'Peninsula Hotel, Kowloon, Hong Kong', 1930s

The Peninsula Hotel was built in 1928 and was the site of the official surrender by the Governor of Hog Kong, Sir Mark Aitchison Young (1886-1974), to the Japanese in December 1941. During the occupation by the Japanese the hotel was reserved for officers and high-ranking officials.

This photograph forms part of a collection relating to Private Henry Chick of 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own). Private Chick died in October 1942, while a prisoner of war of the Japanese.

Hong Kong was attacked by Japanese imperial forces in December 1941. The assault was co-ordinated with the attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own), a machine gun battalion, had joined the garrison in 1937. After a week of fighting the colony surrendered on the 25 December 1941.