MY CHINA MYSTERY: MISSIONARY GROUPS IN CHINA 1939 TO 1949

These photos are of groups of missionaries (and some others) in China between 1939 and 1949. Most of them have the inscription my father wrote on the back when sending them home to his family in Australia.

Others have no inscription and I can recognise few of the faces. Any help in identifying these people is very much appreciated. I can be reached by email at

ststephenspctam@internode.on.net

October 1939 - On board “SS Nellore”

Back: Frank White, Geoff Malins, Arthur Gunn, Reg Vines

Centre: Hec Hogarth, Miss James, Harry Gould

Front: Mr & Mrs Simpkin, David & Dorothy

Shanghai 1939 “The Aussies”

L-R Geoff Malins, Harry Gould, Frank White

This is the Australian and New Zealand Party in the grounds of CIM Shanghai.

L-R Frank White, Hec Hogarth, Geoff Malins, Harry Gould, Arthur Gunn

Oldest and youngest Australians - Shanghai 1939

- New Australian and New Zealand Party with the Australian Missionaries longest on the field:

Front Row: Mr and Mrs Joyce, Mrs McFarlane, Mr and Mrs Simpkin with Dorothy and David.

Back Row: Harry Gould, Frank White, Geoff Malins, Arthur Gunn

This is the Boxing Day group [Tali 1939]. I think you will recognize most of them.

Front: Miss De Waard, Mrs Simpkin, David and Miss Fershee sitting. Harry, Mr Simpkin and Dorothy standing

Middle: Bill Pape, Doug Muir, Don Cunningham, Ted Holmes, Hec Hogarth

Back: Arthur, Geoff, Steve Knights, myself, Dave Johnson in front and Frank Muir

Our New Year’s Day Picnic [Tali - 1940]:

Theo and Mrs Simpkin with children in front. Miss De Waard. Miss Fershee engaged to Ted Holmes at back on right hand side.

Frank and Doug Muir (Canada) front left

Steve Knights enjoying a joke and Bill Pape near kettle (left)

Centre Group – Harry at back with Arthur near him. Don Cunningham (Canada) between Hec and Geoff.

I am afraid light is getting into my camera.

This is our official photo [Tali 1940]. We decided to have it taken owing to influx of visitors. Miss De Waard is on her way back to her station after seeing Miss Chang on the road to recovery after typhus.

Mrs. Christianson visited doctor for medical advice. She may have to go to Hong Kong for an operation.

Christiansons are with Mr and Mrs Kuhn at Tribes Land. (Read “Precious Things of the Lasting Hills” by Mrs Kuhn. The soldier in the story was nursed by Miss Kemp in my room here – the operation by Dr Harveson was in Hec’s room.)

BACK ROW L-R: Bill Pape & David Johnson (England) Hec Hogarth (NZ) Steve Knights (England) Arthur Gunn (NZ) and Dad

MIDDLE ROW L-R: Doug Muir and Don Cunningham (Canada) Geoff Malins (Australia) Frank Muir (Canada) Harry Gould (Australia)

FRONT ROW L-R: Miss De Waard (USA) Ted Holmes, Mrs Simpkin and heo with two children, David and Dorothy, Miss Kemp (England) Mrs Christianson (NZ)

This is a snap of the Conference [1940].

Front Row L to R: Geoff Malins (Australia), Sam Jeffrey (Canada) John Lockhart (England)

Middle: L to R: Mrs and Mr Vinden (Superintendent) Bishop Houghton Mr Sinton (Regional Director) Mrs McIntyre (Brisbane)

Back: Cyril Prachett (NZ) Mr Fred and Mrs May Kerry (England) Miss Thoering (USA) Miss Cleveland (USA) Miss McLean (USA) Miss Pommer (USA) Miss Bailey (England) Sylv Lewis (Wales) Bill Picton (Wales)

A DAY OUT FOR THE LANGUAGE SCHOOL Tali 1940

The party just after landing, sitting down for morning prayers. A newly planted rice field in foreground.

The sails are made of straw matting and are very heavy and not much good.

Kwanshien 1940 - Chinese men are the Marshall and his bodyguard (two in uniform) and Rev Chia yu-ming D.D. – Principal of the Bible School on the mountain. You will recognise Geoff and Mr and Mrs Purchas. The other foreigner is Mr Ryding, a Canadian Missionary refugee from Honan.

Mr Ryding took this snap for me. The personnel are the same as in the other snap; only you see my dial over the top of Pastor Chia’s head. The Pastor is a fourth generation Christian.

Geoff and I with our Teacher. If you do not know just what Chinese gowns are like, they are divided on each side above the knee (women’s gowns – below the knee), and are very comfortable and warm in the winter especially.