From the left, Tony Harris, Polly Hancock, Malcolm Harris and Charlie Hancock. Grandchildren of Malcolm Hancock and John Rideout. See https://thesomme.wordpress.com/malcolm-hancock/malcolm-hancock-john-rideout/ for the full amazing story.

British Resistance marchers today. Cousins Charlie Hancock, left, and Polly, centre, representing our Grandfather, Malcolm Hancock MC. See other pages to read about his remarkable military career in both wars.

Picture: British Resistance Archive.

I am indebted to Ian McLelland for supplying the information below about my Grandfather, Eric Walter Hare and his experience of being repatriated in WW2.

The first – and what became the only – Anglo-Japanese civilian exchange was held at Lourenço Marques in September 1942. On this occasion, around 1,800 Japanese were exchanged for a similar number of Allied government officials and civilians. Among those exchanged were 833 Japanese officials and civilians, including men, women and children, transferred from Australia. The overwhelming majority of the repatriates from Australia had been interned in Australia on behalf of other governments.

In 1942 the British and Japanese governments organised a prisoner exchange via the Portuguese East African port of Laurenco Marques.

One of the press clippings names E W Hare as one of those internees that was repatriated. (In this he was immensely fortunate as this was the only exchange of the war as far as the British/Japanese were concerned at least.)

The ship that brought him back was the NYK liner Tatatu Maru, which was spotted by an American submarine SS Kingfisher) that took a photo of the ship through the periscope, but didn’t attack because it was wearing colours identifying itself as a repatriation ship. I have attached this as well.

The majority of the British internees transferred to ships sailing for the UK, however some trying to return to India, Australia and NZ took months to get back as no formal arrangements had been made for them.

There is a book called ‘Lifeline Across the Sea’ by David J Williams which has a short chapter on this voyage.

Documents state that he arrived in Avonmouth from Sydney on the 28/9/1944, long before the Japanese surrender and that he was resident in Australia.

He then sailed out to New York on his way to Manila, Philippines on the 2/4/1945. The latter is certainly correct as Manila had just been liberated by US Forces.

This ties in with the electoral roll for Sydney in 1943 in which Eric Hare is listed .

Below is Petty’s Hotel, Sydney where he was living.

Contact with various parties in Australia continues to unearth more information about Sid.

First his WW1 Service Medal, The 1914-1915 Star, I believe, has appeared. Apparently, it was handed by a person who attended the 2014 ANZAC Day parade in Toodyay. This person was unknown and nobody got his name. At that time he claims he found them on a tip in the Perth Metro area, and he didn’t wish to see them go to land fill.

Picture from Lost Medals Australia.

Also a Prior to his WWI service, he fought in the Boer War with the 1st NSW Mounted Rifles. He was wounded in action which reported in the papers at the time.

Another fine trip – perfect weather, cycling and history – a great combination!

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I am grateful to Jackie van Bergen of  Ku-ring-gai Historical Society, khs.org.au, for sending me information about Sydney Parkes.

First of all a very fine fine photograph of him. This came from Ancestry and credit to “pmacks1” – I’d be interested in getting in touch.

Secondly his conscription poem.

I am pleased to have found a picture of Sydney from RSL Virtual War Memorial. I am obliged to Mark Tucker for directing me there. A photograph adds so much to the character. He looks much like I have imagined him – a tough professional soldier!