WWII POW help

[Suziepie]

Hello Julie 

My father was a chief officer of the Hong Kong Fire Brigade. His father came to Hong Kong - in 1922 from London (originally they were from Devon) - with the task to set up the new Central Fire Station in Hong Kong. Our family was one of the longest resident European families in HK.

I presume your grandmother is a daughter of Duncan's sister??

Duncan and Doris did not come directly from HK to New Zealand. He was transferred in 1954 from HK to Kenya (Nairobi) where he was sent to quell the Mau Mau uprising - he was in the CID and his posting was Asst Commissioner in Kenya. They were there about two years before coming to NZ.  Though they both loved Africa, the whole experience with the Mau Mau was very terrifying for my Aunt. Had they stayed on another year Duncan was told he would receive a knighthood (Sir Duncan) - but Doris could not handle it any more and they left - joining us in New Zealand in 1957.

He was appalled at the treatment given to the Mau Mau - he is on public record as saying: "it was a lot worst than anything he experienced during his four years in the Japanese prison camp in Stanley, Hong Kong". This is one of the reasons he left Kenya.

Suzie

[JulzDS]

Hi Suzie

I've been trying to reply to you, but it keeps bouncing back for some reason.

I will try again tonight and see if it works.

I did reply right away, I'm so excited to have spoken to someone who knew him!

My Nana is the daughter of Duncan's brother John Arthur. He couldn't go to war because of a limp and worked in the aluminium smelter in Fort William instead. Somewhat ironically (and cruelly) he died during the war because of poisoning from the chemicals. He never knew that his two brothers survived the POW camps.

Julie

[Suziepie]

Hello Julie

I don't know why your email bounces back. Are you 'replying' on my email to you?  (I had wondered why I had not heard from you - hence my new message on this site.)

Suzie

[JulzDS]

Hi Suzie

Yeah it's the email. I think it's my email, I've got someone looking at it for me tomorrow. It's just not playing.

It's funny, I was going to post a message here tonight myself to let you know I was having trouble!

Julie

[Suziepie]

Hi Julie

I have contacted Telecom (just now - my internet provider) to see why your  emails were bouncing back !  They have checked out my internet and email and say that there is no reason from this end why your emails should not come through.  They said you would need to see the 'error' message on the bounced-back email to see what the problem is.  You have the same email address as I gave 'Rootschat' and I am receiving their notifications ok.

Here - in Auckland, NZ - it is 11.15am (nearly lunch time) - I presume you are somewhere in Britain (Scotland?) and probably it is nearly mid-night!

Suzie

[JulzDS]

Hi

It's a problem with my email provider. They assure me they are working on it!

I'm in Scotland, near Glasgow. It's 22:40 so almost bedtime for me.

Julie

[Suziepie]

Hello Julie,

During the last few days I have been rung by some friends that their emails to me have also bounced back.

I (and Telecom) have now discovered the reason their emails did not get through to me is that the emails they received from me were carrying my OLD email address with 'woosh' -(for some strange reason it was still hanging in there - even though my email to them was sent through 'xtra'. I changed my email provider some months ago to 'xtra' (which is Telecom).

So, this is the reason - its not at your end. I have just rung Telecom and we have (I hope) cleaned out my old stuff - so 'woosh' should be well and truly gone now. Can you please check that you have my correct address.
I am sending you this also on email - exactly the same address - but has 'xtra' - not 'woosh'. Thank you.

Kind Regards,
Suzanne

[JulzDS]

Hi Suzie

We've had no electricity yesterday let alone email! We're turning out to be some pair!

I've replied to your email and hopefully that'll be us set.

Julie

[Suziepie]

Hello Julie -

I did not receive the email you mentioned in your last post.
I have just sent you another email - can you please let me know if you receive it.

Kind regards,
Suzie