Volume 4 Hong Kong and China - CAPTIVES IN CATHAY by David Tett

Published in November 2007, Volume 4 continues the series covering the postal history of the POWs and civilian internees in East Asia.

Hong Kong and China is the subject of this volume. Military prisoners, mostly US marines, in China were rounded up in December 1941 and placed in POW camps. They were joined by 100 British POWs from Hong Kong and 800 marines and civilian contractors captured on Wake Island.

In Hong Kong the Japanese commenced their assault on 8th December 1941 and two and a half weeks later, on Christmas Day, the colony was surrendered. British, Canadian and Indian servicemen were imprisoned on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

The civilians in Hong Kong were rounded up early in 1942 and after short periods in dingy boarding houses, they were transferred to Stanley Camp. When the American and Canadians were repatriated it became principally a British Camp.

In China most civilians were not interned until early 1943, more than a year later than their compatriates in Hong Kong and other territories. They were eventually incarcerated in Civilian Assembly Centres around Shanghai, in Yangchow and in Northern China.

Mail to and from all these groups is covered and examples of their mail illustrated. Each camp had its own rules, handstamps and censors and all known examples are profusely illustrated. Mail to and from repatriating POWs and internees is also covered.

The hardback book, published by BFA Publishing, contains more than 400 illustrations, mostly in colour, on 457 pages.

As always there are as many questions as answers following publication and I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has information on the following matters (numbers following are page numbers):

What date in August were the senior officers transferred to Taiwan 31

Does any mail addressed to the Indian POWs exist 57

Do further types of the mimeographed card exist 84-88

Do other examples of cards from Indian POWs exist 89

Does M signify Male or Man for Men's dormitory 120

Where was the censoring of mail carried out 139

Was the civilian cover coded E14 produced by the International Red Cross 146

Is the South African “Flag” mark a censor mark or if not, what is it 153

Were Sce des Prisonniers de Guerre handstamps applied in Tokyo 156 & 157

Why is only one example of Nakasone's censor seal known 182

Why is only one example of Kawamoto's censor seal known 183

Is 4-6-21 written in code 198

How did Shanghai Americans know the names of the POWs in Shanghai 207

Does any Hainan Island mail exist 214

Does the handstamp 4-7-21 include the name of the camp - Chapei 223

Does the handstamp 4-7-46 include the name of the camp - Great Western Road 241-242

Does mail exist to/from Lincoln Road and, if so, was there a special handstamp 242

Does mail exist to/from the smaller camps listed 243

Does anybody have mail from Ash Camp available for examination by the author 287

Does anybody have mail from Chapei available for examination by the author 287

Does anybody have mail from Eastern Area available for examination by the author 287

Does anybody have mail from Yu Yuen Road available for examination by the author 287

Can anybody supply the destination and date of arrival of HMS Glengyle 372

Can anybody supply the date of arrival of HMS Smith 372

Can anybody supply the date of arrival of Gerusalemme 372

Can anybody supply the destination and date of arrival of Repose 372

Can anybody supply the destination and date of arrival of Letitia 372

Can anybody supply the date of arrival of Guardian 372

Can anybody supply the date of arrival of Glenearn 372

Can anybody supply the date of arrival of Logan 372

Can anybody supply the date of arrival of HMS Reaper 372

Can anybody supply the destination and date of arrival of Empire Chieftain 372

Can anybody supply the destination and date of arrival of HMS Alacrity 372

Can anybody supply the date of arrival of Empire Clyde 372

Can anybody supply the destination and date of arrival of USS St Olaf 372

Can anybody supply the destination and date of arrival of Queensborough 372

Can anybody supply the date of arrival of Tamaroa 372

Can anybody supply the date of arrival of Highland Monarch 372

Can anybody supply the date of arrival of Highland Chieftain 372

Can anybody supply the destination and date of arrival of Strathmore 372

When was 4-12-31 sent and where and when was it censored 376-377

There are many other questions posed within the text of these books and if further information is forthcoming, please contact the author at davidtett@aol.com