Myrtle Bailey and the Japanese Invasion and Occupation of Hong Kong

This is my third entry in my miniseries on the newspaper articles mentioning my great grand aunt, Myrtle Bailey. She lived through extremely interesting historical times in her life as a missionary to China and Hong Kong in the first half of the 20^th century which can be broken up into approximately one major historical event per decade, so I’ve divided the miniseries into decades. In the 1940s, Myrtle lived in Hong Kong during the surprise Japanese invasion and subsequent occupation of Hong Kong. She also participated in the repatriation exchange of women, children, diplomats, prisoners of war, and other nationals between Japan and the United States/Canada and other allied nations in 1942.

This decade’s news articles about Myrtle constituted a cross between those of the 1920s and the 1930s for me, in that, like the articles from the 1920s, they did tell an exciting story of what happened, albeit all in retrospect, and, like those from the 1930s, provided many clues for my contextual history research to flesh out the story.

”Missionary Returning”
18 August 1942, The Findlay Republican Courier, p. 13.
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Transcription:

MISSIONARY RETURNING

Miss Myrtle Bailey Expected to Arrive Here From Brazil Soon

Miss Myrtle Bailey who has been a missionary in Hong Kong China for 26 years is on her way home. Miss Bailey wrote her sister, Mrs. Phillip A. Snyder, that she expected to be here within the next two weeks.

The letter was sent from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and dated August 1 so that her arrival is now expected daily. This is the first letter Mrs. Phillip Snyder has received since last November. Miss Bailey visited here five years ago.

”Missionary Now Home”
14 September 1942, The Findlay Republican Courier p. 12
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Transcription:

MISSIONARY NOW HOME

Miss Myrtle Bailey Hastens Last Lap of Trip from Hong Kong Due To Death of Niece

Miss Myrtle Bailey, for 25 years a missionary in China has returned from Hong Kong to Findlay, which is her home city.

She came in on the steam ship “Gripsholm,” the refugee ship landing in New York City on August 23. Miss Bailey was two months on the voyage across two oceans. She was very weary so was resting for a Few days in New York when she received the sad news of the death of her niece, Mrs. Christine Buntz, victim of an auto accident last week.

Miss Bailey came on immediately and is now with her sister, Mrs. Pauline Snyder, 535 Tiffin Avenue, where she will remain for the present.

            "Missionary will tell of Hong Kong”, 

19 September 1942, Findlay Republican Courier, p 13.

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”

Transcription:

MISSIONARY WILL TELL OF HONG KONG

Miss Myrtle Bailey to Speak at Assembly Of God Sunday Evening

The Sunday evening service at the Assembly of God, 406 East Sandusky St., 7:45 p.m. will be missionary in nature. Miss Myrtle Bailey from Hong Kong will tell of her experiences during the invasion by the Japs. Her topic will be “Hong Kong under the Fire of Japanese Bombs.”

Miss Bailey has spent 20 years as missionary in China. She was surrounded by the Japanese military authorities for several months and was among those recently arrived in the United States under the exchange agreement between the two nations.

At 10:45 a.m. service, the pastor, Rev. Benson B. Compton will speak on “a yoke for two That.” It will be the fourth and last of a series of sermons the pastor has been presenting on that theme. The Sunday school lesson, “The Valley of Dry Bones,” is at 9:30 a.m.

”Missionary tells of Bombings” 21 September 1942, The Findlay Republican Courier, p. 3
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Transcription:

MISSIONARY TELLS OF JAP BOMBINGS

Myrtle Bailey Relates Experiences in Attack on Hong Kong

“Hong Kong thought it was prepared, but it was caught off guard, “ Miss Myrtle bailey told the Assembly of God, 406 E. Sandusky Street, Sunday Evening.

Miss Bailey has spent 20 years as a missionary in China and lived in Hong Kong during the Japanese bombing.

“The Japanese crept in from the back, camouflaged by weeds and grass. They were in front of Hong Kong before the British saw them move, “ Miss Bailey said. On the ferry on British soldier told her that the Japs outnumbered the Allies in Hong Kong 20 to 1.

“The attack was sudden,” the speaker continued. “First the bombers set fire to the aerodromes then they stormed the warehouses where a two year food supply was stored. The Allies could do nothing but retreat to Hong Kong Island, “ she said.

Most of the damage was done in the tenement districts. Most of the government buildings and banks were saved, she explained.

Miss Bailey said she lived on the mainland at the very edge of Hong Kong’s foreign settlement, next to the Chinese section. The Japanese took the house opposite her for Red Cross headquarters. Three others near her were taken for barracks. One Jap officer lived on the second floor of her home. “They just took what they wanted, “ Miss Bailey said.

The speaker said she was never interned in a camp but was virtually a prisoner in her own home for seven and a half months. She had almost given up hope when word came that she could leave.

When in China Miss Bailey established two missions, two schools, a boys’ and a girls’, opened a Bible school, and kept 15 orphans in her home.

A Red Cross shipment of food stuff was used to aid Hong Kong. Miss Bailey said she had eight large bags in her home when the bombings came. Fifty people were in her home during the bombings.

“I know what starvation is,” Miss Bailey said. “The older girls knitted for the Japs to get food, and the younger girls sold candy and cakes on the streets. We sold our furniture – everything, even to the typewriter.”

Finally word came through a Red Cross representative that she could leave but could only take four suitcases with her. She was on the Japanese Ship Asama Maru until she reached Lourenco Marques. There Gripsholm picked up the refugees and brought them to New York. There were 500 to 700 missionaries on the ship, she said.

”Missionary Will Speak to W. M. S.”
29 September 1942, Findlay Republican Courier, p 5.
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Transcription: 

Missionary Will Speak to W. M. S.

The Women’s Missionary Society of St. Paul’s Evangelical Church will meet at 730 o’clock Wednesday evening, September 30, in the church auditorium.

Miss Myrtle Bailey who has spent 25 years in China will give a talk on conditions among the Chinese people and tell of her trip homeward. Both men and women are invited to attend this meeting to hear Ms. Bailey speak.

Mr. M. S. King, president, will have charge of the business meeting. The program committee also has arranged the following numbers for the program.

Devotions in charge of Mrs. Hoker; solo by Mrs. Vera Hummel; outline of new study book by Mrs. Gladys Scothorn; women’s quartet; offering in charge of Rev. L. H. Naumann.

”Leaving for China”
20 September 1947, Findlay Republican Courier, p 9
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Transcription:

Leaving for China – Miss Myrtle Bailey, who has been visiting with her sister, Mrs. Pauline Snyder, 535 Tiffin Ave., will leave today for San Francisco where she will embark for Hong Kong to return to her work in the mission field which was interrupted by the Japanese invasion five years ago. The mission school and girls school has resumed operation while Ms. Bailey hopes to get a boys school and Bible school started.

 By 1953, all Protestant missionaries had been expelled by the communist government of China.  

• First in series: Myrtle Bailey and the Second Chinese revolution 
• Second in series: Myrtle Bailey and the Second Sino-Japanese War  

Myrtle Bailey and the Second Sino-Japanese War

This post is the second entry in my miniseries on the newspaper articles mentioning my great grand aunt, Myrtle Bailey ) (1880-1970). She lived through extremely interesting historical times in her life as a missionary to China and Hong Kong in the first half of the 20th century, about one major historical event per decade; so I’m dividing the miniseries into decades. This second post covers the mid-to-late 1930s when Myrtle lived through the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War. 

The articles I found on Myrtle for the 1930’s were less a story in and of themselves than those in the prior decade, but they provided significant keys for my historical context research. 

Myrtle remained in the Orient as a missionary, now in the British Colony of Hong Kong, for the next several years. During that time, she started and ran four schools. But in or about late 1935 she was injured and sent home to Findlay Ohio for approximately a two-year furlough to heal. She also spent part of that time giving fund-raising talks to numerous churches.

”Will Tell of China” Findlay Republican Courier, 14 November 1936, p8
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Transcription:

WILL TELL OF CHINA

__________

Miss Myrtle Bailey of Hong Kong, Will Describe Mission Work in Far East

__________

Miss Myrtle Bailey, missionary from Hong Kong, South China, who has returned here for a furlough after 19 years in the field, will speak at Bethel Temple, on Ash Ave., Sunday at 11 a. m. and 8 p.m.

Miss Florence Cannell, a coworker who has been in China for five years, will assist Ms. Bailey in the services. She is a native of the British Isles.

Ms. Bailey will wear Chinese apparel during talks at various churches here during her stay.

"To Hear Missionaries” Findlay Republican Courier, 24 November 1930, p3
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Transcription:

TO HEAR MISSIONARIES

__________

Two Women Home from South China to Speak at Mount Olivet Tabernacle Wednesday Night

Miss Myrtle Bailey and Mr. Florence Cannell, missionaries on furlough from South China, will speak at 8 o’clock Wednesday evening at Mount Olivet Tabernacle, 109 North Blanchard Street.

Ms. Bailey is a native of Findlay and a graduate of the Christian and Missionary Alliance school at Nyack N.Y.

Ms. Cannell has been a public speaker since the age of 12.

Rev. O. C. Ballard, pastor, said special music was expected to be furnished by Mrs. Phyllis Frye and Mrs. Christine Buntz of Findlay.

[Phyllis (Snyder) Frye and Christine (Snyder) Buntz are her nieces.]

”Missionary to Speak”, Findlay Republican Courier, 17 April 1937,  p10
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Transcription:

MISSIONARY TO SPEAK

________

Miss Myrtle Bailey, Home from Far East, to Tell Hazards of Work in the Field

Miss Myrtle Bailey, a former Findlay woman who has been in missionary work in the Far East for several years, will tell of the hazards and trials of a missionary in an address at the Lynn Street Church of God at 7:45 PM Sunday. Her subjects will be “What Are the Duties of a Missionary.”

An accordion solo by Harold Todd and a cornet solo by Mrs. Phyllis Fry, will be given.

[Phyllis (Snyder) Frye is her niece.]

”Bible school to grant diplomas” Findlay Republican Courier, 7 May 1937, p 5
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BIBLE SCHOOL TO GRANT DIPLOMAS

___________

Annual Commencement Exercises to Be Held at 8 O’clock This Evening

___________

Commencement exercises will be held at the Bible and Missionary Training school, Lima avenue, at 8 o’clock this evening, open to the public. For diplomas are to be awarded by the principal, Mrs. E. H. Wurmser.

The graduates are Miss Louise Reimen, Cleveland; Mrs. Edna Brand, Cleveland; Miss Jane Westcott, Exeter, Can.; and Miss Edith Gales, Melrose, Mass. 

Following is the program for the exercises:

Song, by school. “Jesus Is Coming Soon,” by Howard E, Smith.

Scripture reading and prayer, Rev. John E. Norton, Findlay, returned missionary from India.

Address, Mrs. Edna brand, “the Power of God.”

Chorus, “Study to Show Thyself Approved,” by class.

Missionary address, Miss Myrtle Bailey, Hong Kong, China.

Duet, “That Gentle Call,” Herbert G. Tovey, Miss J. Cobb, Miss Ruth Haley.

Address, “A Vision and Call,” Ms. Louise Reimen.

Chorus by the class, “All Power Is Given unto Me.”

Awarding of diplomas, Principal Mrs. E. H. Wurmser.

Duet, “Have I Forgotten,” H. Mosel, Mrs. Edna Brand, Miss Louise Reimen.

Prayer, Mrs. John E. Norton.

The children school of instruction and training will have a Junior recognition program at 2 PM Saturday. Stereopical (sic) views of child life in China, will be shown by Miss Myrtle Bailey and Ms. Josephine Cobb, missionaries on furlough. Refreshments will be served to the juniors in the dining rooms of the Bible school, at the conclusion of the program.

Myrtle was given permission to return to Hong Kong at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War  (1937-1945).   On the date of the below article (but likely not yet known to the general U.S.), the Japanese invaded and eventually captured Nanking, the capital of the Republic of China. The invasion later became known as the Nanking Massacre. (See The Rape of Nanking, by Iris Chang, a popular nonfiction book on the subject, first published in 1997. My parents gave it to me for my birthday some years ago; I’ll never be able to forget it.[My parents know that I've read extensively about WWII, about both the European and Pacific theaters; it's not a weird present for me.])   

”War-torn China goal of woman” Findlay Republican Courier, 13 December 1937, p3
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Transcription:

WAR TORN CHINA GOAL OF WOMAN

Without Fear Miss Bailey Leaves Findlay to Resume Missionary Work The

On a "go-at-your-own-risk" permit issued by the State Department, Miss Myrtle Bailey left Findlay Saturday for war-torn China happy in the knowledge she would be with her Chinese boy and girl Bible students whom she left behind two years ago. Although the country is not now as peaceful as when she left, Miss Bailey has no fears for her safety she told friends. Despite the fact that severe fighting has been going on in many regions of China, Hong Kong has been comparatively unharmed since it is a British Colony and the section is heavily patrolled by the British army and navy so that anxiety is minimized, according to Mrs. Philip Snyder, 524 Tiffin Avenue, with whom Miss Bailey made her home much of the past year. The greatest existing danger, Miss Bailey told her sister, is that huge quantities of munitions are stored in several secret ammunition dumps in the Hong Kong district and a stray shell or other accident might set one of them off and probably cause a heavy loss of property and life.

Miss Bailey has been a Pentecostal missionary in China for the past 21 years. Injured seriously when struck by a street car in Hong Kong, she spent some time in a hospital and was forced to take a two year furlough just now ending. She has regained her health and was greatly pleased when the State Department gave her permission to return, Mrs. Snyder said. Having lived among her charges so long Miss Bailey has become deeply attached to her charges and regards Hong Kong as her home. Three assistants have been conducting the two English and Bible schools she established during her absence.

Miss Bailey is now en route to the Pacific Coast and on arriving in San Francisco will embark immediately for China. During her visit Miss Bailey addressed numerous gatherings.

______________________________________________________

First in series: Myrtle Bailey and the Second Chinese Revolution 

All newspaper articles found at NewspaperARCHIVE.com

52 Ancestors: #7 Don B. Snyder (1918-2012)

When I was young my Mom would talk about family members from when she was younger. I remember her talking about "Uncle Don in the Army & Uncle Don in the Navy" in WWII. This is "Uncle Don in the Army."

Don B. Snyder was my grand-uncle, my grandfather's youngest brother. I decided to write about him this week because I'd been adding transcriptions of newspaper articles to my Ancestrydotcom tree this weekend and he has, by far, the most newspaper articles written about him. He had an exciting young life; he may have had an exciting later life too but I don't really know much about that because he moved out of town and stopped making the local paper!

Don was born May 15, 1918 to Philip (age 36) and Pauline (age 27) [Bailey] Snyder; he was the youngest of their five children: Clarence (1910-1884); Christina (1912-1942); Phyllis (1914-2005); Paul (1916-1975) and Donald (1918-2012). He grew up in Findlay Ohio.

In 1935, when he was 17, he started boxing as a featherweight on the local circuit for boxing shows held in V.F.W. club arenas and American Legion Halls. He fought in 3- and 6-round bouts with other local amateurs. The local press said he displayed "a lot of ability and promise" and "handled himself capably". [1] By 1938 and 1939, he had grown into that promise and was headlining fights and competing (& winning) in Ohio Golden Gloves tournaments. Most of the articles I found were describing who was fighting whom and where the impending bout was to take place, and Don was frequently a headline draw for the night's event. But one time his victory was written up with a 7-column large headline!

"SNYDER GIVES APEL TERRIFIC SIX-ROUND LACING
Don Snyder, the 128 pound rubber man, bounced in and out and all over the ring, as he gave Joe Apel, Bowling Green junior lightweight, a terrific lacing in the main six-round go at the V.F.W. club's arena last night before a crowded house.

Apel, a half head taller and 7 pounds heavier, was dropped to the canvas eight times under Snyder's furious two-fisted assault, but the game and courageous Bowling Green battler was still on his feet at the finish.

DOWN FOUR TIMES IN SIXTH
The rubber man's thudding lefts and rights floored Apel in the first and fourth, twice in the fifth, and four times in the last two-minute session. The bell clanged as he hit the resin in the fourth. With two or three exceptions, Apel took nine counts before regaining his feet. The bout, Snyder's fourth straight victory in as many appearances at the club, was easily the most spectacular of any he has fought before the fistic followers." 

As you see by this time in 1938 he was being called "the rubber man"; that was not a description of his boxing skills but because he was working as a laborer for the Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. in Findlay, OH. In 1938 he also joined the National Guard (Company C, 148th Infantry, Ohio National Guard).  There are long stories in the local paper describing Company C's annual 15-day summer field training, usually at Camp Perry in northern Ohio, but in 1940 in the Wisconsin woods, along with several regular Army Units. The articles always listed every man participating: Don advancing from Private to Private First Class to Corporal.

On October 21, 1940, he  and his guard unit were mobilized into active duty with the regular Army and deployed to Camp Shelby, near Hattiesburg Mississippi for where the 148th Infantry, as part of the 37th Division, began a long  training program designed to make it one of the best fighting units in the country. After 16 months of rigorous training, the unit moved to Indiantown Gap and finished off its pre-embarkation training designed for European service. At the end of March 1942, Sgt. Don B. Snyder transferred from Indian Town Gap, PA to Ft. Benning GA for a three-month officer training course.

On September 8, 1942, Don's older sister, Christine (Snyder) Bunts, was killed in a car crash. He was still assigned to Ft. Benning then.  I couldn't tell if he was allowed to come home for the funeral. He was deployed overseas to the Pacific Theatre in November 1942. 

When he entered regular Army service he was single, but he married to Ardyth Lucille Ebersole (daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Virgil Ebersole of Arcadia, OH) while he was serving. I don't have a date for that. I did find a newspaper article announcing the birth of Don & Ardyth's son Philip Ardon (I think they combine Ardith & Don for the middle name) on January 5th, 1943. Staff Sergeant Don Snyder arrived home that day from Camp Carrabelle FL (Army Amphibious Training Center) for a 10-day furlough.

At some point, Don (probably when he went for Officers training when the rest of his unit was deployed to the South Pacific) was transferred from the 148th Infantry, 37th Division, to the 151st Infantry, 38th Division, later known as "The Avengers of Bataan". Don Snyder took part in the battle that won the 38th Infantry that title. The Findlay Republican Courier, wrote his part up as follows, on 16 April 1945:

"Despite Japanese mortar and sniper fire, Technical Sergeant Don B Snyder, of Findlay, leading a platoon of the 151st Infantry, 38thDivision, maintained a continuous supply line to the front in the battle of Zig Zag pass on Bataan. There were no beaten trails through the jungle-like thickets but the platoon was able to keep the supplies moving. Tech. Sgt. Snyder is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Philip Snyder and the husband of the former Ardyce Ebersole of Arcadia. He was a well-known boxer prior to entering the Army and has continued winning numerous titles while in service. Overseas 15 months he now holds the Combat Infantry Badge, the American Defense ribbon, and [?] Pacific and Phillipine Liberation ribbons with two campaign stars."

Image bought from Veteran Graphics

In 1945 he was sent home in a plane on leave because he had been shot in the leg. His left leg is in a cast in the below photograph. Don is on the left, Paul in the middle and Clarence on the right.

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Don seems to have had problems in his marriage in the years after the war as he filed for divorce April 2, 1947. She counter-filed on August 30, 1947, and was granted the divorce on December 30, 1947. However, apparently, they got back together later because their daughter, Cathryn Adele, was born in October 1949.

After returning to work for Cooper Tire and Rubber after the war, Don became active in the union, initially Findlay Local 207, United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America, CIO,  becoming President of the first union in the plant, and being re-elected President after it became the Findlay Local 207, United Rubber Workers of America, CIO. He was also named to the District Executive Board of the United Rubber Workers of America, and represented the union at National Conferences in Omaha NE and Buffalo NY. During that period he also spoke up on behalf of local civic employees, such as the police and firefighters, when they were seeking raises from the city. After he was no longer president of the union, he continued to serve as the chief steward during contract negotiations in 1950.

Someplace between 1950 and 1959 Don moved to Temperance Michigan, as he was living there at the time of his parents 50th Wedding anniversary on March 6, 1959.In Temperance, he became a barber. He was a barber for 30 years, first in Michigan, and later in Toledo, Ohio, and later still, in or near Yankeetown, Florida.

On March 31, 1960, Don married Mrs. Florence Kay (Fry) Crider, of Findlay. The bride wore a navy taffeta dress with white accents and a white orchid corsage. Attendants were Mrs. Bethany Brandenberry, sister of the bride, and Philip Ardon, of Temperance Michigan (Don's son). After a short honeymoon, the couple moved to Toledo, Ohio.  

At some point, they moved to Florida, where Florence died on February 11, 1981. After her death, he moved back to Toledo and retired.

In approximately 1983 he married Florence Zumbrunn-Snyder. Although the marriage was dissolved about a year later on 4 January 1984, according to all the relatives who have talked to me or written me about it, they remained very close for the rest of his life.He lived thirty years longer and died on January 12, 2012. His obituary said that he was survived by his son, Phillip A. Snyder of San Francisco; daughter, Kathryn Gonzalez of Florida; step-children, Cynthia Tutak, Pamela Criger, Denise Naibor and Richard Criger; two grandchildren; 9 step-grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. 

Don's obituary said he was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and a 30-year member of the National Speleological Caving Society. His main hobby was exploring non-commercial caves, mostly in Kentucky. It also said that he deeply appreciated the care given to him by his stepdaughter, Cynthia Tutak and his dearest friend Florence Snyder.

For future research: I need to find something establishing marriage dates for the marriages to Ardyth Ebersole and Florence Zumbrunn; perhaps a copy of the divorce decrees; and much more information to fill in the large blank spaces I have in his life after 1960.

Other Related Posts (links):

Don Snyder's Fall 

A Treasure to Share

Don B Snyder. Part 1 – Riding The Rails 1, Growing Up

Don B Snyder. Part 2 – Athletic Shows

Don B Snyder. Part 3 – Civilian Conservation Corps

Don B Snyder. Part 4: Riding the Rails 2; Coming home

Don B Snyder, Part 5: Joining the Army

Don B Snyder, Part 6: The Pygmies of New Guinea

Don B Snyder, Part 7: The Japs

Don B Snyder. Part 8: Shot in the Leg 

Don B Snyder. Part 9: Army Boxing

Don B Snyder. Part 10: Cooper Tire

Don B Snyder. Part 11: Barber  

Don B Snyder. Part 12:  Caving 

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Federal Censuses: 1920, 1930, 1940

NewspaperArchive.com: 12 February 1935 Findlay Republican Courier p. 9; 18 April 1935 Findlay Republican Courier p. 11; 15 April 1938 Findlay Republican Courier p. 10; 16 July 1938 Findlay Republican Courier p. 2; 30 June 1939 Findlay Republican Courier, p. 5; 9 August 1940 Findlay Republican Courier, p. 13; 21 October 1940 Findlay Republican Courier, p. 2;31 March 1942 Findlay Republican Courier p. 12;6 January 1943  Findlay Republican Courier p. 6 ; 16 April 1945  Findlay Republican Courier p. 11;   2 April 1947 Findlay Republican Courier. p. 16; 30 August 1947 Findlay Republican Courier p. 7; 3 0 December 1947 Findlay Republican Courier p. 3; 21 October 1949 Findlay Republican Courier p. 10; 2 April 1960 Findlay Republican Courier p. 9; 3 February 1948 Findlay Republican Courier p. 6; 11 March 1948 Findlay Republican Courier p.9; 15 May 1948 Findlay Republican Courier, p. 18; 3 August 1948 Findlay Republican Courier p. 16; 30 September 1948 Findlay Republican Courier, p. 2; 16 Feb 1950 Findlay Republican Courier p. 9 (I've more articles transcribed on Ancestry Tree. These are just the ones that informed this post.)

Obituary, Toledo Blade January 14, 2012.; Found (by my cousin, Kevin Rainey) at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/toledoblade/obituary.aspx?n=don-b-snyder&pid=155455342#sthash.prUNRYva.kHoQsHsa.dpuf 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)