Page 115 - Three Score Years & Ten
P. 115
“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
Butterfield & Swire Member of Swire Group,
Taipei Branch 88 Chung Hsiao West Road Section 1 (P.O.Box No. 111)
Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Cables ‘Swire’ Telex TP 622 Answer Back ‘Swire’ Telephone 373211
Mr. G.Leslie Andrew 30th November 1971
223 Sixth Street East,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
Canada.
Dear Leslie,
Thankyou for your letter of 11th November, from which I am grieved to learn that Uncle
Findlay, your beloved father and my beloved mentor, passed away on the 24th August. It is most
kind of you in telling me about his last days in detail. In a way I am consoled to learn that he had
received the best possible care and I also feel that it was a release for him when the inevitable end
came.
Uncle Findlay, as you probably know, knew my late father very well and first saw me when
I was a schoolboy. He guided me and tamed me as a wild young man after I joined B. & S. He
taught and matured me during the war years. On many occasions he presented me, as a
Sergeant-Major in the Chinese Infantry, without the slightest hesitation to the many British Brass
Hats. In fact I was the only NCO permitted to enter his private office - almost a sanctum
sanctorum into which admission only a handful of selected ranking officers were permitted. Uncle
Findlay and I spent a lot of time together, travelling extensively. The past is but memories which I
will cherish dearly, and my regret is that I could not do a thing in Uncle Findlay’s last years.
With profound sorrow I am writing this letter on behalf of my colleagues and myself, to you
and the family as condolences, though it can only express very little of what I really feel.
Your letter reached me on the morning of the 23rd November and on the same day we
lowered the Taikoo House flag to half mast. On 24th November I inserted the sad news in the
English newspaper, the China Post, which I am enclosing herewith. I hope I remembered the
names of the children correctly. Incidentally the newspaper is owned by Mr. James Wei who is
also Uncle Findlays friend.
If opportunity arises I will visit you and Uncle Findlay’s tomb in 1972. When I come home I
hope you will allow me to collect his briefcase which he told me years ago that he would like me to
have after he left. The briefcase is well over 30 years old, made with leather of a light brown or
tan shade. It had one compartment for a small typewriter and another with the shape and size
suitable for a bottle. In fact he also kept a corkscrew in it for many years.
With my best wishes to you and Gladys and the children.
Yours cordially,
Dawson (D.Kwauk)
115
Amy Moore
Butterfield & Swire Member of Swire Group,
Taipei Branch 88 Chung Hsiao West Road Section 1 (P.O.Box No. 111)
Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Cables ‘Swire’ Telex TP 622 Answer Back ‘Swire’ Telephone 373211
Mr. G.Leslie Andrew 30th November 1971
223 Sixth Street East,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
Canada.
Dear Leslie,
Thankyou for your letter of 11th November, from which I am grieved to learn that Uncle
Findlay, your beloved father and my beloved mentor, passed away on the 24th August. It is most
kind of you in telling me about his last days in detail. In a way I am consoled to learn that he had
received the best possible care and I also feel that it was a release for him when the inevitable end
came.
Uncle Findlay, as you probably know, knew my late father very well and first saw me when
I was a schoolboy. He guided me and tamed me as a wild young man after I joined B. & S. He
taught and matured me during the war years. On many occasions he presented me, as a
Sergeant-Major in the Chinese Infantry, without the slightest hesitation to the many British Brass
Hats. In fact I was the only NCO permitted to enter his private office - almost a sanctum
sanctorum into which admission only a handful of selected ranking officers were permitted. Uncle
Findlay and I spent a lot of time together, travelling extensively. The past is but memories which I
will cherish dearly, and my regret is that I could not do a thing in Uncle Findlay’s last years.
With profound sorrow I am writing this letter on behalf of my colleagues and myself, to you
and the family as condolences, though it can only express very little of what I really feel.
Your letter reached me on the morning of the 23rd November and on the same day we
lowered the Taikoo House flag to half mast. On 24th November I inserted the sad news in the
English newspaper, the China Post, which I am enclosing herewith. I hope I remembered the
names of the children correctly. Incidentally the newspaper is owned by Mr. James Wei who is
also Uncle Findlays friend.
If opportunity arises I will visit you and Uncle Findlay’s tomb in 1972. When I come home I
hope you will allow me to collect his briefcase which he told me years ago that he would like me to
have after he left. The briefcase is well over 30 years old, made with leather of a light brown or
tan shade. It had one compartment for a small typewriter and another with the shape and size
suitable for a bottle. In fact he also kept a corkscrew in it for many years.
With my best wishes to you and Gladys and the children.
Yours cordially,
Dawson (D.Kwauk)
115
