Bernard Society talk by Walford Gillison
The Bernard Society hosted local Wells resident Mr Wallford Gillison who took the pupils through the story of he and his parents living in China during WW2. A mixed audience of pupils, teachers and parents learned of travels up the grand canal, prisoner of war camps and good commandants versus bad.
Walford Gillison was the child of two missionaries in China when the Japanese declared war on Britain in December 1941. From then until 1945 he and his family were three of over 600 prisoners in a set of buildings intended for 200. During his talk we learned of how they survived the privations and their very complicated relationship with the Japanese guards.
This was a fascinating and humbling talk attended by a wide range of parents and pupils; for the latter it was the first and possibly only time they will meet a veteran of World War Two. For our Chinese pupils in particular, Walford’s insights into life in pre-Communist China were fascinating. Perhaps most touching of all was his message of hope and toleration – coming from someone with such an amazing life experience this really struck a chord. Walford’s experiences are also available as a book: ‘An English schoolboy in war torn China‘ (2021).
Walford Gillison was the child of two missionaries in China when the Japanese declared war on Britain in December 1941. From then until 1945 he and his family were three of over 600 prisoners in a set of buildings intended for 200. During his talk we learned of how they survived the privations and their very complicated relationship with the Japanese guards.
This was a fascinating and humbling talk attended by a wide range of parents and pupils; for the latter it was the first and possibly only time they will meet a veteran of World War Two. For our Chinese pupils in particular, Walford’s insights into life in pre-Communist China were fascinating. Perhaps most touching of all was his message of hope and toleration – coming from someone with such an amazing life experience this really struck a chord. Walford’s experiences are also available as a book: ‘An English schoolboy in war torn China‘ (2021).
