I recently aquired a walking stick with the above label, so I had to google it and find out more. I tell you this is a fascinating read and he is officially still missing. Love this bit....
"The latest, as recent as the last monsoon, has Hillpiggy on elephant leading a small group of well disciplined guerrillas near Kuhn Sa's stronghold at Nam King."
Brief Sketch of Sir Jeffrey Hillpig-Smyth
Born London 1910.
As a schoolboy - overweight, few friends, poor student, non-athletic yet polite, called Hillpiggy by the staff.
Harrow 1928.
Sent down from Oxford for indecency, 1930.
Unsuccessfully stood for parliament, as an independent from the small constituency of Looting on the Thames, finishing fourth in a field of three, 1934.
Alcoholic 1935.
Published at his own expense an angry and spirited collection of short essays entitled, Sticks and Stones 1936.
Alcoholic again 1937.
Published a second collection of short essays entitled Mudpuddles and Other Outrages 1938.
Joined Military Intelligence and Engineering; the elite I&E group, 1939.
Assigned to British Special Forces, Mandalay, British East India (Burma), 1940.
Recovering from a minor fall, designed the Military Trekking Stick 1941.
Disappeared while on a morning mini trek within the Special Forces compound. A search party was organised and diligently combed the 3 acre area for well over an hour, sadly to no evail 1944.
Queen Elizabeth II knighted Hillpig-Smyth in absentia, for contributions to British War Protocol 1953.
Officially still missing Sep 1992.
Unofficially, over the years there have been periodic sightings of Hillpiggy in the Burmese jungle.
The latest, as recent as the last monsoon, has Hillpiggy on elephant leading a small group of well disciplined guerrillas near Kuhn Sa's stronghold at Nam King. Further information is available by writing.
Find the Hillpig Society
8/1 Arrak Road Soi 7
Chaing Mai
Thailand 50000
8/1 Arrak Road Soi 7
Chaing Mai
Thailand 50000
The reward of 25 pounds sterling for information confirming Hillpiggy's status remains in effect.
enquiries to teaklimey@hotmail.com
Article curtesy travel-magazine-uk.com
16 comments:
Aw, poor Hillpiggy. Sounds like he had a really tough life.
Have to say I felt a bit sorry for him too, not the best starting of with a name like that!
What a great tale of a life actually lived. Bet he never wanted to be found
Love this wonderful historical story. Very nice piece to have.
I think you might be right Pink.
Indeed Mary and until the other day had never heard of him, so decided to google the name on the cane, never expected this story but glad I found it.
I bought a "Hillpig" walking stick some years ago in Burma, took it out for a walk a few days ago and read the brass plate for the first time - my curiosity was aroused, read with facination about "Hillpiggy),especially how he went missing in a 3 acre compound - sort of reminds one Jim Thompson missing in Thailand
But - a great walking stick, I live on a wine farm in Franschhoek South Africa, and the stick is good for walking and fending off snakes, and the occasional Lynx and rare mountain leopard.
The "unknown said" in the above comment is Joe Kilian, semi-retired Electrical consultant now living on my small wine farm in paradise in Franschhoek SA, making some great Shiraz and Chenin plus Olive oil etc
Love this Pythonesque story - could be straight out of the Michael Palin series of Ripping Yarns.
When a subsequent sighting of him has him in Switzerland training the navy there, the credibility of the most gullible reader finally snaps.
Bought one in Thailand ten years ago. Use it during recovery from knee replacement surgery. Sturdy and reliable.
Use it with rubber tip.
Bought mine from the store in Burma thieland about 15 years ago. Have traveled allover Europe china,marrocco,and in the states and I love it.had it repaired while boating the Danube .it also helped me to walk the pyramids while in Egypt
Jim Thompson aka The Silk King actually disappeared while holidaying in the trees growing district of Cameron Highlands in Malaysia in 1967. Yes like Jefferey Smyth, yet to be found.
Bought mine in Kuala Lumpur many years ago
I bought one at the store in Burma
In 2010 and carried it all over Asia England France marrocco Spain and had it repared on ship while traveling down the Danube it went with me all over the states.i live in san antonio tex
I just lost it at home depot when I left it in the basket I hope whoever finds it enjoys it as much as I did
Looking for another
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