The British War Medal 1914-20 awarded to Lieutenant T. J. J. Fenwick, 18 Squadron, Royal...

The British War Medal 1914-20 awarded to Lieutenant T. J. J. Fenwick, 18 Squadron, Royal Air Force, late Private Middlesex Regiment, a D.H.4 observer who served with the ‘Ace’ Captain G. W. F. Darvill, M.C., D.F.C for at least 2 of his victories in 1918. A pre-war employee of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Fenwick returned to banking with them in Hong Kong during the Second World War. He was present at the Fall of Hong Kong, and made a daring escape from the Japanese via a Sampan with another banker

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. J. J. [sic] Fenwick. R.A.F.) good very fine £120-£160

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Thomas James Johnston Fenwick (also listed as ‘James Johnston Fenwick’) was born in Chicago, United States of America in November 1895, and resided at 38 Jay Street, Perth, Scotland. He was employed as a Bank Clerk by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in London, and initially served during the Great War as a Private in the 16th (Service) Battalion (Public Schools), Middlesex Regiment in the French theatre of war from 17 November 1915. Fenwick was commissioned in to the Royal Scots Fusiliers in August 1916, before transferring to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Scots, and then to the Royal Air Force in May 1918. After carrying out initial training as an Observer, he was posted for operational flying to 18 Squadron in France. The Squadron flew DH.4’s on bombing raids, and Fenwick found himself crewed on several occasions with the ‘Ace’ Captain G. W. F. Darvill, M.C., D.F.C.

Fenwick flew with Darvill for 2 of his 9 victories, on 9 and 12 August 1918. The Combat Report for the latter adds the following detail:

‘Whilst returning from bombing Somain this E.A. disengaged himself from a formation of about 15-20 E.A. He dived on the tail of my machine from 300’ above. My Observer [Fenwick] opended fire with a double (speeded up) Lewis gun firing 2 drums. The E.A. went down completely out of control in a steep, fast spin from which he was never seen to recover.

This combat was seen and is confirmed by Lieut. Christie of No. 22 Squadron, R.A.F.’

After the war Fenwick returned to the employment of the bank, and was stationed in Hong Kong during the Second World War. He was present during the fall of Hong Kong to the Japanese, and like many European bankers was kept out of the Stanley Civilian Internment Camp for several months. This was done to enable the liquidation of the banks’ assets in favour of Japanese financial institutions. Men like Fenwick were used to sign bank notes, and such notes signed after the fall of Hong Kong became known as ‘duress notes’ as they were signed under compulsion. This caused concern in London, and a plan to smuggle out bankers with signing authority was formed. Agents of the British Army Aid Group were used to approach the civilians in secret, and Fenwick was one such banker. The following is given the accompanying article, The Dark World’s Fire: Tom and Lena Edgar in War:

‘Members of HKSBC had also been kept out of Stanley. They were living in a waterfront hotel, formerly a brothel, while they helped the conquerors loot the Bank’s holdings, a process which they did what they could to frustrate. Every morning they were marched to work from their squalid accommodation.

Although they were working under duress - threats were made to themselves and their families if they refused to co-operate - they were treated well by the civilian Japanese staff supervising them.

Two bankers, T. J. J. Fenwick and J. A. D. Morrison, made a daring escape to freedom with the help of Chinese operatives - ironically these pillars of finance capital were almost certainly assisted by the communist East River guerillas, whose columns formed the most powerful force of the anti-Japanese resistance in Hong Kong and the adjacent area. The bankers carried with them important financial information which they passed on to the British authorities.’

Fenwick and Morrison escaped by Sampan to Free China, and from there back to the UK. Fenwick returned to Hong Kong in 1949, and continued to work for the bank. He retired and split his time between Cape Town, South Africa and Perth, Scotland. Fenwick died in South Africa in March 1985.

Sold with extensive copied research.