A leading military historian once suggested that Stanley Military Cemetery ranks unique in that it is probably the only cemetery which is the resting place of no fewer than five holders of the George Cross.

The latter ranks alongside the Victoria Cross in the British Commonwealth’s gallantry awards system, and is awarded “for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger not in the face of the enemy.”

All citizens of the British Commonwealth are eligible for the honour and it can be awarded posthumously. It was instituted in September 1940 by H.M. King George VI at the height of the London blitz, when there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage being displayed.

All five recipients of the George Cross who are buried in Stanley Cemetery received their awards posthumously. They all fought during the 1941 battle for Hong Kong; were taken prisoner upon the surrender of the British on Christmas Day and during the subsequent occupation, worked for the resistance against Japanese interests. All five men, (four military officers and one senior member of the Hong Kong Colonial Government), were cruelly tortured before execution.

During the course of our visit to the cemetery we will visit each of the graves of these brave men and recount their stories. We will also take the opportunity to visit some other graves of interest in Stanley Cemetery, of both military personnel and civilians, who died during those dark days of the Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong.

The Speaker

Martin Heyes was brought up near Liverpool in the United Kingdom. Upon completion of secondary education he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from where he was commissioned in the British Army, serving primarily in the U.K. and Germany.

Martin joined the Royal Hong Kong Police in late 1975 with whom he served until retirement, following which he worked in the private security sector in Hong Kong.

Martin has always maintained a keen interest in the 1941 battle for Hong Kong and subsequent Japanese Occupation.

He originally worked for the Hong Kong Tourism Board conducting walks of the (then) newly-opened Wong Nai Chong Trail, and in more recent years has worked for local tour company Walk Hong Kong for whom he currently conducts tours of a number of Hong Kong’s WW2 wartime sites.

Martin is married and lives in a New Territories village near Kam Tin.

Time: Meet at 10am. Visit starts when group is assembled.

Meeting Point: Outside Pacific Coffee opposition Stanley Police Station

Admission: RASHK Members HK$100, non-members HK$150

Booking: Please email membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk in advance to reserve your place and pay at the venue