大象传媒

Looking through family papers, I came across some newspaper articles relating to the war in the Far East. These give an account of events shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbour, involving my father Captain Llewellyn Evans of China Navigation Company. The front page of the Japan Times dated 27.9.41.has a picture of him, and a group of passengers climbing the gangplank of his ship the S.S.Anhui.

The Foreign Office had requested the Admiralty to charter the ship to evacuate 400 foreign nationals, (mainly British and Indian) including 100 women and children. They were to be transported from Yokohama to Hong Kong, Singapore and Calcutta. The paper paints a vivid picture of the plight of these individuals, who were the last refugees able to leave Japan before the outbreak of war. Their assets had been frozen and they were virtually penniless, with only a paltry allowance, barely enough to buy food. They had endured two days of intensive pressure, involving rigorous searching 鈥� even the children were subjected to examination of their clothing, underwear and shoes. The passengers are seen boarding ship closely watched by the Japanese. Eventually, after two days delay, they were allowed to sail.

In an officially approved report by a passenger, G.I.C.Rawlings that appeared in the Hong Kong Telegraph dated 7.10.41., we learn what happened next. Sailing from Yokohama, the ship battled her way through one of the worst typhoons in the history of the China Seas. Winds of 140 M.P.H., with 90 ft. waves (equal to the highest waves in the world encountered in the 鈥淩oaring Forties鈥�) threatened to engulf the ship at any moment. Furniture, fittings and baggage broke loose and crashed about the decks, and four of the eight lifeboats were ripped from their davits and washed away. Mercifully only three passengers suffered minor injuries. Mr. Rawlings said 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we had time to be seasick until the whole thing was over!鈥� He praised the skill and dedication of my father who was on the bridge for twenty-four hours, and of the loyal support from the Officers and Staff who worked hard to keep the passengers comfortable, under appalling conditions. As a token of their appreciation, the passengers presented my father with a handsome gift in the form of a steering wheel with a clock, compass, barometer and weather gauge.

A formal letter dated 4.10.41 from A.G.Hard, the Government Representative on Board, states that a Committee of both European and Indian passengers wished to record 鈥渢he admiration for the way in which the ship was handled by Captain L.Evans during the typhoon encountered between Yokohama and Hong Kong, and their gratitude for efforts made by the Captain, Officers and Staff to meet all requirements arising during a difficult voyage.鈥� The nurse Justine Soto, was also praised for 鈥渉er devotion to duty during the typhoon鈥�.

Among the passengers was the Australian Ambassador to Japan, Sir John Latham, whose conduct throughout the nightmare was described as inspiring. He refused preferential treatment and remained in the 鈥渨ell deck鈥� with the other passengers. To express his gratitude he penned a comic poem written on a China Navigation Company notepad dated 4.10.41.A brief excerpt gives a light-hearted account of the dramatic events:
鈥淎 capital ship for an ocean trip
Is the brave S.S.Anhui
She sails ahead without any dread
Of the billows of the sea.
She won鈥檛 let go in the stiffest blow
That the winds and waves can boast.
We sing this song as we travel along
Beside the China coast.鈥�

Another tribute, also in verse, is by Marjorie Biddle, a fellow passenger on that fateful voyage. When the winds eventually calmed down and people surveyed the damage, she asked my father for a sheet of paper. In the ensuing chaos 鈥攅ven the ship鈥檚 log was washed away - he took a page out of the passenger list book and gave it to her. On the reverse side, she had written a witty poem on the plight of the Anhui, and dedicated it 鈥淭o Captain Evans and his gallant officers and crew, as a tribute from the passengers on the S.S.Anhui.

鈥橳was there that we parted
By yon glory hole
Down the steep, steep hold of the Anhui,
For the Typhoon she blew
An鈥� I lost my curry stew
On the bonny, bonny, bunks of the Anhui鈥�.

Her skilfully executed watercolour sketches lend a light note to this terrifying experience. Research has shown that she was an artist, who studied Fine Art at London University, and married a well-respected Japanese artist and poet. They lived in Japan but just before the onset of war, they divorced and she left the country. It is remarkable that this lady was able to put her personal problems behind her, in order to create such a colourful tribute.

Sir John Latham kept in touch, sending my father two books in memory of the typhoon. In his reply, my father relates what became of the remaining Indian passengers on the voyage from Hong Kong to Calcutta. He described them as 鈥渁 splendid bunch who organised themselves well with school, games and concerts. Diwali was celebrated with a concert, with a proper stage built on the foredeck. They had purchased decorations in Singapore for the concert of music, song, dance, and magic. The ladies looked lovely in their beautiful saris and everyone was in a good mood. On reaching Calcutta they hauled me out of my ship to a reception in a hotel given by the merchants of the city. It was a grand affair with refreshments, flowers and speeches, offering formal thanks. Government representatives were present, and it was all being broadcast! They had me well to the fore, and I was feeling a bit nervous.鈥�

These family records of those distant days say much about the human spirit in times of great danger. They vividly demonstrate the courage, resilience, and sense of humour of people from all walks of life, when confronted by overwhelming odds.

This story was submitted by Mrs Sue Schofield of Ludlow, Shropshire

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