The Beatles World Tour in 1964 - Hong Kong

Please see the request from David Redle (2GR ’60-63) below. Please can you circulate to any likely starters who may have been in HK 8-10 Jun 1964 and who may have attended the Beatles Concert in HK, Princes Theatre to get in contact with David Redle. His email address is davidredle@btinternet.com

Email transcript
I have a very unusual request. My son Thomas is currently involved in a research programme for an American media company on the Beatles world tour in 1964. Hong Kong was part of this tour. They were in HK from 8-10 June 1964 and held a concert on the 9th in the Princes Theater, Kowloon before an audience of 1000 people. At the time a ticket cost HK$75.00. I suspect the 50th anniversary of this tour in 2014 will be the subject of a media programme.

In June 1964 I understand the 1st battalion were stationed at Queen’s Hill Camp, Fanling [know it well myself!] before they returned to Borneo between the 17th and 31st of July 1964. The big question is, did any of the junior officers at the time attend this concert? If so my son would be very grateful if they could help him in his research to give a brief report on their experience at this concert. I know this is almost an impossible request as even the junior officers at the time are in their 70s today and may not want to admit they were a Beatles fan some 48 years ago!

Thomas has spent the last two months on this project in HK and has so far located 4 people who were at the concert. One of those is now dead, so he is very limited on first hand impressions and is trying every possible source to find anybody who was at the concert. I also understand that one of the battalions of the 7th Gurkha Rifles were stationed in HK at the same time and perhaps a mixed party of officers [and wives?] went to the concert together?

I understand the SWB were the island Battalion at that time.

Many thanks

David Redl

David,

I believe the 1st and 2nd Battalion locations were as shown below. The 1st Battalion was stationed in Kowloon at Gun Club Hill Barracks in Kowloon with B and Sp companies (at the start of the tour) stationed at Erskine Camp in the New Territories. We did carry out border duties at various locations and Fanling was one of the satellite bases. The 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers served there in (1930–34)(1963–66).

Apr 1964: Germany: Minden 11 Bde	1946 Japan
Apr 1966: (Cyprus) United Nations	1947 Arrived Singapore from Japan. Moved to Malaya
Nov 1966: Germany: Minden 11 Bde	20 Mar 1948: Arrived Liverpool from Singapore. Moved to Wrexham
Apr 1967: England: Honiton	31 May 1948: Reduced to a cadre of 1 officer and 3 soldiers, then disbanded. Final ceremony at Buckingham Palace 15th July 1948
Jul 1969: Hong Kong	April 3rd 1952: Re-formed at Tidworth
Mar 1972: Northern Ireland: Londonderry 8 Inf Bde	May 4th 1953: From Tidworth to BAOR (Lüneburg) (note: some parties moved to Wrexham for Coronation ceremonial-based duties, including Colour Party, a composite based on A Company, but with representatives from all companies, the Corps of Drums, Pioneers and Goat. They re-joined the Battalion in Germany on 22nd July)

David,

I expect your son is already aware of this site but it does give details of their Hong Kong Tour. http://www.bcmagazine.net/hk.bcmagaz...le%20ray.shtml

Amongst other things, it would appear that The Princess Theatre, the venue of the Beatles’ performances, opened in 1952 on the corner of Nathan and Kimberly Roads. It was a 1,726-seat venue that showed first-run English language films until 1970 before showcasing Mandarin variety shows. It was demolished in 1973 to make way for the Hotel Miramar. The Beach Boys played two shows there in 1966.

Although on their first evening in Hong Kong, the Beatles were invited to appear at the Miss Hong Kong pageant in the President Hotel where they were staying (they were too tired to go, though John Lennon made a brief appearance), the odds are that they never made it across the harbour to the red lights of Wanchai: Drummer Jimmy Nicol, Ringo’s temporary replacement, was the only one able to roam freely around Hong Kong. Paul McCartney tried going out, even getting two suits made (haggling with the tailor until the price fell from HK$160 to HK$100), but eventually had to retreat back to the hotel.

I wish your son all the best in his research

Why is he asking if any junior officers were there.Is he not interested in the opinions of other members of the Battalion who may have attended the concert ?

1 RWF did go to Singapore in 1962 as Spearhead Bn due to Bruni troubles. Next visit to far east, as Bob has said, was to Hong Kong in 1969.