Is Your Porthole Closed?
Heroes Remember
Is Your Porthole Closed?
Transcript
Description
Mr. Harrison describes being tasked with making sure all the portholes are secured shut, as the Awatea is beset by a storm. He accidentally enters a nurse's cabin just as she's emerging from the shower. His innocent question leads to a lot of laughter!
George Harrison
George Harrison was born on April 4, 1920 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and was youngest of three children. His father died shortly after his birth, forcing his mother to place him and his siblings in an orphanage, where he was at times badly beaten. Learning this, his mother took her children back home. After completing grade 9, Mr. Harrison went to work to help support his family. Eventually, he gained employment with CPR Telegraph. On September 13, 1939, Mr. Harrison enlisted with Winnipeg Grenadiers, becoming a specialist on the Vickers machine gun. During the battle of Hong Kong, Mr. Harrison was made a sergeant, and was involved in deadly fighting. Along with the general misery and persecution suffered by all of the POWs, Mr. Harrison faced down both blindness and potential amputation of his toes.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 1:12
- Person Interviewed:
- George Harrison
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Pacific Ocean
- Battle/Campaign:
- Hong Kong
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- Winnipeg Grenadiers
- Rank:
- Sergeant
- Occupation:
- Section Leader
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The Awatea Mutiny
Mr. Harrison describes helping to organize a protest against the cramped, unsanitary accommodations aboard the troop ship. The mutiny fails due to lack of support from the other troops.
Nuttin' but Mutton
Mr. Harrison describes with some humor the endless diet of mutton aboard ship, and proceeds to discuss how the weather affected their escort vessels.
Overpaid Rickshaws
Mr. Harrison describes the Canadians' tendency to overpay rickshaw drivers in Kowloon. Soon there seem to be no drivers around. Mr. Harrison speculates that the rickshaws were parked in favor of visits to the local bars.
Evacuation to Hong Kong Island
Mr. Harrison is initially involved in a rearguard to protect the retreating British at Kowloon. The rapid Japanese advance forces the Canadians into a very disorderly evacuation to the island.
Escape from High Ground
Mr. Harrison is promoted to sergeant on the battlefield, and leads his men, under extreme pressure from the Japanese, to a secure location. After nightfall, he orchestrates an escape to the valley in an old sedan with four flat tires.
Final Battle
Mr. Harrison describes raking the advancing Japanese with Bren gun fire and grenades, exacting a heavy toll on the enemy. This allowed the Canadians to safely retreat to the Aberdeen Reservoir. The following morning the island of Hong Kong is surrendered.
Taken Prisoner
Mr. Harrison describes the details of his forced march to Sham Shui Po camp.
Rations
Mr. Harrison describes the fact that cooking rice was a skill the Canadians took a while to master, with serious gastrointestinal consequences. Other than rice, watery green tea and a bit of bread were all they had to eat.
Kai Tak Airport
Mr. Harrison describes sabotaging the concrete mixture used on the runway extension.
Sudden Blindness
Mr. Harrison is reading one night when he suddenly becomes totally blind.
Dr. Crawford and the Kamloops Kid
Mr. Harrison admires the dignity with which Dr. Crawford endured abuse at the hands of the Kamloops Kid, who would slap him around every time he requested medications for the ill.
Garlic Therapy
Mr. Harrison is able to purchase garlic, which he initially uses to flavor his rice. As an added benefit, garlic helps alleviate the symptoms of pellagra. In fact, his septic sores heal completely.
Beri Beri
Mr. Harrison describes his experience with both dry and wet beri beri. Although he suffered with 'electric feet' from the dry beri beri, his worst experience was with wet beri beri, where the swelling from fluid in his lower limbs caused his toes to split open. He thanks his doctor for one night of morphine induced sleep.
Diphtheria
Mr. Harrison describes an attempt by a captured Indian doctor to get a horse, which would enable him to make diphtheria serum; the request is denied. However, when the epidemic became a threat to the Japanese, serum was made available.
Payne's Note
Mr. Harrison expresses his shame at allowing a note to the parents of his friend Johnny Payne to fall into the hands of the wrong person.
Cigarettes as Currency
Mr. Harrison describes the importance of cigarettes as currency in the camps.
Voyage to Japan
Mr. Harrison describes being tested for dysentery prior to being shipped to Japan. Aboard the ship, the men are housed with boxes of ammunition. The vessel leaks so badly that even the Japanese guards don't wish to go aboard. Arriving in Japan, he is sent to a camp in Nagoya.
Working in a Foundry
Mr. Harrison describes his 10 - 11 hour work day in the Nagoya foundry, and the risk of being burned by splashed or spilled molten metal. He also describes another risk, earthquakes which would shake the foundry.
Avoiding Amputation
Mr. Harrison describes his ordeal with gangrene, which almost results in the amputation of his toes.
Incremental Punishment
Mr. Harrison discusses how complaints about how the men are being punished only leads to harsher treatment by the Japanese. The complaints stop!
Extra Protein
Mr. Harrison describes being given pickled locusts as a protein supplement, much to the distaste of many prisoners.
The War Ends
Mr. Harrison describes the events in his camp the day that the Japanese capitulate. The elation is dampened by the unfortunate death of a young American pilot who crashes beside the camp.
Homecoming
Mr. Harrison describes returning home and his happy reunion with his family. His one regret was having to answer questions from those whose loved ones hadn’t returned.
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