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Roderick Fry on his family's daring escape from Japanese occupation

In December 1941, as the Japanese made their lightning attack on Pearl Harbour, Hong Kong also came under bombardment and fell two weeks later. 

Marie Broom was trapped in Hong Kong with her four children - not knowing what had happened to her husband Vincent, who'd been working in Singapore. 

As the family faced the  occupation alone, Vincent escaped Singapore. He managed to make his way to India, where he begain a slow and perilous journey east to try to get to Marie and the children.

Their story has been captured in a new book called 'A Message for Nasty', written by Marie and Vincent's grandson, Roderick Fry.

Vincent and Marie around the time they met and were married c.1931 (PHOTO: Broom Family)

Marie c. 1929 (PHOTO: Broom Family)

(PHOTO: Broom Family)

Marie and Margaret on the beach in Hong Kong c. 1934 (PHOTO: Broom Family)

Marie jnr, Cynthia and Margaret on the roof of their building c. 1941 October (PHOTO: Broom Family)

At the end of 1939 Vincent Marie and Cynthia visited Vincent’s parents in Te Puke where Vincent’s dad was coming to the end of his career as a vet. In the photo we can see that Vincent’s mother had lost a leg in a horse and carriage accident in Fiji and the subsequent infection in around 1910. (PHOTO: Broom Family)

Marie Junior and Vincent Junior (PHOTO: Broom Family)

The whole Family back in Hong Kong after the occupation c. 1949 (PHOTO: Broom Family)

The 3 girls in a Hong Kong soft-ball team c. 1950 Cynthia bottom left , Marie middle row far right , Margaret back row far right (PHOTO: Broom Family)

Lizzy visited us in New Zealand at least 5 times. This photo shows her with Roderick's sister Linda c. 1973. Taking care of her as she had done for their mother when she was the same age. (PHOTO: Broom Family)

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.