South East Asia

Early 20th. century expatriates might well have travelled to the Far East for a specific job in a specific territory. However, if you lose track of them in that original location the scope of research will need to be broadened.

The story of Bertie ELLY from Somerset is a tale which takes the reader from the Mediterranean to Hong Kong and then on to Singapore and Malaya before returning to Bath.  A tortured journey for the researcher but one that is not without it's rewards.  There are still gaps waiting to be filled but the main structure of his years away have been established.

The tale of Bertie ELLY from Bath can be found on my Hong Kong Police Ancestors Blog:

Bertie ELLY, Hong Kong Police Constable & very much more

British Consular Staff in China

The British Crown Colony of Hong Kong sat on the edge of the mighty Chinese Empire so it will not be surprising to hear that the colony was used as staging post.  British Consulates were located at strategic points along the China Coast each maintaining their own sets of archives and registers.  Those that have survived can now be found in The National Archives at Kew. 

Many of the early consulate staff had previous service in Hong Kong.  One such man was Henry Fletcher HANCE who joined the Hong Kong Government as a clerk in 1844.  A few years later, in a move aimed at furthering his career, he was successful in obtaining a post in Canton as Fourth Assistant with the Superintendent of Trade for China.  Henry went on to become the Keeper of the Archive whilst his leisure hours were spent in pursuit of his favourite science – Botany.  Henry’s full story can be found on my China Interlude Blog:

Henry Fletcher HANCE

For those interested in exploring the lives of those employed in the British Consular Service in China I can do no better than recommend “The China Consuls:  British Consular Officers in China 1843 – 1943” by P.D. Coates. 

James Edward NEW - Hong Kong Police Constable

The story of PC 99 James Edward NEW 

of the Hong Kong Police

who was recruited from the Royal Marines in 1900

can be found on the Hong Kong Police Ancestors Blog by following this link:

Hong Kong Police Ancestors Blog