Philip and Reginald Harding Klimanek in Shanghai, ca. 1931

Philip Harding Klimanek (1883-1965) was born in the Czech Republic, at the time his place of birth was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In ca. 1905 he started to work for Holland-China Trading Company, in Hong Kong.

In 1939, when Charles Gesner van der Voort arrived in Shanghai to work for the company, he was Charles' senior colleague. In a letter home he wrote: "Played chess with Klimanek in the French Club" [translation Pieter Lommerse, the French Club was Le Cercle Sportif Français, a fashionable place to be in the 1930s and it still exists today].

Philip Harding Klimanek was also a juror for the Hong Kong judicial system, which can be found in gwulo.com, for the last time in 1941.
His grandson wrote to me: "Though he had been based in Shanghai before the war we know he was captured in Hongkong on 24th Dec 1941 during the “Battle of Hongkong”. He had been a volunteer with the “isolated Tytan [this should probably be Tai Tam, or Tytam at the time] Godows of the Food Control from November to the end of December 1941” We assume he was involved with food conservation as the Japanese were approaching."

"He was beaten up on capture and needed medical treatment. He was in and out of Stanley camp until the Japanese surrender in 1945. As he was of Austro-Hungarian descent after the war his nationality was hard to determine as his papers and all his possessions had been lost, his health was very poor as a result of how he had been treated during the war. Eventually he managed to get a temporary Czechoslovakian passport in 1948 issued in Nanking China. After a short period in the UK looking for work he returned to the HCTC and was traveling between Shanghai and Hongkong. He retired in Hongkong and returned to England 31st Dec 1950."

Gwulo.com administrator David added a comment about the Tai Tam godown shelters: "I guess he spent that time at Godowns (warehouses) that stored food for emergency use. You can see other examples of this type of godown listed at gwulo.com/hong-kong-shelter-area;

Philip Harding Klimanek was a close friend of Willem Kien, another early HCHC-employee, later to become director of the company. Willem Kien's daughter in law recalls seeing him during visits in The Netherlands, together with his wife Zoia and daughter Sylvia. Also Anneke Knüppe-de Jongh, daughter of former HCHC-employee and director Frans de Jongh, has warm memories of the family, which her family stayed closely in touch with.

Katya Knyazeva helped me to identify the location: "The building in the background is West Park Mansions, 1396 Yu Yuen Road (now Yuyuan Road). Compare here: pastvu.com/p/1326218
In 1931–1933 Klimaneks lived at Park View terrace, across the street, and possibly came to play at the lawn in front of the apartment building."

Courtesy Harding-Klimanek family archives

Taken in: China / Shanghai / Jing’an (show map)

Taken on: January 1, 1931

Tags:

Charles

Shanghai

China

Trading

Company

Handelscompagnie

HCHC

Hong

Kong

Hongkong

blackandwhite

monochrome

gwulo

Philip

Harding

Klimanek

Czech

Cesky

United

Kingdom

Reginald

bicycle

tricycle

vintage

Yuyuan

Road

Yuan

Yuen

West

Park

Mansions

View

Terrace « less

Sets appears in: • Shanghai architecture • Klimanek

Groups appears in: • Fashions Past [The Original Group] • Portraiture Photography (of real people) more » • BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO HEAVEN! • Photography • Portraiture (of real people) • UK • UK Flickr users • 日本語flick'r • B&W • Portrait (real persons only) • Street Documentary: Story, Life, Human Connection • !FlickrSoup for Soul • Portrait★Faces • People in Black & White • Historical places • White and Black • Your Favorite Photos - Unlimited! • CHILDREN'S PORTRAITS • Flickritis: over 87,000 waiting for a vaccine. • Black & White Pictures • Photography Corner • Please don't break the only rule. No rules here! • Vintage Bicycles • White and Black Photography • Portraits in B&W and monochrome • Your photo goes here! no 30/60 • Portraits... Get Closer! • Favorites: 60 • Portraits That Tell a Story (READ RULES BEFORE POSTING!) • Powerful Portraits • People / Adults + Photo Titles • Flickr B&W • Black and White Film • *Inspirational Travel Photos • ANYTHING & EVERYTHING PHOTOGRAPHIC / NO SL/AI • B+W • Views: 10,000 • worldwidewandering - a travel atlas • Shield Of Excellence • I Love Black and White! • Art in Black and White • BW and Sepia • Beautiful Capture • Flickr-Fotografen- Deutschland • ANYTHING Transportation Related (Cars, Airplanes, Bicycles etc.) • Your Best Photography • BW's & Monochromes • **Explore Unexplored!** (10 Favs & No Explored) • Viajar / Travel • Noir et blanc / Negro y blanco / Black and White / Sepia • *Black and White Gallery* • PHOTO NOW • ..:: I LOVE DARK PHOTOS ::.. • Better Than Good • Traveler's Photos • Gold Star Awards Level 1 (1P/3C) • Monochromia BW and toned monochrome only (HIGH quality only!!!) • Black & White LIFE Shot! • calatorind prin.... viatza ( Journey through..... life ) • "Unlimited Photos: No Rules" • I am flickr! - No 30/60 Limit • The Best Picture Gallery! • Sepia Impressions • "Los mejores momentos de tu día" • Flickr Number One !! • This is Excellent • "Black and White Unlimited" • PLANET EARTH OUR HOME • ***FLICKRPEDIA*** House of Knowledge/Please comment on 3 • Nicely Composed • CHILDREN AND PEOPLE OF THE WORLD • Lighting Aspects • !!Perfect Composition!! • CHILDREN OUR FUTURE • Flickr's Biggest Group • Oriental Land • Portraits du monde • Fotografare le persone / Photographing People • ! LO MEJOR DE MI... ARTE Y CREACIÓN ARTÍSTICA !. • ♥♥ People around us ♥♥ • Shadow of a Doubt • Interesting Flickr Photos/Artwork/Videos • Monochrome portraits • MONOCROMO// -Tópico de la semana # • Hand Selected Photographs • Image Gallery - Urban Photos • Fascination and love of life • as beautiful as you want • Paths and People • PLANET EARTH IN BLACK AND WHITE • ***All beautiful shots and many more. • ***Flickr Global • Abecedario de fotografìas: Un silencio interior • *That's MY Photo ! * • The NEW Flickr. "BEST" picts.!! • ♦♦♦ TUTTI I FOTOGRAFI DEL MONDO ♦♦♦ • PHOTOCLASSIC • `The Inspiring Photograph • Photos beautiful • Obiettivo & Fotocamera • [][][]All Welcome[][][] • * * Nossas Vidas / Nosso Mundo * Our Life / Our World * * • Tus fotos, Your pictures, Le tue foto, Tes photos,정의사진 • ♦♦♦ TAGLIO FOTOGRAFICO ♦♦♦ • ♦♦♦ TUTTI GLI SCATTI DEL MONDO ♦♦♦ • "U.K. Photo Gallery" ( All Welcome ) • Portrait Beauty ! • No rules only photos • We Are Free / Somos libres • FLICKERIANS • Fotografías Blanco y Negro / Black and White Photographs • Portrait World (人像世界) • ART BY FOTO • PLANET EARTH TRANSPORTATION • BICYCLES from the past • ≈ monochrome ≈ • Camera Camaraderie • Black and White Film Photography (bwfp) • NATURAL BEAUTY PHOTOS • ᗪiscovery .ᗯorld • [][][]Not only Facebook[][][] • [][][] let's work together for a better world[][][] • [][][]serenity group[][][] • [][][]Uno scatto al giorno.....H.C.BRESSON[][][] • [][][]hung the moon[][][] • ♦♦♦ OCCHIO FOTOGRAFICO ♦♦♦ • THE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB! CORDIALLY YOURS! • [][][] GREAT SHOT [][][] • [][][] Online Photographers [][][] • [][][]Beyond time[][][] • [][][]yokopakumayoko**International Photo Gallery**[][][] • PLANET EARTH BACK IN THE DAY • Portraits and Faces • Open exhibition at Flickr! Post 1 Award 1 ! • [][][]The scent of photography[][][] • !* THE OPEN ART EXHIBITION *GROUP OF PHOTOGRAPHY!* • [][][]La Mascotte **Gallery**[][][] • [][][]100%PERFECT[][][] • Image Portrait Gallery !!! - B&W or Color !!! • [][][]Super Group Photographic[][][] • [][][] Photos of the other world [][][] • Fine Gold • Any Transport • The Best of Black & White ☯ • Union of Free Photographers • Great Images • BLACK & WHITE BONANZA! • The Street Photograph (Black and White Street Photography) • Street Photography - Image of People. • PLANET EARTH IN SEPIA • Beautiful portraits photos • La Crème de La Crème • Urban Views • Flickr OBSESSION' • ♥ ♥ ♥ IMMAGINI - FOTO - SENTIMENTI ♥ ♥ ♥ • Worldwide Flickr Friends • [][][]A world of photography[][][] • Rare Historic Pics • ♦♦♦ PHOTO VERY NICE ♦♦♦ • ☼DIBUJANDO CON LA LUZ☼ - ☼DRAWING WITH LIGHT☼ • My favorite works of my Flickr friends • Ce jour-là... en noir et blanc. • More Than Portraits • -Belle facce (Gruppo)- • Black&White Photo Group • Flickr members of The Netherlands • Your Best Shot For Today • A Photographers View • Flickr Hall of Fame • Memories are photographs that records the heart • Libro de Fotos / Photo Book • [][][] Flickr. DNA [][][] • digital is the devil • NUESTRAS FOTOGRAFÍAS. • Head Gear In Wear • The Photograph Bank • -- Scatti tra luci ed ombre -- • PLANET EARTH URBAN LANDSCAPES • A to Z photography • Galería Siabala • [][][] Modern Times [][][] • dream • Solo Ritratti..Only portraits. • Passion B.&.W. • Solo Belle Foto! Just Beautiful Photos! • Cazadores de Imágenes NO 30/60 • brilliant flickr • [][][] MAESTRI della luce e del colore [][][] • Nederlandstalig vriendenforum • * Everybodys Photo Group *(All Welcome) • Our best collection • Galerie FURORE ! • Photography is Life!! • Locos por afotar • UNITED WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY - No 30/60 Group Limit • A Personal Viewpoint • Photographer's dreams - your favourite clicks • Treasures of the World • PLANET EARTH VINTAGE ARCHITECTURE • 13,000 Views Unlimited 13000 • 10,000 Views Unlimited 10000 • Solo Personas / Only People • 11,000 Views Unlimited 11000 • 8,000 Views Unlimited 8000 • 12,000 Views Unlimited 12000 • 7,000 Views Unlimited 7000 • 9,000 Views Unlimited 9000 • My time behind the lens No 30/60 limits • Black white and grey • The Dark Side Of The Light - No Second Life • C'était HIER...en IMAGES... • Flickr No1 Pics • TOURISM magazine • Your best of the best • Photography with a Story • Photo's passion of the world • We love cameras • Art Museion • Magic of Photography • Great Portraits (10th.Year) • PHOTO WORLD! • Fotografía Principiantes • ㋡ flickr ○● DEPOT ㋡ • !*ALL ARE WELCOME*! • Stunning travel photos from around the World • Shorts wide • Free Expression Photography • ₪ Portraits PEOPLE Pictures ₪ • GREAT PANOS • The Art of Happiness • This is Why I Bought A Camera • Vita es Splendor and friends • Today's Flickr • !*Flickr All Stars*! • "A Fine Romance Group • Black & White people portraits • Street Explorers will not count to 30/60 rule. • GLOW !! • post any photo • [][][] The best pictures [][][] • Flickr Explore It • Explore Flickr (unofficial) • flickr world wide • Image Creative and Research (No 60/30 limits) • -- IMMAGINI DAL MONDO -- • CON CÁMARA Y A DISPARAR • OK Theme • OK Gallery • -- PhotoMix -- • Monochrome Photos Look Best • Black & White Realms • ≼◈≽ B&W ... Senza equivoci ≼◈≽ • Show All Your Photos From Around The World. NO SL/AI • World Street Photography! Full Color and Monochrome. • All pictures Nature surrounding (No 30/60 limit) • Group for all users of FLICKR - No 30/60 Groups Limit • Momentos para no olvidar • Flickr Triple • Noir Passion - URB MAN Project • Black and White Nirvana - No 30/60 Limit • Fotoviajeros • MasterClub • Portraits - World Group [Retratos - Grupo Mundial] • * just photos * no rules please use comment code appreciated • 8000+ Views - No 30/60 • 9000+ Views - No 30/60 • blackwhite mono NO 30/60 LIMIT • In Beautiful Light • The Ultimate Photographer • Compelling Images • Everyday Beauty Everywhere • mundo global de fotografias • Top Ten Relevant / Las Diez Más Relevantes • The Camera Club [El Club De La Cámara] • FAVORITES CLUB - no 30/60 - no SL • Best Photo of the Day! - No AI Images • Tutti i colori del nero • eARTh - awesome on earth fascinating in art (out of 60/30) • Photos (No 30/60 Group Limit) • Flickr Like • The Photographer's Mind • !*Only Your Best*! • The Contrast: Black & White • No Limits Group, opted out 30/60 • ♥ ♫ ☼ THE PHOTO IN ALL ITS FORMS ☼ ♫ ♥ (No limit 30/ • No 30/60 Street Photography • Tonal Melodies • MASTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY • Cinque continenti / Five continents • In honor of the memory of my friend SIGRID HAUG • Black&White - analog&digital - No 30/60 • All great photos - No 30/60 • Flicker Fine Art • L'obiettivo , occhio dell'anima • There`s no limit: Whitout 30/60! • THE PICTURE ONE • Black & White Fine Art Fotografie • ! Your Flickr Photos ! • The Image: For the Love of Photography • Life Through A Hole • FOTOVIAJES • PEOPLE - no 30/60 rule • NO Second Life (opted out 30/60) • ! Fotografiando con Elena y Ricardo. • FlickrCentral2 • Feel...write...share... • www.holgersbilderwelt.de • Black & White - Pictures (No 30/60 limit) • Glimpse into the past • FLICKR INTERNATIONAL - No 30/60 Groups Limit • flick® • Black and White World - The Peoples Gallery • Exploré • Photography is art - La fotografia è arte • Shadows and Moods • AMOR AL ARTE • Transport Scenes That Are Now Lost To History. [No 30/60 limit. • The Human Condition (reloaded) No 30/60 rule • ~Attention Worthy - No 30/60 Limit • No limit - No 30/60 • Buildings are beautiful - no 30/60 limit • flickr: Inspiring captures and art. 2019 • Faces Book • Opt out no limits for art work! • Portrait. Photography. Art. • Flickr (No 30/60 Group Limit) • Pictures (No 30/60 Group Limit) • No 30/60 Flickr - no SL • The best photographs from around the world. • Black&white123 • World Wide Live ! no 30/60 • *ღღ* La magia del fotógrafo *ღღ* • Flickr Photo Album Unlimited & Instant Posting • Photo Feelings • BLACK/ WHITE PICS • Photography at its best ... all welcome • Photography (No 30/60 limit) • Black & White - The Best Photos Ever Taken (No 30/60 Limit) • Photo-Phactory • World of Photography (No 30/60 limit) • THERE IS NO LIMIT FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CREATION • BEAUTY PHOTOS AROUND THE WORLD • An Unlimited Black & White Photography Group • THE MAIN ARCHIVE. • Nice Places to Visit - No 30/60 Limit - Photos & Videos Welcome. • Post Anything You Like. No 30/60 • ***Are You Experienced°°°Film Only*** • General photographs • HoME – House of Monochromatic Exploration • OK B&W & Monochrome • Face Portrait • Flickr Wonders • A Pleasant Shade of Grey • Dal mio punto di vista • b/w instantanέ • EXPLORER PHOTOS FROM 2021 AND ALSO OF THE PAST, • *** VINTAGE *** • As We Were - Life in the 19th & 20th Centuries (Vintage photos & • Bikes-Fahrräder • 10,000 plus views (No 30/60 restriction) « less

Stats: 13,954 views / 15 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: