The Escape of the 2nd MTB Flotilla

Yeung Chuen 1896-1976

There were four members of the Chinese Liason delegation in Hong Kong led by Admiral Chan Chak who acted as the Chinese-British Commander-In-Chief. Colonel S. K. Yee 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 was his bodyguard.

Colonel S. K. Yee 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 seperately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back: Supt Bill Robinson I.P., W. O. William M Wright HKRNVR, Capt Peter Macmillan R.A.,Capt Reginold Guest 1st Mdsx, Coxswain Yeung Chuen CN, Ted Ross B.M.I.

2nd: David MacDougall B.M.I., Admiral Chan Chak CN, Major Arthur Goring Probyns Horse, Sq-Ldr Max Oxford RAF

1st: Holgar Christiansen MN, Lt-Cmdr Henry Heng Hsu CN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeung Chuen, Coxswain to Admiral Chan

Yeung was born in Yeung Uk village in Lung Chuen County, Guangdong Province, in 1896, the son of a Hakka peasant family. Without the benefit of schooling, but as a fit, strong martial arts practitioner he earned his living as a rickshaw puller in Canton. One day he picked up Admiral Chan Chak,  who left his briefcase accidentally in the rickshaw. The bag contained a large sum of money, and Yeung waited patiently several hours to return it. Impressed by his honesty, the Admiral engaged him as his private rickshaw puller and he eventually became his personal coxswain-bodyguard. The Yeung and Chan families were very close in Canton – their children grew up together and flew kites from the roof of the Yeungs’ home. Yeung Chuen’s personal qualities included optimism, loyalty, generosity and kindness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coxswain Yeung Chuen was at Admiral Chan Chak's side at all times, being a Martial Arts expert.

Photo from "Escape from the Blooded Sun" by Freddie Guest © which had mistaken Yeung Chuen with Henry Hsu.

Admiral Chan chak with his Coxswain Yeung Chuen at Kukong 7th January 1942 where Chan was presented with a shield and flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeung Chuen with his family after the war.

Photo from Yeung Chuen's collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Admiral Chan Chak's son Donald meets Coxswain Yeung Chuen's eldest son Yeung Yue Chung in Nanao 18th July 2009.

Photo from the Chan family collection ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Coxswain with a Big Heart

Yeung Chuen
(name given at birth: Yeung Chi Ho)

Born:               1896
Died:               1976 at the age of 80

Origin:             New North Village (formerly Yeung Uk Village), Lung Chuen County of Guangdong Province

• Born in a peasant family
• He did not go to school, spoke Hakka
• Practiced martial art
• Earned his living as a rickshaw puller in the city of Guangzhou (Canton)

 

How he came to work with the Admiral

Yeung, as a rickshaw puller, picked up the Admiral one day and took him to the anti-narcotics department. The Admiral left his briefcase on the rickshaw. Yeung waited outside for several hours and returned the briefcase to the Admiral when he came out from the meeting place. The Admiral appreciated Yeung’s honesty (there was a large sum of money in the briefcase) and asked if he’s interested in working for someone as a private puller. Yeung then started working for the Admiral and eventually became the coxswain and the Admiral’s bodyguard.

A simple act of honesty changed Yeung’s life.

Family

The Admiral’s family and Yeung’s were very close. Their children grew up together. Yeung’s family lived in a 3-storey building in Canton. The Admiral’s twin son, Donald and Duncan used to fly kites with Yeung’s sons at the rooftop.

After the Escape

After the escape party arrived in Hing Ling, at the request of the Admiral, Yeung changed into peasant clothing, wore a straw hat, carried a gun with him and walked alone for five days back to Hong Kong to pick up the Admiral’s wife and children. On his way, Yeung was stopped by two secret service agents. They pulled off Yeung’s hat, exchanged flashes of acknowledgement, then Yeung was let go.

After Yeung arrived in Hong Kong, the Admiral’s wife informed him that she would leave Hong Kong later on with the assistance of a guerrilla of the name Leung. Yeung then returned to Hing Ling and reported to the Admiral. At that point, the Admiral had to leave for Chung King and told Yeung that he could stay in LungChun. Yeung then returned to Hong Kong one more time to pick up his own wife.

 

Personal

• Yeung was optimistic, honest, loyal, kindhearted, benevolent, and willing to help other people unconditionally, whether they were known or unknown to him, absolutely no questions asked.
  
• 20 or 30 years ago, Yeung was well-known of his benevolence in the areas of Yuet Sau Road South, Man Tat Road South, Chu Kiang Road and Man Fook Road in Guangzhou.
  
• Yeung owned certain amount of farmlands and leased them to peasants. However, when the peasants were unable to tender the annual rent due to poor crops, Yeung did not pursue them for the unpaid rent, he even loaned grains to the peasants helping them to survive tough times.
  
• During the cultural revolution in the 60’s, Yeung’s house was searched and all effects connected to his earlier military life had been seized by the Red Guards. He had also been interrogated by the Red Guards, however, no one ever came forward to testify against him. Although he was branded as counter-revolutionary at that time, he had not been detained and did not suffer any physical bashing, except that he was not allowed to leave the premises of the village for a number of years.
  
• Yeung named his seven sons:

 

	Chung	Kwok	Man	Keung	Chi	Kau	Ching
	中	國	民	強	自	求	正

meant “Chinese people be strong and steer the country towards the right route.”