Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 27, 2014 22:57:49 GMT 12
This is a great story, from the New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25036, 28 October 1944, Page 6, via Papers Past.
ESCAPE TO CHINA
PRISONER OF JAPANESE
AUCKLAND NAVAL OFFICER
After being a prisoner of the Japanese since the fall of Hongkong, Lieutenant R. B. Goodwin, R.N.Z.N.V.R., of Auckland, has escaped to China. His mother, Mrs E. E. Goodwin, of 6 Bella Vista Road, has recently received letters written by him in Kunming.
He was one of the first ten New Zealand yachtsmen to be selected as probationary sub-lieutenants early in 1940, and he served at Singapore and eventually Hongkong, where ho was wounded in the thigh and captured. He was cared for in a hospital and a convent before being imprisoned in Camp N., Hongkong.
While he was a prisoner of the Japanese, only four letters were received from him by his mother. The last, received in January of this year, had been written in 1942. Cablegrams and letters from him have recently arrived from China, and a cablegram received this week stated that he was now in Delhi.
In his letters from Kunming, Lieutenant Goodwin gives little information about his escape, but one of the letters, received by a friend, includes a light-hearted reference to his journey of over 750 miles from Hongkong to Kunming, in the province of Yunnan.
Varied Means of Transport
"One of these days I will be able to tell you about my journey from Hongkong," states the letter, "I started off by walking, did a bit of swimming, sailed a sampan for a while, was carried a few miles in a chair, did more than ten miles riding pillion on a bicycle over a rough cross-country track, about 120 miles in river boats, and 650 miles in an old motor-truck, keeping just a nose in front of the 'Nips' over that distance. I came the last 550 miles 12,000 ft up in a transport plane."
Lieutenant Goodwin gives an amusing description of his ride on the back of a bicycle through several villages. "News of my coming preceded me and the local troops were drawn up," he continues. "My driver speeded up and rang his bell continuously as we approached, the bicycle bounced and ricochetted off big rocks, and I was struggling to keep mounted. I had an umbrella in one hand and a big bouquet of flowers in the other, and I was trying to acknowledge the welcome of the head man of the village and take the salute of the guard of honour at the same time. The rider just kept on going with his bell clanging, and the only distinct memory I have of the complicated series of manoeuvres I attempted is that I did stay on the bike."
Effects of Inflation
"My time here so far has been spent in eating, sleeping, writing up my reports and strolling about through the city and countryside," the letter .continues. "The only snag is that I am caught here under orders not to leave the country until certain interviews have taken place."
Referring to the effects of inflation in China, Lieutenant Goodwin states that the short-term lease of the building he was in expired at the end of September. The previous rental was 50.000 dollars a month, and the new monthly rental asked was 400,000 dollars. A haircut cost him 180 dollars, and lunch at a hotel 600 dollars. There are all kinds of exchange rates in operation, he states. At the worst the lunch cost £7 10s, and at the best black market rates 11s 3d.
Educated at the Bayfield School and the Auckland Grammar School, Lieutenant Goodwin is a well-known yachtsman. He had considerable success in racing 18ft yachts and was a member of the crew of the yacht Teddy on its cruise to Sydney. He was employed in the Land and Deeds Department in Auckland before going overseas.
ESCAPE TO CHINA
PRISONER OF JAPANESE
AUCKLAND NAVAL OFFICER
After being a prisoner of the Japanese since the fall of Hongkong, Lieutenant R. B. Goodwin, R.N.Z.N.V.R., of Auckland, has escaped to China. His mother, Mrs E. E. Goodwin, of 6 Bella Vista Road, has recently received letters written by him in Kunming.
He was one of the first ten New Zealand yachtsmen to be selected as probationary sub-lieutenants early in 1940, and he served at Singapore and eventually Hongkong, where ho was wounded in the thigh and captured. He was cared for in a hospital and a convent before being imprisoned in Camp N., Hongkong.
While he was a prisoner of the Japanese, only four letters were received from him by his mother. The last, received in January of this year, had been written in 1942. Cablegrams and letters from him have recently arrived from China, and a cablegram received this week stated that he was now in Delhi.
In his letters from Kunming, Lieutenant Goodwin gives little information about his escape, but one of the letters, received by a friend, includes a light-hearted reference to his journey of over 750 miles from Hongkong to Kunming, in the province of Yunnan.
Varied Means of Transport
"One of these days I will be able to tell you about my journey from Hongkong," states the letter, "I started off by walking, did a bit of swimming, sailed a sampan for a while, was carried a few miles in a chair, did more than ten miles riding pillion on a bicycle over a rough cross-country track, about 120 miles in river boats, and 650 miles in an old motor-truck, keeping just a nose in front of the 'Nips' over that distance. I came the last 550 miles 12,000 ft up in a transport plane."
Lieutenant Goodwin gives an amusing description of his ride on the back of a bicycle through several villages. "News of my coming preceded me and the local troops were drawn up," he continues. "My driver speeded up and rang his bell continuously as we approached, the bicycle bounced and ricochetted off big rocks, and I was struggling to keep mounted. I had an umbrella in one hand and a big bouquet of flowers in the other, and I was trying to acknowledge the welcome of the head man of the village and take the salute of the guard of honour at the same time. The rider just kept on going with his bell clanging, and the only distinct memory I have of the complicated series of manoeuvres I attempted is that I did stay on the bike."
Effects of Inflation
"My time here so far has been spent in eating, sleeping, writing up my reports and strolling about through the city and countryside," the letter .continues. "The only snag is that I am caught here under orders not to leave the country until certain interviews have taken place."
Referring to the effects of inflation in China, Lieutenant Goodwin states that the short-term lease of the building he was in expired at the end of September. The previous rental was 50.000 dollars a month, and the new monthly rental asked was 400,000 dollars. A haircut cost him 180 dollars, and lunch at a hotel 600 dollars. There are all kinds of exchange rates in operation, he states. At the worst the lunch cost £7 10s, and at the best black market rates 11s 3d.
Educated at the Bayfield School and the Auckland Grammar School, Lieutenant Goodwin is a well-known yachtsman. He had considerable success in racing 18ft yachts and was a member of the crew of the yacht Teddy on its cruise to Sydney. He was employed in the Land and Deeds Department in Auckland before going overseas.
