien Camp
Date: dimanche 23
octobre 2005
Hello, Everybody,
Those of you who have asked questions about
postal service and toilets in Weihsien will be interested in the following
exerpts from a March 9, 1944, report forwarded via Air Mail Pouch from
According to the transmittal letter, it is --
and I quote -- "a copy of a general report submitted by. Mr. V. E. Egger,
the Swiss representative for
The 35-page report documents a fascinating range of topics and astonishing details from a host of topics including Education, Food, Daily Routine, to the number of times "slapping has been indulged in by the Police guards. "
The report was also forwarded to the Red Cross.
We owe a debt of thanks to Christina Spink for copying a whole collection of these reports from the National Archives.
I'll see if I can forward a copy of the full report to Leopold so you can read all of it on his Weihsien web site.
By the way, the end of the report typed Mr. Egger's name as B. E. Egger -- not V. E. Egger -- as noted in the report's cover letter.
I have quoted vebatim the following exerpts. The underlined portions are underlined in Mr. Egger's report.
Mary Previte
Toilets.
Three washrooms with cold water under 50 F are provided for the men, served by water laid on from the aforementioned towers. One similar washroom is provided for the ladies use. Accommodation of ladies wash room is insufficient as they take a long time for washing.
Bathing Facilities.
One set of shower baths is provided for men and one set for ladies; however, the shortage of water is such that it is impossible to provide more than 35 men and 25 ladfies with baths during any one hour. The facilities provided and the equipment are good but the water suply is insufficient.
Showers cannot be opened before
Lavatories
These are of two types (a) Squat -bowl, draining into cesspools. (b) Chinese open latrines.
(a) There are 22 of these of which 18 - 20 are usually in working order.
They are "Chinese servant" type, no seat or even a grip being provided to aid squatting. Originally they were designed for flushing but owing to the bad material (all broken up within 3 days) they are now flushed by bucket by each user; women and children find this a difficult task. Used, dirty water is kept in an earthenware kang at each latrine for this purpose. The latrines are arranged in 4 groups of 4, 5, 5, 8 (ladies). They are not fly-screened.
The 4 cesspools into which these latrines drain have no overflow mechanism.
They must be emptied daily by Chinese labor, using gasoline tins on pole carriers. When it rains emptying is difficult owing to the impassibility of the roads. For one group voluntary Camp labour has made a temporary overflow pit.
For the others this is not possible since Authorities refuse up to now to cooperate in providing piping, etc.
(b) There are 40 of these in groups of 6, 5, 4, 2, 1. They are emptied once daily by Chinese labour. Only one (a 5 group) is fly-screened. No chloride of lime is provided. Ashes and slaked lime are used. In twelve of them a commode is installed.
The Authorities have strictly forbidden and prevented their attempts to dig Army-type trench latrines and negotiatons are still going on.
It is obvious from the condition of the Camp that it was not ready to receive the internees and that the Authorities had no idea of the scope of the undertaking they had started.
In and Out going mail service. (a) No. of letters per month.
Incoming mail. Inward mail has been most unsatisfactory and in many
cases letters written about the middle
of May by people in
Outgoing mail. Mail was received for dispatch weekly from March 24 to May 3 inclusive without restriction as to the number of letters or post cards per person or as to the length of contents except that letters were limited to one sheet of paper each -- any size and both sides might be used. Records were kept of letters and post cards handed in on April 12, 19, 26 and May 3, which totaled 2097.
From May 10 onwards all letters and postcards had to be typewritten or in block letters and it was decided to return to the senders all those previously accepted and not yet dispatched which did not comply with these requirements. The number so returned totaled 1374, On May 31 postcards only were accepted for dispatch and were restricted to one per internee ten years of age or over. 640 postcards were received on that date. On June 7 letters, which it was requested should be short, or postcards that were restricted to one per person ten years of age or over were accepted and totaled 581.
Some of the postcards accepted on May 31 and all of the letters and postcards accepted on June 7, not having left the camp on June 14, the reception of further mail has been suspended.
To the best of their knowledge no letters or postcards handed in at the Center for dispatch prior to the above dates had been received in Peking or Tsingtao up to May `2 or in Tientsin up to May 27.
The tentatove arrangement which is to be tried is to allow each person over ten years of age one letter of not more than 150 words and three postcards of not more than 50 words every four weeks, one letter or postcard to be received by the camp post office on Mondays only.
DISCIPLINE
Committee elected by various groups of internees:
E. McLaren (Chairman) .....
H. E. Olsen .....
P. J. Lawless .....
Father Rutherford ..... Catholic Group
The Chief of Police (Nakanishi) and his assistant (Yoshinada) are educated men who so far have taken a not unreasonable attitude towards internees, and are persons who can be dealt with in a reasonable manner. The same thing, however, cannot be said for the rank and file of the police, who on occasions have been unnecessarily free in their use of their hands and who, typical of their type, have frequently taken it upon themselves to arrest, try, and punish their unfortunate charges,. So far here have been three cases in which "slapping" has been undulged in by the Police guards.
Mr. L. Porter -- age 62 -- American.
A trivial charge of bumping into a guard -- Arrested and taken to the police office, where without trial his face was slapped. A rather indefinite apology was obtained by the Chief of Police.
Miss A. Black -- age 38 -- British.
Slapped by the guard in the police office whilst the Chairman of the Discipline Committee was endeavoring to secure her release. No police officer was in the room at the time.
A. Lambert - age 16 -- British.
Arrested for attempting to purchase honey from a Chinese over the compound wall, and beaten by the guard who arrested him.
#
De:
"Nicky & Leopold" <tapol@skynet.be>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Mr.
V. E. Egger's March 9, 1944, report on Weihsien Camp
Date: dimanche 23
octobre 2005 9:00
Dear Mary,
This link should bring you directly to the
same document I found in
You can also go directly to the "search engine" and simply type in the word: "mail" . The machine will bring you to many interesting places.
Hope you manage,
Leopold.
De:
"Nicky & Leopold" <tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: Mr.
V. E. Egger's March 9, 1944, report on Weihsien Camp
Date: dimanche 23
octobre 2005
Hello again,
--- If Christina Spink has documents and
reports not mentioned in
Many thanks in advance ---
Leopold
De: "Mary
Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Mr.
V. E. Egger's March 9, 1944, report on Weihsien Camp
Date: dimanche 23
octobre 2005
Hello, Leopold,
Looks like you already have these documents that Christina Spink. dug from the National Archives.
Without your help, I can't find them in
Mary Previte
De: "David
Beard" <beard@xtra.co.nz>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: For
Explorers of Leopold's web site
Date: dimanche 23
octobre 2005
Mary and others, try following my instructions below to arrive at the page to which Leopold gave the List a link. Once you get the idea of how to find your way around, you will find a store of treasures at the click of a mouse. Technological magic indeed!
Instructions:
When you arrive at Leopold's web site, click 'Norman Cliff' - directly underneath your own name.
When a column of entries appear, click on 'BRIEF HISTORY' - at the top of the column.
When the Brief History column of entries appear, click on 'DOCUMENTS&ARCHIVES'.
Scroll down the Documents & Archives column to a page that has 'March 9 1944' in blue, and 'Weihsien Camp' in red. Click on this.
When a scanned letter opens, click on the picture (or the book icon at the bottom right).
You should have arrived!
Margaret Beard
De:
"cockorchard1" <cockorchard1@tinyworld.co.uk>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Mr.
V. E. Egger's March 9, 1944, report on Weihsien Camp
Date: lundi 24
octobre 2005
Thank you Mary for the snippets on the organisation of the mail, it all helps to make this Postal History project of mine so exciting and interesting to me.
Richard
De:
"cockorchard" <cockorchard@tinyworld.co.uk>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: MGI
PhotoSuite III digital photo......Internee mail cover collection
Date: lundi 24
octobre 2005
Dear Leopold,
Yes....I am happy to share my collection of Weihsien camp Postal History.
I can send them in a Jpg form.........Where do I send to ?.........I will then send just one scan as a trial, if it is OK I can send the rest, some 15 or so.
My regards,
Richard.
De: "Nicky
& Leopold" <tapol@skynet.be>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: MGI
PhotoSuite III digital photo......Internee mail cover collection
Date: lundi 24
octobre 2005
Dear Richard,
This is great!
Try my address at: tapol@skynet.be
May I also have your coordinates for the copywrite ---- I can make a link towards your e-mail or your postal address --- Let me know?
Best regards,
Leopold
De:
<aholmes@prescott.edu>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Back
again!
Date: lundi 24
octobre 2005
I have been being bounced repeatedly off the site since August and I am delighted to be back again, though a little overwhelmed by the amount of back reading required. I gulped rapidly through all the Weifang celebration postings and have seen that Donald has a CD which I would love to have a copy of. My postal address is 2985 E Sunset Butte, Prescott, AZ 86301. Let me know what I owe you, please. Any other rivetting discussions that I should make sure I read? I see that Mary Previte's address in Weifang is in the current edition of the Chefoo Magazine. Good on yer, Mary. Can always count on you to pull all the stops out! Glad to be on line with you all once more, Alison Martin
Holmes
De:
"Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: CDs On
the Way
Date: lundi 24
octobre 2005
I have mailed the first batch of CDs and the rest will be going out today. They include instructions on how to play the three shows they contain, but if you have trouble with it please contact me.
I'm holding off sending them to Chinese-speaking correspondents until I can get the two new presentations ("Gripsholm" and "Weifang 2005") translated into Chinese. The rest of you should have yours within a week, depending on how fast 1st class mail takes.
If you want a CD and haven't yet sent me your mailing address, please do.
Donald
De: "Tracy
Strong" <tstrong@weber.ucsd.edu>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: CDs
On the Way
Date: lundi 24
octobre 2005
Do you let us know how to reimburse you -- many thanks for this.
TBS
Tracy B. Strong
UCSD Distinguished Professor
Department of Political Science - 0521
La Jolla, CA
92093-0521 USA
Tel: 858 534
7081/3548; Fax: 858 534 7130;
Cell: 619 723 4161
De: "David
Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Back
again!
Date: lundi 24
octobre 2005
Glad you're back, Allison! Wish you could have come
to
Chefoo and Weihsien/Weifang with us!
David Birch
De:
"Donald" <dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: CDs
On the Way
Date: lundi 24
octobre 2005 22:40
Tracy, et. al.,
Thanks for the offer but there is no way for you to reimburse me. The rewards of doing the "slide show" in terms of personal satisfaction, learning more about Weihsien (and also about PowerPoint) and the pleasure from knowing that you and others will enjoy the result (I'm pretty sure about that) are already way over the "cost" in terms of my time invested, and CD disks are so cheap now that there really aren't any significant financial costs.
Anyway, just look at all the time and effort Leopold and Janette and others are putting into their contributions to the Weishien web site. I'm sure Leopold couldn't begin to count the hours he has spent on it, and wouldn't take a dime in return for it, as I know he is having as much fun as I am. The same goes for Mary Previte, I'm sure.
There's another thing. My mother kept my grandmother's Weihsien paintings, and now I have them. They weren't done for publication or any other reason than her inner urge to create something beautiful and the joy she experienced in doing them. She never expected anyone except her immediate family to see them. They were done on scraps of paper and sheets torn from the backs of propaganda booklets. I get immense personal satisfaction from knowing that she would be pleased if she knew that so many people were able to derive pleasure them. If the Weihsien community didn't exist, I would never have known that personal satisfaction. So I am the one who is really grateful, because of the enrichment that this project has brought to my own life.
Donald
De: "Mary
Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: CDs
On the Way
Date: mardi 25
octobre 2005
Donald,
You're the best!
I can't wait to see your masterpiece again. What a gidft to all of us.
Mary Previte
De: "Joyce
Cook" <bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: CDs
On the Way
Date: mardi 25
octobre 2005
Donald. I have read your words about making and distributing your CD. Thank you in anticipation that I soon will have a copy. Believe me I shall get the same satisfaction that you had in your creativity. Joyce Bradbury.
De:
"Nicky & Leopold" <tapol@skynet.be>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Back
again!
Date: mardi 25
octobre 2005
Hello,
try this link:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/topica/archives/2005_7to12.htm you can print it and read it like a book ! (233 pages from July 2005 to now!) (!!=1.25Mo=big file)
Glad you are back! :-))
Leopold
De: "Gay
Talbot Stratford" <stillbrk@eagle.ca>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: CDs
On the Way
Date: vendredi 28
octobre 2005 0:02
Donald,
Can I add my gratitude to all the others. It was this same spirit that untold and un sung heroes showed in Weihsien which benefitted us all.
My address is: Gay Stratford ,
De: "Dwight
W. Whipple" <thewhipples@comcast.net>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: CDs
On the Way
Date: vendredi 28
octobre 2005 4:33
Hi Donald~
I, too, received the CD today and have looked at it several times. What a wonderful collection of pictures and memories from long ago and more recently. I especially like the "then" and "now" sequences. Imagination supplies the rest! And it is great to see the folk that returned for the celebration. And the Chinese children along with adults adds to the memory bank. We will treasure this memory. Thank you so much.
~Dwight W. Whipple
De:
"Nicky & Leopold" <tapol@skynet.be>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: MGI
PhotoSuite III digital photo......Internee mail cover collection
Date: vendredi 28
octobre 2005 8:09
Dear Richard,
This new letter will interest you ---
It is Father deJaegher's first letter after
"camp" to his family in
- Click on Father deJaegher (in the left-frame)
- Click on the envelope-symbol ---
Best regards,
Leopold
PS --- hope you read French?
De: "Joyce
Cook" <bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw:
Joyce Bradbury's pics from recent
Date: samedi 29
octobre 2005
Hello All
I am at my parents' Joyce and Bob's
Bradbury's home, and have given them over 100 pics from our trip to
To where shall I send the pics, as the Weihsien website rejects them?
btw Joyce's computer has been down for a while, hence no messages from her until recently.
Regards to all
Tom Bradbury
De: "Joyce
Cook" <bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: CD
received
Date: samedi 29
octobre 2005
Dear Donald
We have received the disc, and have had a most enjoyable time looking at the pics and music.
Many thanks
Joyce and Bob.
De:
"Nicky & Leopold" <tapol@skynet.be>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Joyce Bradbury's pics from recent
Date: samedi 29
octobre 2005
Hello Tom,
Usually, within our familly, in
You can also send a selection to me (by post and/or CD) and I'll add them to what I already have on the "Weihsien-picture-gallery-web-site".
Hope all's OK down-under ---
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "George
Kaposhilin" <gkapo@sbcglobal.net>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Your CD
Date: samedi 29
octobre 2005
Thank you Donald for a most wonderful compilation of Weihsien CIC history. I enjoyed it immensely, probably as much as you did doing it. It is indeed a beautiful and everlasting gift , not only to us the survivors, but to our children and grandchildren. Your efforts, and they must have been immense, are truly appreciated here.
My very best to you and yours
George Kaposhilin.
De: "Ron
Bridge" <rwbridge@freeuk.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: CD
received
Date: samedi 29
octobre 2005
Doanld,
I feel deprived you did send one did you not to me
Ron bridge
Chillias Oast
Chillies Lane
Crowborough
I guess the snail stopped for a snack or had a puncture
De: "Pamela
Masters" <pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fabulous
CD !
Date: samedi 29
octobre 2005
Dear Donald --
Thank you so much for the outstanding CD. I friend who had just finished reading The Mushroom Years was sitting with me while we watched, and he said it made the camp come alive. It sure did!
I still feel I should send something to help you defray the cost. Of course, there's nothing I can send to repay your effort -- it was above and beyond.
Warmest regards -- Pamela
De: "Pamela
Masters" <pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fabulous
CD !
Date: samedi 29
octobre 2005
Donald --
I forgot to mention that in your CD you attribute some sketches to "Tipton?" Although they were from his book, China Escapade, Lena Tavella, a priceless Italian lady with royal blue eyelashes and glorious white hair, was the artist. She was also my graphic arts teacher, and I owe her a deep debt of gratitude for all she taught me. Thought you'd like to know.
Thanks again for such a nostalgic and lovely memento of a time long ago.
Pamela Masters
De: "Mary
Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Letter
from Weifang official who helped plan the August celebration/reunion
Date: samedi 29
octobre 2005
Hello, Everyone,
Today,
I received a lovely letter from Li
Yuejin, Vice-director, Weifang Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office.
Mr. Li was one of the Weifang officials who visited the
Those who attended the reunion will appreciate Mr. Li's comments. Here is part of his letter:
"The celebration couldn't be successful without the correct leadership of governments of each
level in
"In the coming days we will bring the
friendship party into full play and set
up a website so that build a bridge between Weifang People and former Weihsieners. Let's work hand in hand to make further
contribution to the communication and
friendship between the people of the world and
As we said goodby to Weifang in August, we were told that Weifang leaders were considering starting a web site, but that would be contingent on the availability of funding to launch and to maintain the site. I'm delighted at this news.
Mary Previte
De: "Joyce
Cook" <bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw:
Date: dimanche 30
octobre 2005
The following article appeared in the London Daily Telegraph. I thought it was interesting. Joyce Bradbury.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill
Bradbury
To: Bob Bradbury
Sent: Thursday,
October 20, 2005
Subject:
This is from the "
________________________________________________________________________
Chariots of Fire hero is honoured by the Chinese Christian athlete is commemorated at site of Japanese PoW camp where he died. Richard Spencer reports from Weifang
by Richard Spencer
680 words
18 August 2005
The Daily Telegraph
015
English
(c) 2005 Telegraph Group Limited,
THE residents of a grimy Chinese city paid
an unusual tribute yesterday to the Scottish runner Eric Liddell, hero of the
film Chariots of Fire. As part of a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of
the liberation of the Japanese internment camp where he died, Chinese
officials, old friends and fellow inmates laid a wreath at a memorial marking
his grave. Liddell, a devout Christian, became famous for winning the 400
metres at the 1924 Paris Olympics after refusing to run his best distance, the
100 metres, because the heats were held on a Sunday. Less well known is that he
was born and spent much of his life in
What was once the Weihsien internment camp
is now No 2 middle school in Weifang and thousands of children, teachers,
residents and city leaders turned out to greet former occupants. More than
2,000 people were held in the camp, including 327 children, mostly from a
Western-run boarding school nearby. Many were children of missionaries, as were
some of the older westerners held there, a fact little mentioned yesterday. The
huge missionary presence in
De: "Mary
Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Weihsien
liberator, Jim Hannon's birthday
Date: lundi 31
octobre 2005
Weihsien liberator Jim Hannon will celebrate his birthday on November 12.
He was born in 1919.
If you'd like to drop him a card or letter, here is his address:
P. O. Box 1376, Yucca Valley, CA
92285 USA
Jim recently had a pacemaker installed after a serious episode with his heart. Because of problems with his legs, he gets around in a motorized wheelchair.
Jim tells me he has released his latest book, THE SECRET OF WEIFANG. He told me recently that it is a fictionalized account of American aviatrix Amelia Earhart's being interned in Weihsien. Jim is very hopeful that a movie will be made of this book.
Mary Previte
De: "Mary
Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Clean,
beautifully-landscaped, thriving
Date: lundi 31
octobre 2005
Hello, Everybody,
The Weifang we saw in August was a clean, beautifully-landscaped, thriving metropolis that had recently welcomed the President of China. In the tractor factory, we even walked on red carpets that were left from the President's visit.
Weifang also boasts the vision of its future in an astonishing exhibit hall that displays a giant, three-dimensional model of the expanding city, its buildings, its rivers, its roads. This exhibit hall was on our tour the day after the 60th anniversary celebration.
On our trips on modern highways to and from Weifang, I was impressed and surprised by trees lining all of the roadways. I didn't see that on my last visit to Shandong.
Mary Previte
De:
"georgeanna knisely" <jknisely@paonline.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Date: lundi 31
octobre 2005
Alfie, I tried three times to email the chap who wrote about "the grimy city" and that you weren't allowed to mention misssionaries. He obviously wasn't there. Georgie Reinbrecht Knisely
De: "George
Kaposhilin" <gkapo@sbcglobal.net>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE:
Date: lundi 31
octobre 2005
I second Mary Previte's statement that the city was beautiful, welllandscaped and CLEAN. I suspect thatthe writer of that article was never near Weifang but wrote his articlefrom second sources while ensconced in his office in England.
Also some people, particularly
George Kaposhilin
De: "Nicky
& Leopold" <tapol@skynet.be>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw:
Joyce Bradbury's pics from recent
Date: lundi 31
octobre 2005
Hello Tom,
I re-read my message and I feel that it is not very explicit!
Yes! Of course! you can, you even must send me your Weifang photos to include to what we already have on the "weihsien-picture-gallery-web-site". I'll do the same layout as for Donald Menzi with captions and links !
Send them to me the easiest way for you --- I'll adapt.
Here is my address in
Leopold Pander
Sentier du Berger, 15
B - 1325 Corroy-le-Grand.
Hope to read you soon,
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "David
Birch" <gdavidbirch@yahoo.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Clean, beautifully-landscaped, thriving
Date: lundi 31
octobre 2005
I totally agree! The Weifang I visited in August was a truly beautiful and attractive city filled with equally beautiful and attractive people!
It surely must be one of the world's truly clean and progressive cities -quite remarkable for a metropolis that has grown to over eight million people!
It was a great privilege to be a guest of the municipal government of Weifang!
David Birch
De: "Christine
Talbot Sancton" <sancton@nbnet.nb.ca>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: CD
received.
Date: mardi 1
novembre 2005
Dear Donald: our cd arrived yesterday. What a lot of work for you to do.
Thank you for adding Ida Talbot's paintings to the cd. I wish that I had got them to you earlier so that they too could have been incorporated in the slide show, my fault. It was interesting to see other paintings of the same scene and the locations. What a lot of talent there was in Camp.
The Chinese certainly welcomed you with great joy and enthusiasm.
Thank you so much for it.
Christine Talbot Sancton
De:
"Nicky & Leopold" <tapol@skynet.be>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
WEIHSIEN PHOTOS
Date: jeudi 3
novembre 2005 9:15
Dear Joyce,
Thanks very much for sending your photos --- my way --- As soon as I get them I'll try the best possible layout in the "weihsien-picture-gallery-web-site". Don't worry about the captions. We can fix that by e-mail later on ---
--- the little boy of four and the young priest of thirty-one ---
Best regards,
Leopold
De:
"Brian Butcher" <bdbutcher@telus.net>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: My
Picture
Date:
dimanche 6 novembre 2005 20:30
Dear Leopold,
Thanks
for your response. I wish I had an answer for you. These pictures were in my mother's possession but
she passed away lat winter and all I
have is the written comments on the back of the
picture. These were in my sister's possession in northern
Brian
De:
"georgeanna knisely" <jknisely@paonline.com>
À:
<weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: CDs
On the Way
Date: mardi 8
novembre 2005
Donald,
I thought I had ordered a CD/DVD from you before. I was at Weifang and your originl was WONDERFUL! May I please have a copy of the up-dated? I am wanting to see it ALL! Thanks so much,
Georgie Reinbrecht Knisely
De:
"georgeanna knisely" <jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Weihsien liberator, Jim Hannon's birthday
Date: mercredi 9
novembre 2005
Mary Previte,
Sorry I missed you the day you called. Would have loved to meet you - try me again. Friends complain that I am never home. But you never know.
Thanks for trying, Georgie
De:
"Natasha Petersen" <np57@cox.net>
À:
"weihsien" <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: CD
Date: lundi 14
novembre 2005 16:31
Dear Donald,
My new computer is finally set up, and I am able to access the folders on your CD. Thank you, so much, indeed. I know that those of you who have Donald's CD are just as thrilled as I to be able to trot down "memory lane".
Gratefully yours,
Natasha
PS I am sending this to everyone on the list because I wanted everyone to know how grateful and pleased I am. In addition, I have a new computer, and am not sure that I am getting the emails for Weihsien.com
De: "Bobbie Bridger Backhouse"
<backie@ihug.co.nz>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: List for Mailing CDs
Date: lundi 14 novembre 2005
Dear Donald I did send my address but it's obviously lost, here it is again:- Bobbie Bridger Backhouse
I will get the CD to Marjorie Wallis McKenzie (She lives in NZ too and is confined to a wheel chair, Also Could you please send a copy to Desmond Power? Hope I'm not asking too much? Many thanks Bobbie
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: your CD, ---
Date: mardi 15 novembre 2005 20:32
Dear Joyce,
Hello from cold-rainy-cloudy-Belgium,
We just got your CD from
I'll try and get the first pictures on the web site a.s.a.p. ---
Best regards,
à bientôt
Léopold
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: test email
Date: jeudi 24 novembre 2005 1:20
Hi, Buddy,
Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you have a good one, and that you will
enjoy the
My younger son, and three friends will be
coming here. I love to cook, and
especially holiday food. I spent several
hours this morning getting things ready for baking and roasting. My older son and family live in
Hope this finds you well.
Natasha
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Thanksgiving Day
Date: jeudi 24 novembre 2005
Hello, Everyone,
Here in the
At our house we always include Chinese friends around our Thanksgiving
dinner table.
What a year I have had to be thankful for! Our 60th anniversary celebration of our liberation from Weihsien tops of my list. A once in a lifetime gift from the government and people of Weifang. Thank you, thank you, thank you, friends in Weifang.
Thank you, Natasha, for the years of joy you've given us with your Weihsien internet to this wonderfull memory network that keeps us connected.
Thank you, Leopold, for the day-by-day gift you give us with your extraordinary Weihsien web site -- now with sound as well as stories, mementos, and pictures. I'm constantly checking your site to see what new marvel you've added to this remarkable historical record.
Thank you to each one who has added such a wealth of mementos, stories, photographs. Priceless!
Thank you, Donald, for the astonishing gift of your masterpiece -- your walking tour of Weihsien DVD -- designed, produced, mailed to each of us as a gift of art and memories.
Joyce, I love your recently-added collection of photos from our reunion in August. I couldn't access all the photos, Leopold, but I'm going to keep trying. Thank you, Joyce, for being so generous with so many pictures. I was especially pleased to see one of the August 17 theatrical performance. that Weifang singers, musicians, and dancers created and performed just for us that night. The music, dance and stage sets were inspired by our own Weihsien experience. Does anyone else have photos of that performance you can add to Leopold's web site?
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone.
Mary Previte
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Thanksgiving Day
Date: jeudi 24 novembre 2005 23:56
Dear Mary. Presumably
Thanksgiving day has now passed but we hope your day was fulfilling both
spiritually and physically. Its not an Australian celebratory occasion but we
are girding up for Christmas turkey and lovely Summer weather. Frozen turkeys
are on special here in
We probably have some other photos of the stage show at Weifang that we will get on the net a.s.a.p.
Next weekend we are attending a Bradbury
family gathering in
I still have many fond memories of the Weifang re-union. I am so glad we attended., Joyce.
I still have many fond memories of the re-union-----
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Update on Weihsien liberators
Date: samedi 26 novembre 2005
Hello, Everyone,
Here's a Thanksgiving Day update on the three surviving heroes of our Weihsien liberation team. I try to phone each of them on major holidays and their birthdays.
Jim Moore, whose cancer surgery in August
prevented his joining us at the 60th
anniversary celebration in Weifang, says
that doctors see signs that not all the
cancer was successfully removed. He has chosen not to have radiation or
chemo-therapy. Jim always sounds up-beat
when I call. He holds a lead position in the local chapter of the China-Burma-India Veterans
Association. He and his wife, Pat, live
in
Tad Nagaki, a widower, continues to farm in
At age 86, Jim Hannon and his wife,
Gin, work non-stop on writing Jim's books and seeking
to advance them towards movies. His current book is about Weihsien -- a
fictionalized account, Jim says, about
Amelia Earhart being held in
Weihsien. He told me yesterday
that his publisher wants him to add more
of the social interaction in the camp.
Jim had surgery this week and had
a pacemaker installed a few months ago following a collapse when he almost died.
(
I hope many of you will drop Christmas cards to these men.
Joyce, the 15-lb. turkey -- the star of our family's Thanksgiving dinner -- cost about .75 cents a lb. Sometimes, grocery stores attract customers by offering a free turkey if you purchase at least a certain amount at their store for Thanksgiving.
Believe me, Joyce, here in
Mary Previte
De: "rod miller" <rmmiller@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Missionaries passing through
Date: dimanche 4 décembre 2005
Hello
I was just wondering if anyone knew of
missionaries from
Eighteen Australian nurses were housed at
the Bund Hotel in
The first was made at the Bund hotel.
July 1942
28.
Missionaries from
The next was at the yacht club:
On 15 September 1942, the women were put to work by the lady guard, cleaning up the lower part of the Yacht Club. This area was fitted out at one end with the large communal bath, shower and change-room facilities that were used by the pre-war members. The other end of the lower clubhouse was divided into storage areas for boats and sails which the women were never officially allowed to enter. The clean-up was in preparation for the arrival on 18 September of thirteen English nuns and American missionaries.
Five days later, another four arrived. They
left on 5 October. Lorna Whyte managed a brief conversation and discovered that
one of the missionaries had been born in
If anyone could identify these missionaries
or tell of their fate it would be of
assistance. I believe some nuns did end up with a Bishop in
Kind Regards & Compliments of the season.
Rod Miller
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: Danielle in paper
Date: vendredi 16 décembre 2005 2:05
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all. Many of you will remember my 13 year old granddaughter Danielle who accompanied me and my sons to the Weifang re-union. Attached is a newspaper article about her prowess in athletics. We are very pround of her. Joyce Bradbury.
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Fw: Danielle in paper
Date: vendredi 16 décembre 2005
What a wonderful achievement for Danielle, Joyce! Sne looks as lovely as an athlete as she looked as a very fascinated visitor to Weifang in August. Congratulations, Danielle!
For those of you who missed this summer's visit to Weifang, Joyce brought her 13-yrear-old grand daughter along so Danielle could see where Joyce had been interned at the age of 13. Believe me, Danielle took it all in..
Mary Previte
De: "Joyce Cook"
<bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Non receipt of WeiHsien topica
messages.
Date: dimanche 18 décembre 2005 9:19
FROM JOYCE AND BOB BRADBURY. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY MESSAGES FROM WEIHSIEN TOPICA FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL US WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Non receipt of WeiHsien topica
messages.
Date: dimanche 18 décembre 2005 20:22
Dear Joyce,
I have not had any messages since Mary Previte wrote a few weeks ago, and your message of around the same date. Has anyone had any messages that are more recent?
Natasha
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Fw: Danielle
in paper
Date: dimanche 18 décembre 2005 23:50
Dear Joyce,
What a lovely picture and article! Makes one proud! Where would we be without family at holidays and for fun and excitement and pure joy. Thank you for sharing and a big congratulations to Danielle!
A Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New year to you and yours.
Georgei
De: "Natasha Petersen"
<np57@cox.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Non receipt of WeiHsien topica
messages.
Date: lundi 19 décembre 2005 5:07
Sorry, the date of Mary's was Dec 15th. Before that, it was a week or two.
Natasha
De: "Fred & Coral Dreggs"
<cadreggs@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Non receipt of WeiHsien topica messages.
Date: lundi 19 décembre 2005
Apart from the messages you have regferred to, the last one I received was from Alison Holmes on 9 Dec. This was the first one after 25 Nov. It seems that either lots are going astray or there is simply not much being sent.
Alfie
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Fw: Re:Fw: visit to
Date: lundi 19 décembre 2005
Leopold and Nicky,
Wow!
I am thrilled for you both.
Have a Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New Year! Georgie
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Fw: Re:Fw: visit to
Date: lundi 19 décembre 2005
Leopold,
This is WONDERFUL news! Be sure to take pictures to add to your WEIHSIEN
web site. Please give my warmest NEW YEAR'S greeting to Mr. Sui.
Mary Previte
----- Original Message -----
From: Donald
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005
Subject: Re: Fw:
Re:Fw: visit to
I missed the wonderful news from Leopold. Was it addressed to the topica
group or just to you, Mary?
Donald
De: "Dawei Beard"
<phoenix7788@hotmail.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: RE: Fw: Re:Fw: visit to
Date: lundi 19 décembre 2005
Hi Leopold and Nicky,
How fantastic that you're going after all! It'll be a richly deserve trip.
Perhaps you can weave the magic spell which we failed to do on Aug 16-18 and get a fix on the location of former Weihsien Camp. My photo 2005 No 298 shows our bus on YUE HE RD; If you can establish the name of the road at the entrance to No 2 Middle School - as shown in 2005 155, then , bingo!
Maybe the magic spell could include Sui Shude getting a map ready for you in advance? Very exciting!
Best wishes and have a great time!
David Beard
De: "Joyce Cook" <bobjoyce@tpg.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: Fw: Re:Fw: visit to
Date: mardi 20 décembre 2005
We missed it too because we are still not receiving Weihsien topica messages. Joyce Bradbury
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Fw: Re:Fw: visit to
Date: mardi 20 décembre 2005
hello,
---- here it comes again ---
---
Dear Mary, Dear Norman, Dear Weihsien folks ---
Hello,
The opportunity presented itself and I didn't miss it!
So --- we are going to
I wrote to Mr Shude and got an answer! He will be welcoming us in Weifang for two whole days! I'm real happy about all that. :-))
Hope all's OK for you ---
--- a Merry Christmas to all ---
Best regards,
Leopold
PS--- in a dream, I saw myself taking an aerial picture of our "old" camp ---- from a helicopter ---
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
Subject : the escape
Date: mercredi 21 décembre 2005 0:41
Terry Thomas who was very young in camp and could not make the reunion, asked me what people knew about the two escapees Hummel and can't bring to mind right now. How did they get out? Over the wall, thru a window, where and when?
Georgie Reinbrecht Knisely
De: "Donald"
<dmenzi@earthlink.net>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Escape
Date: mercredi 21 décembre 2005
Georgie,
There's a lot of material on the "great escape" from Weihsien. It's mentioned in all the books written by Weihsien inmates, including one written by one of the escapees - Laurance Tipton - entitled "Chinese Escapade." I just checked the on-line book dealer, abe.com, and see that they have one copy available for $14.
If you can give me Terry's mailing address I'd be glad to send him a copy of the chapter that describes the escape - over the wall, by the way, before the moon came up, June 9th 1944.
Donald
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Escape
Date: mercredi 21 décembre 2005 9:07
Hello,
suggestion:
just click on this link:
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/Tipton/text/00-Contents.htm
--- then click on the chapter "escape"
You can print the whole thing --- it is easier to read ---
You can also use the research-engine --- there is quite a lot to discover about the escape --- including texts by Father Hanquet ---
Hope you enjoy it :-))
Best regards,
Leopold
De: "Nicky & Leopold"
<tapol@skynet.be>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Fw: Google Earth Placemark
Date: mercredi 21 décembre 2005 9:17
Hello Donald,
The coordinates of our "old" camp are:
36° 41' 58.05" North
119° 07' 46.11" East of
Hope you find it --- it is the about where I think the camp is ---
Best regards,
Leopold
You have been sent a Google Earth Placemark(tm).
If you have Google Earth installed, you can double-click on the attached Placemark file and it will fly you to a location. If not, you will need to install Google Earth first (available at http://earth.google.com).
Google Earth streams the world over wired and wireless networks enabling users to virtually go anywhere on the planet and see places in photographic detail. This is not like any map you have ever seen. This is a 3D model of the real world, based on real satellite images combined with maps, guides to restaurants, hotels, entertainment, businesses and more. You can zoom from space to street level instantly and then pan or jump from place to place, city to city, even country to country.
Get Google Earth. Put the world in perspective.
earth.google.com
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Escape
Date: mercredi 21 décembre 2005
Thanks, Leopold! You are always so fast and prompt. I have only begun to explore a little on the Weihsien site. Everytime I get there I find five other places to look. Truly appreciate all your work. Hugs to you both, Georgie
Blessed Christmas and Joyous New Year!
De: "Pamela Masters"
<pamela@hendersonhouse.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Date: mercredi 21 décembre 2005
Hi Everyone -- hope you all have a glorious Christmas!
Regarding Georgeanna question as to how Tipton and Hummel escaped, here is a direct quote from Tipton's book, Chinese Escapade:
(page 132) "On the evening of 8th June [1944] we received the reply ... a posse of plain-clothes soldiers [Nationalist guerillas] would meet us at the appointed place and escort us to a point two miles to the north, where a mounted detachment would be awaiting us with ponies."
And on page 133: "By eight [that evening], Tommy Wade and his scouts were out on the job on the west wall, checking the activities of the guards. At eighty-thirty I pulled on "the Bishop's Jaegers" and a black Chinese jacket, and joined Arthur in the vicinity of the wall. The guard was changed but did not leave his post for the customary walk around. We waited anxiously -- eventually he strolled away, but there were two people sitting outside their room, directly facing the spot from which we intended to leave. By the time they were out of the way, the scouts had lost track of the guard ! We decided to take a chance. In a moment we were up in the tower and let ourselves carefully down the wall till out feet touched the pile of conveniently placed bricks. Tommy Wade followed with a small stool. From the stool I stepped inadvertently onto Tommy's bald head instead of his shoulder, and with a hand on the post of the electrified fence, vaulted over. Arthur followed and our knapsacks were thrown to us ....and then [we] made a dash for a graveyard some fifty yards away and flung ourselves behind the nearest grave."
CHINESE ESCAPADE, Laurance Tipton, MACMILLAN & Co. Ltd. London - 1949 Printed in Great Britain. (I got my copy through a used book store in
Happy New Year to you all! -- Pamela
De: "georgeanna knisely"
<jknisely@paonline.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re:
Date: vendredi 23 décembre 2005
Pamela, thanks, I will forward that to Terry and have had replies from Donald and David about the book. I have asked for it and they didn't have one by the time I emailed or weded the day after I was told about it. Thanks, Pam, Georgie
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Donald's gift of a lifetime
Date: mardi 27 décembre 2005
Donald,
Your amazing Walking Tour of
Weihsien added delight to our family's Christmas celebration and reunion.
I took the disc to
John retired last year from his surgical
practice. Many years ago, he
pioneered kidney transplants in his region of
This weekend, John punctuated our viewing of the Weihsien Tour with his own memories. "Sometimes we had classes in the church," he recalled.
"That's where I was when the American liberators came."
Thank you, once again, Donald, for your astonishing -- and most generous -- gift.
Beryl Welsh Goodland, on Christmas Eve, Weihsien liberator Jim Moore raved to me about the collection of photos you sent him from our trip to Chefoo and Weihsien this summer. He was so appreciative of your thoughtfulness.
Jim seems to be responding positively to chemotherapy he is taking following his surgery for colon cancer. You may recall that this unexpected surgery prevented Jim's joining us for the reunion celebration in Weihsien.
Mary Previte
From: Donald
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Subject: Re:
Donald's gift of a lifetime
Mary,
Glad
they enjoyed it. I've found some of the music they played over the
loudspeakers when we arrived at the camp and am in the process of adding sound
to that part of the show. I'll send you a revised disk when it's done.
What
part of
Donald
De: "Mary Previte" <mtprevite@aol.com>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Happy New Year
Date: samedi 31 décembre 2005
Happy New Year, everyone.
Here in the
Thank you to Natasha for this Weihsien Topica network that keeps us connected, to Leopold for his wonderful Weihsien web site that bonds us with memories, and to Donald for his professional-quality Walking Tour of Weihsien.
What gifts these are!
Peter Bazire has just joined the computer age. I'm trying to talk him into getting active on all of these sites. Peter played in the Salvation Army Band in Weihsien and also played baseball -- I think for Kitchen Number One team.
Mary Previte
De: "rod miller" <rmmiller@optusnet.com.au>
À: <weihsien@topica.com>
Objet: Re: Happy New Year
Date: samedi 31 décembre 2005
At
>Happy New Year, everyone.
>
>
Here in the
> sunbathing near
>
It's 45.3 outside at the moment.
R