Dear Members and Friends
The cool and dry weather will soon be behind us and we will enter Hong Kong’s hot and humid summer season.
It is with that in mind that we are planning our next event, scheduled for later this month, to be held in the comfortable, air conditioned surroundings of the USRC in Jordan, Kowloon! Details below.
Recent Event
On 23 April, a large group of members and guests attended a visit to the Hong Kong WW2 Veterans Association Clubhouse in Causeway Bay. I stand to be corrected, but i believe that this visit was a first for the Branch.
For full details, please go to the website at www.omrs-hk.org and click on “Recent Events.” Our thanks to Captain Albert Lam MBE for facilitating a most enjoyable visit.
Upcoming Events
As mentioned, we think it wise to “hold off” outdoor events for a while, given the summer heat, so for our next event we are going for a guest speaker! Details are as follows.
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru
Britain’s Secret Wartime Tragedy
Speaker : Dr. Tony Banham, historian and author.
Date : Thursday 26 June 2025
Time : Meet at 19:00 for drinks: talk will start at 19:30 hrs.
Venue : United Services Recreation Club, Gascoigne Road, Jordan, Kowloon.
Admission : Cost is $100 per person.
Details
In October 1942 the Lisbon Maru, a Japanese transport ship secretly carrying over 1800 British PoWs taken captive in Hong Kong, was torpedoed off the coast of China by a U.S. Navy submarine unaware of it’s human cargo.
Although never studied in any depth, the sinking of the Lisbon Maru was the most costly “American on British” friendly fire incident of WW2. Of the 4500 of HK’s garrison who were killed during the war, 1000 did so either directly or indirectly as a result of this sinking.
Tony’s book, titled “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru,” reconstructs the fateful voyage of the vessel and the experiences of the captives, the captors, and those on board the USS Grouper, the submarine which sank her.
Tony has drawn upon United States, British, Hong Kong and Japanese sources in researching this subject. He will also talk on the recent documentary film made by the China-based producer Fang Li on the sinking, which was premiered in the U.K. in March 2025.
The Speaker
Dr. Tony Banham, a long-term resident of Hong Kong, has studied the 1941 battle for well over three decades. He has written extensively on the subject and has assisted in the production of many documentaries and films. Tony runs the acclaimed website www.hongkongwardiary.com.
This promises to be a most enjoyable event and it would be really appreciated if we could get a good turnout on the evening. Please do all you can join us!
A cash bar and snacks will be provided.
Returns to me by 16 June please.
Any Other Business
One of our members has asked if anyone knows if and where medals can be Court mounted in Hong Kong.
If you can help with this request, please get in touch and I will forward the details to him.
Best regards
Martin Heyes
Hon. Secretary
HK Branch Orders and Medals Research Society