The Migration The War Years - Recollections Marcus Rodrigues Senior's Story KEEP THIS WEBSITE GOING |
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Marcus Rodrigues Senior’s StoryThese recollections have been contributed by my cousin Marcus Rodrigues Jr whose maternal grandmother Lucia is my grandfather Daniel’s sister. These are the war memories of Marcus Rodrigues Senior as told to his son.Hong Kong fell to the Japanese on Christmas Day, 1941. Because of the invasion of Hong Kong by the Japanese Imperial Army, the Rodrigues Family was forced to move to Macau on January 7th 1942.  Upon arrival, we settled in Club Melco for about a week before the girls (Teresa, Geraldina, Rita and Philomena) all went to stay at the Convent Santa Rosa de Lima (see below). This was to be their home for the entire duration of the War.The boys (Alberto, Marcus and Antonio) together with our parents and infant sister, Beatrice then went to Club Sargento. Here we stayed for a year. Alberto Junior slept with others on stage whilst the rest of our family stayed in a single room.  Next we moved to a boat (called Tung Hoi) in the Fun Chi Gai area. This boat was still in service at that time, however as there were alot of displaced people, it was commandeered for accommodation. Just off the docks were buildings where we played. As the boat was not in dry-dock, seasickness was a common problem amongst the children.  Alberto Junior slept in the Cargo whilst the others slept in the Wireless Operator's room. After a year, we moved to Rue Noronha for 6 months before moving onto Rue Entena. There were shops and warehouses. In the picture below, they can been seen stretching from middle right with rows of windows. Six months later, we moved to Rue Volong where we stayed for around a year - for the duration of the War.  The Japanese finally surrendered on 14th August, 1945. Our father went back to Hong Kong first to organise for accommodation. Three months later the rest of our family (except Teresa, who stayed on as a trainee Nun) also went back to Hong Kong. Our family was back in Hong Kong in time to celebrate Christmas in 1945 in Saint Joseph’s Building. Our father worked for Union Insurance before, during and after the War. Even though the War was over, rationing still continued for the next year. I remember that near the site of Lane Crawford in Central was a rationing center. When we arrived in Macau, Dad was 41, Mum was 36, Grandma was 74, Alberto 16, Teresa 13, Geraldina 12, I was 11, Rita 9, Antonio 7, Philomena 3 and Beatrice was a few days old. The most vivid recollection I had were of war planes flying over Hong Kong. Then one day, the schools all sent the pupils home. Alberto Junior, as the eldest, came and collected me from St.Josephs College. We were in Hong Kong for about a fortnight before we were forced to go to Macau. During this short time I recall seeing some of the horrors of war. British soldiers fighting for us were publicly executed and their eyes were removed in front of everyone to serve as a warning. The worst incident was when we were queuing for rations. Our Mum had to ask a man to step aside so that she could get through and join us. He did. To our horror, the Japanese soldiers immediately grabbed him and publicly beheaded him. The Japanese insisted on complete order and discipline. As they were dragging him away, Mum begged the guard and grabbed his legs pleading for the man's innocence. It was useless. Leading up to this, I recall how Dad spent time taking Alberto, Teresa, Geraldina and myself hiking and showing us around the island. Dad did this incase we were indeed invaded. The "big move" to Macau was looked at as a trip for the children. As far as I can recall there were no problems. However for Beatrice, it was different. Beatrice was born in Hong Kong on 5/1/1942 and as the Territory at that time was under Japanese control, Beatrice was technically a Japanese Subject. Beatrice could not have gone to Macau. So Mum Mother had to smuggle her out through the security and onto the boat. This was done by putting her into a "winter glove" which consisted of a single hollow roll of wool with the hands entering either side for protection. Beatrice had to be very quiet. One noise and he entire family would be in trouble. We made it with God's help. In Macau, insects and vermin were rife in the places where we stayed. For example in Club Melco, Antonio was regularly bloated because of mosquitoes. It seemed that only he was badly bitten. I also recall watching rats play and forage for food. This occurred even in daylight and in full view. They were large and so numerous that I was able to see how ingenious they were. For example, one would "cuddle" an egg, flip over and the other rats would drag it back by its tail lying on its back. Rationing of food using coupons was in force. Many people were mugged for these coupons. I with a few others used to watch thieves (boys) grabbing other's coupons and then we would grab from them. This then was the nature of things. The British Embassy also handed out money. Whenever this occurred Dad would take his wife out to dinner at this time and the rest could only envy them. There were various centres for the distributing of food. One was near St. Paulo Church and was supervised by our Uncle Bachi. I had to frequently visit there twice a day for the family rations. To supplement their food, it was common practise to collect food from the girls at Santa Rosa de Lima. Here one of the boys (usually me) would meet one of the girls (usually Geraldine) at the gates. Whatever the girls did not eat was passed across.  Accommodation was normally poor. For example, everytime it rained, our home in Rue Noronha would be soaked through. Also in Rue Entena, we lived so close to a cemetery that it was common to smell the decaying corpses (especially in the evening around dinner time). For me the "best time" was spent at Rue Volong. Here Alberto Junior, I and Antonio slept in a cot loft. It was comfortable, relatively clean and fun. It was during our stay here that Estrella was born. This makes her the only direct Portuguese citizen in the family. Alot of people died in Macau from silly ailments which now adays a few tablets would cure. Our Grandmother (Maria) died of a stomach disorder - Ulcer related (I recall that she always had to eat special soft foods) as did my future wife's father (Victor Castro) at the age of 39 of dysentery. This left her mother Lucia Ribeiro with 6 children. One can only wonder what life would have been if all these people had a chance to finish their education in Hong Kong. If only the War did not occur.... Our Grandmother (Maria) was "stored" in makeshift coffins at San Rafel Cemetery. We kept track of her location by counting the number of windows/doors of the houses along side the Cemetery. However the day came when all of the coffins were emptied into a central pit. Here lies all those who died during the War and did not have money for a proper burial. My future wife's father Carlos Castro is also in this pit. Life in Macau can be compared to Casablanca - a den of thieves, pickpockets and spies. As Macau was neutral, Americans, English, Portuguese, Chinese and even Japanese soldiers all mixed and went about their business. There was alot of tension as people watched armed Japanese walking around. Nothing could be done. There were a lot of undercover soldiers from Chang Kai Shek's Army there and it was not uncommon for them to assassinate the Japanese in broad daylight. Schooling was continued but truancy was common. I went to Scholar Central, whilst Antonio went to Scholar Infantile and Alberto to the Jesuit College. Children would steal anything of value for re-sale for food coupons. In particular, one Eduardo Essa would steel all the brass window supports thereby leaving all the windows in the unsupported position. Boys being boys, I used to smuggle into cinemas by following in with adults. When asked we would point to the adults indicating that we were part of the same family. We also hid in toilets until the show started before they could find a seat. I also recall taking Geraldina to the morgue; Antonio hiding on an air-conditioning ledge looking into a cinema; having only Bangkok rice to eat (red and hard). The end of the War was quite sudden. Unlike the War in Europe, there were indications that Germany was about to collapse. However in our part of the world, the Japanese seemed entrenched in their position. It was because of the two Atomic Bombs which brought about their sudden collapse. Many people have condemned its use. I can tell you that no-one in Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and China (to name a few) objected. When the Japanese had to surrender, they did so to the Portuguese citizens there. As they were neutral, they hoped to get "a fair go". Those that did not have time to find them were slaughtered by the local Chinese in Hong Kong. The only indication on that day was the sighting of a huge number of US Ships in Hong Kong Harbour. As all forms of communication were banned by the Japanese, we had no idea what was happening until the ships arrived.Those who recounted these events to me were my Teacher Ms DaMei and my brother-in-law, Paul Chan (married to Geraldina). I recall that very special day. I was in the streets playing when a hawker arrived trying to sell food. He was shouting out the different produce he had. Then all of a sudden, a chap opened his window and screamed out that the Japanese had surrendered. The street vendor threw down his goods and told everyone not to buy his stuff as it was stale and that he can now start to deliver the fresh items as the war was over. He did this more in the mood of "I am sick of only being able to sell this, thank God we can all have proper food again". I recall every single house opening up. People were all running out yelling and screaming. It was finally over. The night we arrived back in Hong Kong, my Godfather, Uncle Antonio met us and walked with us from the old Macau Terminal to his home on Ladder St. There we had dinner. From there we went up to our new home in St. Joseph's Building. I recall so vividly getting lost in this big place that I had to call out to Mum. She guided me by her voice. In summary, it was an adventure. We did suffer but children being what they are handled it better and made the best of it. The parents and adults were the ones to carry the burden and responsibilities. They did all the worrying. - Marcus Antonio Rodrigues, Snr. “I have been back to Macau many times with my Dad and with other members of that time. Many of the places still stand. Places where, when seen, brings back memories. My father would all of a sudden stop at an inconsequential site and recall past memories. This then is the closest I have and will ever get to experience the atmosphere of War. My father, all the Rodrigues and many others went through this in varying degrees. Their true feelings can never be conveyed - a blessing for this and subsequent generations. I can only imagine the joy and tears of the people on the day the War was declared over.” - Marcus Rodrigues Jr.'' |
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