1 RTR Snow in HK 1958

[iaindh]

Thought I'd share this for interest.

Cambrai ball, Hong Kong 1958, a light snow fell in the early hours

Peter Hayter with 6th Gurkha Rifles HK Nov 1958.jpg

1st RTR and 6th Gurkha Rifles

Iain

[Frank Kelley]

Cambrai ball! is your father on there Iain?

Originally Posted by iaindh

Thought I'd share this for interest.

Cambrai ball, Hong Kong 1958, a light snow fell in the early hours

Attachment 114939

1st RTR and 6th Gurkha Rifles

Iain

[iaindh]

Hi Frank,

yes, far left, he was only 5'8" but he looks like a giant!

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Cambrai ball! is your father on there Iain?

[Toby Purcell]

Everyone's looking rather well fed for 1958. Clearly there was no rationing in Hong Kong!

[Paul Spellman]

I was lucky enough to pick this up recently, a nice leather bound presentation copy of the Presentation of the New Colours to the newly amalgamated South/East Lancs Regts -'The Lancashire Regiment (PoWV) in HK 21st November 1958
Around the same date of your photo, amongst the principal guests of the battalion it mentions the 'Officers of 1RTR'
I served attached to the Black Watch and was in HK for the last 6mths before handover (though I flew out 5days before the event) I knew leaving there I would never be posted anywhere as good with the Army.
Paul

[Frank Kelley]

LOL Iain,
One wonders how tall his friend was an the right, he looks rather smaller than those two riflemen that he is standing between!

Originally Posted by iaindh

Hi Frank,

yes, far left, he was only 5'8" but he looks like a giant!

[elgee45]

The folks in HK always got excited on the odd two or three days each winter when light frosts appeared . . . mainly in the mountains on the mainland side. Youngsters would camp out in the hills to experience what they called 'snow' in the early morning, before the sun rose and melted it. "Snow in the mountains" was a regular item, year after year on the local TV news. In fact when the temperature dropped to the teens (Celsius) the fur coats and scarves came out. Funny to see Brits in short-sleeve shirts and Hongkongers all rugged up. The Singaporean expats in HK suffered the most - there were no deaths that I heard of from hypothermia, but I think there may have been a few close calls.

[iaindh]

Toby,

I'm not sure to what extent rationing still existed but it was certainly an easy life.

Originally Posted by Toby Purcell

Everyone's looking rather well fed for 1958. Clearly there was no rationing in Hong Kong!

[iaindh]

Very nice Paul.
I have a copy of the programme for the 1959 Cambrai ball held on November 21st and the band of the Lancashire Regt played.
I also have a booklet "the 1st RTR in Hong Kong 1957 - 58" which mentions they'll be serving with the East Lancs Regt.

Iain

Originally Posted by Paul Spellman

I was lucky enough to pick this up recently, a nice leather bound presentation copy of the Presentation of the New Colours to the newly amalgamated South/East Lancs Regts -'The Lancashire Regiment (PoWV) in HK 21st November 1958
Around the same date of your photo, amongst the principal guests of the battalion it mentions the 'Officers of 1RTR'
I served attached to the Black Watch and was in HK for the last 6mths before handover (though I flew out 5days before the event) I knew leaving there I would never be posted anywhere as good with the Army.
Paul