BATTLE OF KUHLAN -(cont.)
626
Besides nine naval men killed, to the memory of whom the monument at Wanchai was subsequently erected, about twenty British and Americans, including two officers, were wounded or burned, some very severely.
A photograph is published below of the Kuhlan Monument. On a tablet near the base of the obelisk we read these simple words:
"Erected by the Officers and Crews, of the U.S. Steam Frigate 'Powhatan' and H.B.M. Steam Sloop 'Rattler'. In Memory of their Shipmates who fell in a combined boat attack on a fleet of piratical junks off Kuhlan, August 4th, 1855."
On a tablet on the other side is inscribed:
"Killed in Action:
'Rattler': Geo. Mitchell, A.B.; Jas. Silver, Carpenter's Crew; Jno. Massey, Gunner, R.M.A.; M. Oliff, Private, R.A.
'Powhatan': Jno. Pepper, Seaman; Jas. A. Halsey, Landsman; Isaac Coe, Landsman; S. Mullard, Marine; B. F. Adamson, Marine."
And now for some more recent local history. Erected at a time when Wanchai was a fashionable suburb (see 3.2.34) the monument must have received fitting reverence for many years. However, as time went on, the neighbourhood developed into a Chinese slum quarter, and eventually the obelisk became practically forgotten; it was surrounded by dumped road-making material and house-building debris. Beggars congregated round it, and its enclosing rail was used as a convenient place on which to hang filthy rags or anything else that might require an airing.
This rather disgraceful state of affairs struck the writer of this article rather forcibly some time after his arrival in Hongkong: but it was not until 1924 that he published a protest (in the Hongkong Telegraph). That appeared on March 4, 1924, accompanied by two photographs showing the evil state of affairs. The following day, a summary of the Kuhlan action was published in the same paper.
There was an interesting sequel. On the evening of May 30, 1924, a party of British and American naval men "raided" the spot, threw away all the rubbish, removed the various obstructions, and cleaned the tablets, leaving an appearance of tidiness. This episode was reported in the following day's paper: and from then on, the authorities kept the site reasonably clean.
Only last month, September 1934, the monument was moved from Wanchai and re-erected opposite the Police Recreation Club in Happy Valley.
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Page 51
BATTLE OF KUHLAN -(cont.)
626
Besides nine naval men killed, to the memory of whom the monu- ment at Wanchai was subsequently erected, about twenty British and Americans, including two officers, were wounded or burned, some very severely.
A photograph is published below of the Kuhlan Monument. tablet near the base of the obelisk we read these simple words:
On a
"Erected by the Officers and Crews, of the U.S. Steam Frigate 'Powhatan' and H. B. M. Steam Sloop 'Rattler'. In Memory of their Shipmates who fell in a combined boat attack on a fleet of piratical junks off Kuhlan, August 4th, 1855."
On a tablet on the other side is inscribed:
"Killed in Acting:
'Rattler': Geo Mitchell, A.B.; Jas. Silver, Carpenter's Crew; Jno. Massey, Gunner, R.M.A.; M. Oliff, Private, R.A.
'Powhatan': Jno. Pepper, Seaman; Jas. A. Halsey, Landsman; Isaac Coe, Landsman; S. Mullard, Marine; B. F. Adamson, Marine."
**
And now for some more recent local history. Erected at a time when Wanchai was a fashionable suburb (see 3.2.34) the monument must have received fitting reverence for man years. However, as time went on, the neighbourhood developed into a Chinese slum quarter, and eventually the obelisk became practically forgotten it was sur- rounded by dumped road-making material and house-building debris. Beggars congregated round it, and its enclosing rail was used as a convenient place on which to hang filthy rags or anything else that might require an airing.
This rather disgraceful state of affairs struck the writer of this article rather forcibly some time after his arrival in Hongkong: but it was not until 1924 that he published a protest (in the Hongkong Telegraph). That appeared on March 4, 1924, accompanied by two photographs showing the evil state of affairs. The following day, a summary of the Kuhlan action was published in the same paper.
There was an interesting sequel. On the evening of May 30, 1924, a party of British and American naval men "raided" the spot, threw away all the rubbish, removed the various obstructions, and cleaned the tablets, leaving an appearance of tidiness. This episode was reported in the following day's paper: and from then on, the authorities kept the site reasonably clean.
Only last month; September 1934, the monument was moved from Wanchai and re-erected opposite the Police Recreation Club in Happy Valley.
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