Charles Gesner van der Voort (1916-1991) worked in Shanghai for Holland-China Trading Company, from 1939. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, the Japanese entered the International Concession of Shanghai. Life changed considerably for nationals of countries which the Japanese considered enemies. Radios, cameras, cars had to be handed in. It became forbidden to visit cinemas. People had to wear armbands to be easier to recognise. A letter indicated the country: A=American, B=British, N=Netherlands, X=other nationalities.
In March 1943, Charles Gesner van der Voort was interned in Chapei (now: Zhabei) Civil Assembly Centre, along with about a hundred other Dutch nationals.
15 August 1945, the internment camp was liberated. The final months, especially knowing that the war in the Netherlands had ended in May 1945 and when the food rations had reduced considerably, had lasted very long for the people interned.
Several people who were interned in Chapei shared their drawings and stories with me.
A photo of this drawing was probably received at a Chapei reunion, attended by Hans and Nel Hennus. Former internee Felix Carrady recognised the drawing as made by Bob Hekking.
The Hekking family had lived in Shanghai from 1912 (Dutch National Archives, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China, Consulate General (Shanghai) (1852) 1877-1945, inventory number 00228). The father, Louis Adriaan Hekking was born in the Netherlands East Indies, Surabaya, in 1891. He was an insurance broker. The mother, Johanna Maria Hekking-Hildebrandt, was born in 1902 in St. Thomas, Alabama. Bob Hekking [Bobbie in newspaper articles at the time] was born in Shanghai in 1923 and his sister Liesje was also born in Shanghai, in 1926. Liesje and Bob won swimming contests in Shanghai. Bob is mentioned in a book: "Expatriate adventures", by Fred Richardson. "On one occasion, a Japanese column of troops marched to the border with the French concession near the Whangpoo River, seeking to march through the short distance to exit on the opposite side, in occupied Chinese territory. The French refused access, ignoring the Japanese officer in charge, who became increasingly irate. The Frenchman ignored him, thus forcing him to march the full length of the French Concession west to where it ended, then around back to the other side, a long march. The French Police officer said to Bob Hekking, a young Dutchman whom I knew from the Shanghai American School, about four years ahead of me, "This is France". "
In the North - China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette 5 July 1939 (courtesy ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chinese Newspapers Collection), Bob Hekking's drawing talent is mentioned, in an article with the headline "More and More Opportunities, Mr. W.J. Hawkings Presents Awards at Western District Public School ; Bright Future Seen." "Royal Drawing Society's Examinations, candidates entered 83, awarded honours 83, full certificates, R.J. Hekking, M. McEuen, A. Siman, and L.K.G. Wahamaki."
Bob Hekking's memoirs, courtesy Hekking family archives, include a copy of this drawing, and have the following caption: "CHAPEI INTERNMENT CAMP LOCATED NORTHWEST OF SHANGHAI, IT EVENTUALLY HELD 1 100 INTERNEES. IN THE CENTER OF THE PICTURE IS THE WEST BUILD-ING, ON THE RIGHT IS THE EAST BUILDING. THE SHED IN FRONT OF THE EAST BUILDING SERVED AS THE SCHOOL, CHAPEL AND THE THEATER AND HOUSED THE CAMP LIBRARY. THE SHED AT THE FAR RIGHT WAS THE CARPENTER SHOP."
Greg Leck, Captives of Empire: The Japanese Internment of Allied Civilians in China, 1941-1943, Shandy Press, 2006, p. 439: "Originally planned as an American Camp, the American Relief Association oversaw the organization and equipment supply for Chapei. It was located about seven miles from the Bund, on Chung Shan Road, on of the principal highways encircling Shanghai. Comprised of nineteen acres, the premises were originally those of the Great China University, which had been endowed by the Chinese Overseas Merchants guild in 1930."
In March 2017, Greg Leck wrote to me: ”Chapei is still standing – the East Building was knocked down but the West Building is in use as classrooms. Now known as East China Normal University, 3663 Zhongshan N Rd, HuaShiDa, Putuo Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200062. It was also known as Zhongshan Road before WW2, but it was at the very edge of the city then, with fields all around. Now it is surrounded by skyscrapers.”
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