The One Legged Chinese Admiral Chan Chak escapes with the 2nd MTB Flotilla

Vice-Admiral Chan-Chak Chaushek 1894 - 1949

 

Vice Admiral Chan Chak

The Legendary One Legged Chinese Admiral

There were four members of the National Military Council of China in Hong Kong led by Vice Admiral Chan Chak Chaushek who acted as the Chinese-British Commander-In-Chief. He was the Commander of the South China Navy. Colonel Yee Shiu Kee of the Chinese Secret Service was the Admiral's 2nd in command,  Flag Lt-Commander Henry Heng Hsu was the Admiral's ADC, and his Coxswain Yeung Chuen who acted as his bodyguard.

Vice-Admiral Chan-Chak Chaushek was appointed to be granted the dignity of an Honorary Knight Commander of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.). on 19th August 1942.  He was presented with the award by the British Representative at Chungking on 4th November 1942. 

The award was for his services leading the escape of the 2nd MTB Flotilla and escorting Senior Officers from Fortress HQ. He was known as the legendary "one legged " Chinese Admiral, the Nelson of the East who was loaned to the British forces in Hong Kong by Chiang Kai Chek when the Japanese invaded on 8th December 1941.

Colonel Yee Shiu Kee was last seen on the bullet riddled boat in Aberdeen South where the Admiral received a bullet in his left wrist. He escaped via Aberdeen Island separately. General (then Colonel) Yee Shiu Kee was appointed to be granted the dignity of an Honorary Commander of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.). on 16 July 1942, and attended a presentation at Chungking on 24 October 1942 held by the British Representative

The Admiral's right hand man, Lt-Cdr Henry Hsu Heng was appointed to be granted the dignity of an Honorary Officer of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.). on 19th August 1942.  He was presented with the award by the British Representative at Chungking on 4th November 1942 at the same ceremony as Vice Admiral Chan Chak.  Born 6 December 1912 in Kwangtung he was a great athlete, and became an International Olympic Committee member 1970-1988 As well as being a member of the  Chinese Taipei Parliament 1972-1986 Henry is married to Amy (deceased) with three children, (one boy & two girls) living in Taipei.

Guerilla leader Leung Wing Yuen was awarded the M.B.E. for guiding the party through the Japanese lines to free China. Admiral Chan Chak also had Leung Wing Yuen re-instated into the official Chinese military.

It was at Suikwan that Chan Chak started to read the Christian Bible given to him by Henry Heng Hsu while Henry found the MTB's at Aberdeen Island. He converted to Christianity from Buddhism after Henry saved his life prior to boarding the MTB's at Aberdeen Island, and was baptized at the Union Church in Chungking in 1943 and adopted the name "Andrew"

Chan remained in Chungking for the remainder of the war.

Admiaral Chan Chak with his Coxswain Yeung Chuen

Admiral Chan Admiral Chan Chak with Commander Hugh Montague and again with his Coxswain Yeung Chuen.

 

Admiral Chan Chak, Cdr Montague, & David M MacDougall

David MacDougall, Cdr Hugh Montaghu, General Yu Han Mow and Admiral Chan Chak with Col Owen H Hughes at Kukong 6th January 1942

Vice Admiral Chan Chak kept the bullet removed from his left wrist, and had it mounted on a gold chain to wear on his lapel as a permanent reminder of his incredible escape from Hong Kong. After the war Chan became the first post war Mayor of Canton.

Chan's exploits during the 18 day battle and the epic escape are the stuff of legend. He became known as the Nelson of the far east after the legendary Vice Admiral Lord Nelson.

The bullet that was removed from Admiral Chan Chak's wrist along with his pocket watch.

The bullet that was removed from Chan Chaks wrist

 

The Author with Donald Chan in 2005

The Author with Vice Admiral Chan Chak Chaushek's son Donald Chan

Having met Donald and Mason Chan several times I would like to express my pleasure in meeting and becoming friends with such nice people. They came to my part of the World and insisted on wining and dining me as a token of their and the whole Chan family including Henry Hsu's appreciation for the research and effort in building and publishing this web site. Let me say it has been my pleasure, it has been a fascinating journey researching the events that led up to and including the epic escape from Hong Kong on Christmas day 1941. This all started with a short newspaper article and a few photos with minimum detail after the death of my father in 1977. I never in my wildest dreams imagined the huge response I was to get when I published the original one page site requesting information all those years ago. I have had hundreds of Emails from all over the World from survivors and descendants of those involved. I thank you all. Without the strength and resourcefulness of Admiral Chan Chak I would not be here today. I am pleased that his extended family down the generations have had the pleasure of reading about their forefather who was a giant amongst men. May you all enjoy a healthy, happy, and extended life.  

. Admiral Chan Chak & Mayor of Canton

A portrait of Chan while Mayor of Canton in 1945 with the bullet removed from his wrist on a gold chain on his left lapel. The KBE presented to Admiral Chan Chak.

Click here to read some tributes to Admiral Chan Chak

Chan Chak became the first post war Mayor of Canton after the Japanese surrender in 1945. He held this post for one or two years. After this period he worked at organizing the underground resistance in Chunking and Canton. His death was announced unexpectedly on 1st September 1949 aged56. On August 31, 1949, Chan had a party at his residence. His wife Leung Siu Chee had just passed away two months earlier in Hong Kong. Amongst the guests at Chan's party was Leang Yung Yuan who of course had aided in the Admiral's escape in 1941. The following day Chan was found dead, he had suffered stomach ulcers during the escape and the doctor said it had flared up and burst.

Admiral Chan Chak

Chan Chak was born in 1894 in Sar Kong Village, Man Cheung City, Hainan China. When Chen was three his father took him to Singapore to make a living. His father was a messenger between Hoi Nan and Singapore. He also pulled the rickshaw on the side. Chen came back to his homeland at 8. By then he had two brothers. He became the leader of the village boys. When they played battle games, he won constantly. Although Chen's family was very poor, he was fortunate to attend primary school. He was a high achiever and a hard worker. Chen used all his pocket money towards books. He also attended secondary school.

Chan lost his leg as a young man after cutting his foot and failing to get medical treatment it became infected and finally he had to have his leg amputated.

Max Oxford, Chan Chak, & Henry Hsu 17th March 1944 Vice Admiral Chan-Chak Click here to read more on the Admiral Lt-Cdr Henry Heng Hsu Click here to read more on Henry Hsu Squadron Leader Max Oxford RAF

Squadron Leader Max Oxford ,Vice Admiral Chan Chak, & Cdr Henry Heng Hsu on 17th March 1944

Admiral Chan Chak & Sq-Ldr Max Oxford

Admiral Chan Chak and Sq-Ldr Max Oxford

Admiral Chan accepting the Japanese surrender

Admiral Chan Chak counter-signing the instrument of Japanese surrender in Canton 19th August 1945

 

An exhibition in the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defense is planned to celebrate the incredible achievements of this legendary figure to coincide with the 68th anniversary reenactment of the incredible escape. Members of the Chan family and first and second generation descendants of other escapees will retrace part of the escape rout from Aberdeen to mainland China at Christmas 2009 in memory of this epic journey.

 

Admiral Chan Chak's grave

Donald & Duncan Chan at their father Admiral Chan Chak's grave in Hong Kong

 

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