60 years ago was unveiled in Hong Kong a monument erected in memory of the Free French died for France during the Second World War. This monument, memorial, reflects the bravery of the French who took part in the defense of Hong Kong in December 1941 or who participated in the resistance against the occupying Japanese.
On 31 March 1948, a monument to the memory of French Free was inaugurated by the Consul of France, Robert Jobez at Stanley Military Cemetery, located on a peninsula south of the island of Hong Kong. It is in this southern part of the island that takes place in late December 1941 the last battles against the Japanese invasion forces. This location is also the site of a notorious camp where the Westerners were taken prisoners interned by the Japanese army after the capitulation of the colony. Free French territory have all taken part in the Battle of Hong Kong. The stele was erected by the Association of Free French, whose consul is delegated, "in memory of their comrades killed or died in Hong Kong." In a letter dated March 31, the consul said, "This monument erected in agreement with local authorities at the entrance of Stanley Military Cemetery has been built with subscriptions from members and a conribution section of Shanghai" . When the stele was inaugurated, and mentions four names appear on a white marble slab, which are listed as the three words "Pro Patria", "In memory of our comrades" and "Free French". The archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs possible to reconstruct the fate of these Free French who died for France in Asia:
- "Lieutenant Frederick Jocosta Marie, born June 12, 1908, a volunteer Dec. 8, 1941, killed at North Point December 19, 1941": liaison officer and chief of intelligence of Free France in Singapore, Frederick Jocosta is visiting Hong Kong in October 1941. He joined the Volunteer Corps from the first day of the Japanese invasion, launched the day after the attack on Pearl Harbour. Jocosta Frederick was killed in the fighting the first few weeks on one of the points of support British defense of the island of Hong Kong.
- Soldier Armand Delcourt, ASC was born in Tournai May 4, 1899, a volunteer in July 1940, killed at Repulse Bay 21 December 1941 "Archives state that" Mr. Armand Delcourt, a French but Belgian nationality died in Hong Kong in particularly dramatic. " Delcourt the soldier is indeed seriously injured two bayonet blows to the abdomen on December 21. Two days later, as he seeks a first aid station for treatment, he was captured by Japanese soldiers in Repulse Bay, at the same time a dozen British soldiers. All are running half an hour after their capture by a bullet in the neck. The consul of France in a brief proposal for decoration posthumously dated February 23, 1947, said about Armand Delcourt "part too, despite his nationality movement of Free France and as s' was involved in the Volunteer Corps. "
- "Gunner Mathieu Pierre BM, 2nd BTY, born in Marseille July 5, 1911, a volunteer in July 1940, died in Sham Shui Po August 27, 1943. Agent of the company Optorg Hong Kong, Pierre Mathieu joined Free France in 1941 and became secretary of the section of Hong Kong. Incorporated into the Volunteer Corps, assigned to the Second Artillery Battery, he was captured Dec. 25, 1941, the last day of fighting, and is then interned in North Point to Stanley. In the latter camp, Sham Shui Po, he dies "the son electrocuted barbed.
- "Captain JBER Egal HKVDC, born at Agen Montclar of March 6, 1892, died December 29, 1947 in Hong Kong": Rene Egal is the former head of Free France in Shanghai and is in transit in Hong Kong at the opening of hostilities. He joined the Volunteer Corps of Hong Kong, as captain, and part of the detachment in charge of protecting the power plant on the island of Hong Kong. Rene Egal was taken prisoner in the first days of fighting and was interned in the camp officers of Sam Ho Shui, Kowloon. A British officer, escaped from the camp in 1944, then provides news about René Egal during his period of captivity. In July 1944, Egal was "in good health and kept a high morale. [...] It is quite properly treated and can buy food from outside. It is possible to match with his wife who is a professor in college French city of Shanghai. " Released in 1945, Rene also stay in Hong Kong and his years of captivity seem to have weakened. He died in 1947 at the age of 54.
Several years after its inauguration, the monument is moved to the south end of Stanley cemetery and the plate is changed, as shown by the comparison of pictures dating from 1948 and 2008. Two names are also added to the original list:
- "Belle Henry, died at Narumi, near Nagoya November 3, 1944" Marine Shipping, Henry Belle is in transit in Hong Kong during the Japanese invasion, when he volunteered to join Free France. He then engages him in as the Corps of Volunteers and was captured after the fighting. Like other Western prisoners, Henry Belle is transferred to an internment camp in Japan where he died in 1944, but the causes of death are known.
- "Paul Roux, a victim of Kempetai, who died in Hong Kong February 19, 1944" Director of the Bank of Indochina in Hong Kong, Paul Roux takes part in the resistance against the occupation forces Japanese. Arrested and tortured by the Japanese secret police, the Kempetai, he died February 19, 1944. The death certificate prepared with the British authorities April 13, 1950, on testimony of "Mr. Kwok Chan, comprador Bank of Indochina, "says" Unknown "for the cause of death, marked" unknown "included in the transcript of the death certificate, registered at the Consulate of France April 17, 1950.
For fifty years, from 1948 to 1997, the Consulate of France and the military attaches who are affected, such as Lieutenant-Colonel Jacques Guillermaz Galula or master, regularly participate in the commemorations held at Stanley Military Cemetery, November 11, May 8 or June 18 After the 1997 handover, the duties of military attaches are removed and the tradition seems to be lost. It may be noted, however, there are about ten years, held a ceremony at the Franco-British military cemetery. On August 8, 2000 Indeed, the commander of the frigate Aconite and that of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Cornwall, both in transit in Hong Kong, lay a wreath on the stele of the Free French. The gesture is charged with symbolism as the frigate Aconite, whose flag bears the cross Lorraine Free French Forces (FFL), was named a Commander of the Free French Naval Forces (FNFL) in operations alongside the Royal Navy throughout the war and famous for sinking two German submarines on 11 March 1943, a few hours away.
The tradition lives again when the June 18, 2007 and 2008 on the occasion calls in the command ship and refueling BCR Var, allowing the ship admiral commanding the maritime zone of the Indian Ocean, a ceremony wreath-laying ceremony is held on the day of the Appeal of 18 June And Navy, the familiar Port of Hong Kong since its inception, is also present July 14, 2007 when the Marine Bagad Saint Mandrier invited to Hong Kong for the national festival, participate, to the sound of bagpipes at a memorial ceremony of the Free French. Sixty years after its inauguration, the stele of the Free French again became a place of remembrance of the French community in Hong Kong.
- "Lieutenant Frederick Jocosta Marie, born June 12, 1908, a volunteer Dec. 8, 1941, killed at North Point December 19, 1941": liaison officer and chief of intelligence of Free France in Singapore, Frederick Jocosta is visiting Hong Kong in October 1941. He joined the Volunteer Corps from the first day of the Japanese invasion, launched the day after the attack on Pearl Harbour. Jocosta Frederick was killed in the fighting the first few weeks on one of the points of support British defense of the island of Hong Kong. - Soldier Armand Delcourt, ASC was born in Tournai May 4, 1899, a volunteer in July 1940, killed at Repulse Bay 21 December 1941 "Archives state that" Mr. Armand Delcourt, a French but Belgian nationality died in Hong Kong in particularly dramatic. " Delcourt the soldier is indeed seriously injured two bayonet blows to the abdomen on December 21. Two days later, as he seeks a first aid station for treatment, he was captured by Japanese soldiers in Repulse Bay, at the same time a dozen British soldiers. All are running half an hour after their capture by a bullet in the neck. The consul of France in a brief proposal for decoration posthumously dated February 23, 1947, said about Armand Delcourt "part too, despite his nationality movement of Free France and as s' was involved in the Volunteer Corps. "
- "Gunner Mathieu Pierre BM, 2nd BTY, born in Marseille July 5, 1911, a volunteer in July 1940, died in Sham Shui Po August 27, 1943. Agent of the company Optorg Hong Kong, Pierre Mathieu joined Free France in 1941 and became secretary of the section of Hong Kong. Incorporated into the Volunteer Corps, assigned to the Second Artillery Battery, he was captured Dec. 25, 1941, the last day of fighting, and is then interned in North Point to Stanley. In the latter camp, Sham Shui Po, he dies "the son electrocuted barbed.
- "Captain JBER Egal HKVDC, born at Agen Montclar of March 6, 1892, died December 29, 1947 in Hong Kong": Rene Egal is the former head of Free France in Shanghai and is in transit in Hong Kong at the opening of hostilities. He joined the Volunteer Corps of Hong Kong, as captain, and part of the detachment in charge of protecting the power plant on the island of Hong Kong. Rene Egal was taken prisoner in the first days of fighting and was interned in the camp officers of Sam Ho Shui, Kowloon. A British officer, escaped from the camp in 1944, then provides news about René Egal during his period of captivity. In July 1944, Egal was "in good health and kept a high morale. [...] It is quite properly treated and can buy food from outside. It is possible to match with his wife who is a professor in college French city of Shanghai. " Released in 1945, Rene also stay in Hong Kong and his years of captivity seem to have weakened. He died in 1947 at the age of 54.
Several years after its inauguration, the monument is moved to the south end of Stanley cemetery and the plate is changed, as shown by the comparison of pictures dating from 1948 and 2008. Two names are also added to the original list: - "Belle Henry, died at Narumi, near Nagoya November 3, 1944" Marine Shipping, Henry Belle is in transit in Hong Kong during the Japanese invasion, when he volunteered to join Free France. He then engages him in as the Corps of Volunteers and was captured after the fighting. Like other Western prisoners, Henry Belle is transferred to an internment camp in Japan where he died in 1944, but the causes of death are known.
- "Paul Roux, a victim of Kempetai, who died in Hong Kong February 19, 1944" Director of the Bank of Indochina in Hong Kong, Paul Roux takes part in the resistance against the occupation forces Japanese. Arrested and tortured by the Japanese secret police, the Kempetai, he died February 19, 1944. The death certificate prepared with the British authorities April 13, 1950, on testimony of "Mr. Kwok Chan, comprador Bank of Indochina, "says" Unknown "for the cause of death, marked" unknown "included in the transcript of the death certificate, registered at the Consulate of France April 17, 1950.
For fifty years, from 1948 to 1997, the Consulate of France and the military attaches who are affected, such as Lieutenant-Colonel Jacques Guillermaz Galula or master, regularly participate in the commemorations held at Stanley Military Cemetery, November 11, May 8 or June 18 After the 1997 handover, the duties of military attaches are removed and the tradition seems to be lost. It may be noted, however, there are about ten years, held a ceremony at the Franco-British military cemetery. On August 8, 2000 Indeed, the commander of the frigate Aconite and that of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Cornwall, both in transit in Hong Kong, lay a wreath on the stele of the Free French. The gesture is charged with symbolism as the frigate Aconite, whose flag bears the cross Lorraine Free French Forces (FFL), was named a Commander of the Free French Naval Forces (FNFL) in operations alongside the Royal Navy throughout the war and famous for sinking two German submarines on 11 March 1943, a few hours away.
The tradition lives again when the June 18, 2007 and 2008 on the occasion calls in the command ship and refueling BCR Var, allowing the ship admiral commanding the maritime zone of the Indian Ocean, a ceremony wreath-laying ceremony is held on the day of the Appeal of 18 June And Navy, the familiar Port of Hong Kong since its inception, is also present July 14, 2007 when the Marine Bagad Saint Mandrier invited to Hong Kong for the national festival, participate, to the sound of bagpipes at a memorial ceremony of the Free French. Sixty years after its inauguration, the stele of the Free French again became a place of remembrance of the French community in Hong Kong. CR.
Sources: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris, London funds; Archives of the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong; Evan Stewart, Hong Kong Volunteers in Battle Ye Olde Printers Hong Kong, 1953.
Credits: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris - Consulate General of France in Hong Kong.
Credits: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris - Consulate General of France in Hong Kong.
0 comments:
Post a Comment