Page 140 - GFA – A Different Drumbeat
P. 140
GFA – A Different Drumbeat 140
INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ORGANISATION
But the drumbeat that had given rhythm to his life had not gone out of earshot, although it
was not as clear as it had been. GFA still had the urge to help people in distress, so he
assisted organisations, such as the International Refugee Organisation, which were
working in China to resettle the millions of refugees, both Chinese and foreign, who had
been left behind after the War.
In February 1948 he took relief supplies to Inner Mongolia on behalf of UNRRA,26 (United
Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration). During his time with Butterfield & Swire
he had become close friends with John Swire, the Chairman's son, who accompanied him
on this trip. It may well have been that George Soderbom had returned to his home there
and had contacted his old friend GFA for help in his relief work.
John Swire remembers GFA telling him:
"he had decided to give a certain part of his life to God and the remainder to
Mammon." Bentley-Taylor in his
account adds: “But he was prone
to such half-serious, half-
humorous remarks”.
By December 1948 the
International Relief Organisation
had taken over the role of refugee
rehabilitation and GFA joined
them, first with responsibility in
Shanghai, then from May 1949 as
head of their operations
throughout the Far East. He
retained this position until
October 15 1950 when he was
forced out of China following the
Communists’ conquest of China.
Here is a significant letter of
appreciation which he received
when he was due to leave.
Return to Table of Contents
26 United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), was established in 1944 to address the
millions of people displaced across Europe as a result of World War II. Later its functions were transferred to
several UN agencies, including the International Refugee Organization (1947) and the World Health
Organization
INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ORGANISATION
But the drumbeat that had given rhythm to his life had not gone out of earshot, although it
was not as clear as it had been. GFA still had the urge to help people in distress, so he
assisted organisations, such as the International Refugee Organisation, which were
working in China to resettle the millions of refugees, both Chinese and foreign, who had
been left behind after the War.
In February 1948 he took relief supplies to Inner Mongolia on behalf of UNRRA,26 (United
Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration). During his time with Butterfield & Swire
he had become close friends with John Swire, the Chairman's son, who accompanied him
on this trip. It may well have been that George Soderbom had returned to his home there
and had contacted his old friend GFA for help in his relief work.
John Swire remembers GFA telling him:
"he had decided to give a certain part of his life to God and the remainder to
Mammon." Bentley-Taylor in his
account adds: “But he was prone
to such half-serious, half-
humorous remarks”.
By December 1948 the
International Relief Organisation
had taken over the role of refugee
rehabilitation and GFA joined
them, first with responsibility in
Shanghai, then from May 1949 as
head of their operations
throughout the Far East. He
retained this position until
October 15 1950 when he was
forced out of China following the
Communists’ conquest of China.
Here is a significant letter of
appreciation which he received
when he was due to leave.
Return to Table of Contents
26 United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), was established in 1944 to address the
millions of people displaced across Europe as a result of World War II. Later its functions were transferred to
several UN agencies, including the International Refugee Organization (1947) and the World Health
Organization
