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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: gonker on Friday 10 November 17 15:54 GMT (UK)

Title: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: gonker on Friday 10 November 17 15:54 GMT (UK)
My lovely mam died 22 years ago and she always carried this photo in her purse/bag from her brother who she always presumed had died, from what I can remember in Hong Kong, during the 2nd world war.
We found out about 3 years ago that he only died about 2 years after her in Peterborough in the Uk. She was very close to him growing up and missed him dreadfully.
I would love to find out where this photo was taken if anyone has any ideas of where it was taken or any ideas of how to find out. It says on the back "photo of the camp"
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: Wiggy on Friday 10 November 17 21:03 GMT (UK)
Welcome to RootsChat.     :)

Looks as if you could be right-   Scroll down a bit through these.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01l1b/

   It looks as if the building in the foreground is Government house - certainly very similar.  And in some of the other photos the range in the background looks the right shape.

Wiggy
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: gonker on Friday 10 November 17 23:02 GMT (UK)
Thank you so much.  It does look like this.  now to find out was there a camp there of some sort and try to find out some information on my uncle.  Thank you again
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: bitzar on Saturday 11 November 17 01:26 GMT (UK)
gonker

The following link has some history about the land behind Government House which it appears the photo was taken from.  There is a pic on the website from 1864 showing the same area with a fountain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Zoological_and_Botanical_Gardens

The following link is a pic from 1945.  If you scroll down to 'life under occupation', there is a 1945 photo of Government House.

http://www.grs.gov.hk/ws/hip/en/occupation.html

If you want to give some more details about your uncle, other rootschatters may be able to assist some more.

bitzar.

EDIT:  Looking across Victoria Harbour to the mainland, I would of thought that it would of been more built up than it looks...
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: Wiggy on Saturday 11 November 17 01:29 GMT (UK)
I notice the fountain is still there - far right of Gonker's photo.  More proof!    ;)
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: bitzar on Saturday 11 November 17 02:05 GMT (UK)
Yep...  Helps if you click on the photo doesn't it!

I haven't found any reference if British Camps near government house, perhaps he was having a joke?!

bitzar.

Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: Wiggy on Saturday 11 November 17 02:21 GMT (UK)
He might have been joking too    ;)

. . .  Staying in those neat and orderly gardens probably was nicer than what the camp would have been like!    ;)   Well . .  camp would have been orderly, but . . .  you know what I mean.

Just thinking - I wonder if those gardens 'belong' to Gov't house - as well as being Botanical Gardens.
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: bitzar on Saturday 11 November 17 03:19 GMT (UK)
It seems they were the Governor's Gardens between 1864-1871 but Botanic after that time.  In the 1940's it's possible they were split especially considering the occupation.

bitzar.
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: gonker on Saturday 11 November 17 22:35 GMT (UK)
Thank you all.  My uncle was born in Ireland in the 1920s I would say.  That is about all I know other than he died in Peterborough.  I am presuming he was in the British Army but I have no proof of that. I am going to have a look at all those photos and links.  thank you again
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: Wiggy on Thursday 30 November 17 04:25 GMT (UK)
Hi Gonker,

 - it is a very hot day here so I just thought a little bit of playing with this photo was a cool occupation . . . . . 
though getting the Governor's garden up to something approaching a decent garden was harder than I thought.    ::) ;D ;D

They say some texture hides a multitude of sins   ;) - so herewith a textured photo of the (Camp) garden.

You didn't ask for it and probably don't want it . . .but it gave me a coolish hour or so.    ;) ;)

Wiggy
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: gonker on Thursday 30 November 17 06:22 GMT (UK)
Thank you so much. That is absolutely amazing. Really genuinely delighted. Thank you so much. It is amazing.
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: Wiggy on Thursday 30 November 17 06:53 GMT (UK)
Glad you are pleased.  ;) 

I just had to go back and straighten it and re-post.  Can't have the Governor's sea view sloping to the left!   ;)  ;D
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 30 November 17 08:33 GMT (UK)
had a tidy:
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: Wiggy on Thursday 30 November 17 08:41 GMT (UK)
You are a better gardener than I am JF!!   ;)
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: japeflakes on Thursday 30 November 17 11:24 GMT (UK)
You are a better gardener than I am JF!!   ;)
Thank you but Percy Thrower is the answer along with FYM :-)
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: jloy326 on Thursday 30 November 17 11:26 GMT (UK)
Another.

Edit: At second glance the sky looks dirty..
Title: Re: Long shot but can anyone help please "photo of the camp" WW2 Hong Kong ?
Post by: gonker on Saturday 19 February 22 11:20 GMT (UK)
Dont know why I did not receive notification about the replies on this.  Thank you all again.  Found date of birth for my uncle but found two cousins and an aunt that I did not have a clue I had but still no further along on uncle Paddy, but am still looking! 
Thanks again 4 years later!