Heart warming - Hong Kong Sept.1945

[Jan]

The following story was recalled by an ex-Royal Marine Bandsman.

In August 1945 I was a member of the Royal Marine Band serving on HMS
Venerable, a light fleet carrier, and in company with HMS Indomitable
and other ships of the fleet, was sent to relieve Hong Kong. On Aug.
30 all available aircraft were in the air supply air cover for the
ships entering the harbour, we were at action stations. Later in the
day, HMS Indomitable entered harbour while we remained at sea
supplying air cover over the colony until Sept.3, when we also entered
harbour and secured on the Kowloon side.
On the afternoon of Sept. 5, we in the band were taken to the POW camp
in Kowloon. On arriving, we stopped outside the perimeter of the
camp, and at that time the camp appeared to be deserted, with only a
woman walking along the road and a sentry standing there. Our
Bandmaster told us to get ready in complete silence, which we did. We
formed up as a marching band and on the order, "Quick March" the drums
started 'Rolls', and at that, men started to appear from all
directions and the road was lined on both sides by men who appeared to
be standing to attention. We marched down the road, between these
lines of men, halted and ceased playing. The applause that followed
had to be heard to be believed. Chairs were then found and we gave a
concert of music for about an hour, which was also very well received.
The raconteur went on to say that there were some Canadians in that
camp, and wondered if any of his readers remember that little bit of
British "Pomp and Circumstance".
That music must have sounded so good to those men who had endured 4
years of brutal captivity.

Jan
"If you can't take a joke,you shouldn't have joined"

[lonestar]

A Salute and Thanks is well deserved.
Robert

[JD Cooper]

Thanks, Jan!

JD