Page 142 - GFA – A Different Drumbeat
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GFA – A Different Drumbeat 142
assistant and my secretary live with me and we have the happiest little home in the
place.”
Later, in 1947, his assistant Elvina was 66 “and getting decidedly frail”. He was 60 years
old in that year. In June he retired from Butterfield & Swire
1947 was a turning point in their relationship. They had their own home and Elvina was still
living with them, but now they made a clear decision to be a couple. In a letter to Gladys
and Leslie who were now settling in Canada, he said:
“Sophie has put her financial interests together with mine, and I think that if we hang
on here for a year or two we shall make a killing. One thing is definite and that is
that Sophie and I will stick together. We have got a lovely home here (most of the
furniture is hers) and we both feel that either is the complement of the other Elvina
contributes her share of making a real home. She is a wonderful woman but she is
now 66 and shows signs of failing, but she is a dear. Sophie complains that when
there is any difference of view Elvina always throws her weight on the side of ‘Mr
Findlay’. I am writing to assure you both how happy I am and how wonderfully
looked after. Naturally I look forward to the day when our ways may be joined and I
am sure that you will love Sophie.”
1948 and 1949 were tumultuous years in China. The Communist liberation had crossed the
Yangtse and by October 1, 1949, when, after a near complete victory by the Communist
Party of China (CPC) in the Chinese Civil War, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's
Republic of China (PRC) from atop Tiananmen (“The Gateway of Heavenly Peace”).
Although politically unsettled, and often dangerous, GFA and Sophie carried on with their
lives as normally as possible. Sophie kept herself busy as Vice President of the Shanghai
Russian Women’s Hostel, which had been set up to provide subsidized lodging for Russian
working girls with low pay. With the help of GFA and Georg Soderbom (more . .)she raised
11 million Chinese dollars for repairs, food and clothing.
GFA continued his involvement with refugees. Here are some snippets from his letters at
the time:
“We are now reaching our total evacuation of stateless Russians to the Phillipines of
nearly 4,000, apart from which we have shipped off 3,500 Jews and others to
Palestine, Australia, Europe and elsewhere sinve I joined the office at 1/12/48.”
“Geneva sent word that I was entitled to draw living and rent allowances with the
assurance of a fare to London paid at the termination of my work”
“I am busy getting people away to Australia by air, and to Europe and South
American ports by surface transport.”
assistant and my secretary live with me and we have the happiest little home in the
place.”
Later, in 1947, his assistant Elvina was 66 “and getting decidedly frail”. He was 60 years
old in that year. In June he retired from Butterfield & Swire
1947 was a turning point in their relationship. They had their own home and Elvina was still
living with them, but now they made a clear decision to be a couple. In a letter to Gladys
and Leslie who were now settling in Canada, he said:
“Sophie has put her financial interests together with mine, and I think that if we hang
on here for a year or two we shall make a killing. One thing is definite and that is
that Sophie and I will stick together. We have got a lovely home here (most of the
furniture is hers) and we both feel that either is the complement of the other Elvina
contributes her share of making a real home. She is a wonderful woman but she is
now 66 and shows signs of failing, but she is a dear. Sophie complains that when
there is any difference of view Elvina always throws her weight on the side of ‘Mr
Findlay’. I am writing to assure you both how happy I am and how wonderfully
looked after. Naturally I look forward to the day when our ways may be joined and I
am sure that you will love Sophie.”
1948 and 1949 were tumultuous years in China. The Communist liberation had crossed the
Yangtse and by October 1, 1949, when, after a near complete victory by the Communist
Party of China (CPC) in the Chinese Civil War, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's
Republic of China (PRC) from atop Tiananmen (“The Gateway of Heavenly Peace”).
Although politically unsettled, and often dangerous, GFA and Sophie carried on with their
lives as normally as possible. Sophie kept herself busy as Vice President of the Shanghai
Russian Women’s Hostel, which had been set up to provide subsidized lodging for Russian
working girls with low pay. With the help of GFA and Georg Soderbom (more . .)she raised
11 million Chinese dollars for repairs, food and clothing.
GFA continued his involvement with refugees. Here are some snippets from his letters at
the time:
“We are now reaching our total evacuation of stateless Russians to the Phillipines of
nearly 4,000, apart from which we have shipped off 3,500 Jews and others to
Palestine, Australia, Europe and elsewhere sinve I joined the office at 1/12/48.”
“Geneva sent word that I was entitled to draw living and rent allowances with the
assurance of a fare to London paid at the termination of my work”
“I am busy getting people away to Australia by air, and to Europe and South
American ports by surface transport.”
