They Were out in the Field Playing Baseball

We came down and got in the road, evacuated and evacuated until we got to the Stanley (inaudible) where the English was, and they were there when we got there, they were out in the field playing baseball and us up in the hills fighting, was fighting all the time and them playing baseball. When the Japs started dropping those eggs, well then they got out. And another thing, there was the wagon that used to bring the water for the boys and our officers, we were all in line and he says, “Come on over and get some water boys.” So we were going over and I went over and had my cup and this fellow came over, it was an English officer, slapped the cup out of my hand. The fight nearly took up with him and the others with our officer. There he passed me a cup with water and he said, “Here, take a drink!” So our officer told him, he said, “You got no business with our boys, them are our boys. Go and run your own boys. Put them in the hill and let them fight like us fellows.” But they wouldn’t do it.

Mr. Hunt describes the lax and arrogant attitude of the British soldiers.

Hector Hunt

Hector Hunt was born in Pabos Mills, Quebec, on December 9, 1911. His father was the local river guardian. Mr. Hunt was the second oldest of 16 children. He had little schooling, having gone to the woods at the age of ten to cut pulp with his father. He also transported supplies to his father when he was busy on the river. At sixteen, Mr. Hunt started work at the Chandler pulp mill for twenty-five cents and hour. When the opportunity to enlist occurred, he signed up anticipating better wages and lifestyle. He had very little basic training and no live ammunition weapons training. Mr. Hunt served in Newfoundland before eventually being shipped overseas toHong Kong. He was a POW in both Hong Kong and Japan, where he worked in the coal mines near Niigata. Mr. Hunt credits his strong faith for helping him to endure his time in captivity. After completing his service, Mr. Hunt returned home to work in the local mill.