Born in Liverpool on the 19^th June 1881 Duncan John Sloss became a founder member of The Aliens Rugby Union Club based at Clubmoor.

He went to Oulton School, which before 1906 was a pupil teacher's centre. These were in effect secondary schools for intending teachers and in 1906 it became a State Secondary School. After WW1 in 1919-1920 he held a William Noble Fellowship (English Literature) in the University of Liverpool. He went on to teaching appointments in the Universities of Liverpool and Leeds.

Mr. Sloss was responsible, in collaboration with Professor J. P. Wallis (then Professor of English in the University of Pretoria), for the publication of a critical edition of "The Prophetic Books" of William Blake (2 volumes, Oxford Press, 1926).

[Ancestry.com]

[Passenger list 28th Dec 1912]

He had a distinguished career in the Indian Educational Service having served as Professor of English Literature first at His Highness the Maharaja’s College at Trivandrum in Travancore

The B.A. honours courses in English and History were started in 1914. Provision for the study of Natural Science (Biology) in the Intermediated Course was made in 1922. The school section of the institution continued to function in the same premises till 1919. In October of that year the school was shifted to a new building at Vanchiyoor and the whole of the old building was given over to the College. The strength of the college, that year, was 561. By 1923 it arose to 837 and there was great pressure for additional accommodation. Therefore in 1924 the Government decided to separate the Arts and Science Departments, This step, which is known as the bifurcations’ was given effect to at the beginning of the academic year 1924-25. The new institutions that came into being as result of the bifurcation were called H.H. The Maharaja’s College of Science and H.H. The Maharaja’s College of Arts. The later was housed in a new three storied building about a mile away at Thaikad. After the bifurcation, the Science College was affiliated for the B.A. pass course in Botany in 1924 for the B.A. Honours course in Mathematics in 1925 and for the B.A. pass course in Zoology in 1931. In the Arts College in B.A. Honours Course in Malayalam was started in 1935 and the B.A Honours Course in Sanskrit in 1939. The B.A. Course in Philosophy, though it was the first to be started in the old College, had to be discontinued for many years, as sufficient number of students was not forthcoming. It was however, re-started in 1925 in the Arts College. The strength of the Arts College in 1935-36 was 447 and that of the Science College 937.

In October 1920 the University of Rangoon was established with one of the first professors of the new university being D. J. Sloss (English).

Biology . . . . F. J. Meggitt, M.Sc., Ph.D., F./.S., I.E.S. Geology and Geography (Vacant.) Medicine Surgery Pathology Anatomy Physiology Midwifery and Gynaecology Forensic Medicine Education Civil Engineering Forestry Law Lt.-Col. R. Kelsall, D.S.O., M.D., I.M.S. Lt.-Col. H. H. Scott, O.B.E., F.R.C.S.E., I.M.S. Major R. V. Morrison, M.D., I.M.S. Lt.-Col. L. A. H. Lack, M.B., Ch.B., I.M.S. (on leave) ; N. Ahmed, F.R.F.P. & S., L.M., M.B.B.S. (O/fg.) Major George R. Me Robert, M.D., M.R.C.P., D.T.M. & H., I.M.S. Lt.-Col. S. T. Crump, I.M.S. (on leave}-, Major M. L. Treston, F.R.C.S., I.M.S. (Offg.) Lt.-Col. T. F. Owens, I.M.S. G. F. Clark, M.A., Ph.D., I.E.S. (on leave) \ Miss M. E. Scott, M.B.E., M.A., B.Ed., I.E.S. (Offg.) W. N. Elgood, B.Sc., M.C., I.E.S. (on leave) ; A. J. Gould, B.Sc., I.E.S. (Offg) R. LJnwin, B.Sc., I.F.S. (on leave*) ; R. A. Cochrane, M.A., B.Sc., I.F.S. (O/fg.) A. Eggar, M.A., Bar-at-Law. Principal Anatomy Biology Constituent Colleges and their Staff. (1) University College). Constituent Colleges. (2, judson College ) * UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. .. D. J. Sloss, M.A.(Liv), C.B.E., I.E.S. (on leave) ; L. G. Owen, M.A., I.E.S. Wffg.) . . Professor : Lt.-Col. L. A. H. Lack, M.B., Ch.B. (Edin.). I.M.S. ( on leave) ; Professor N. Ahmed, F.R.F.P. & S., L.M., M.B.B.S., (Otfg.)', 1 Senior and 1 Junior Demonstrators. .. Professor: F. J. Meggitt, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Birm.), F.Z.S., I.E.S. One Lecturer and 3 Assistant Demonstrators.

Established in 1878 as an affiliated college of the University of Calcutta, Rangoon College was operated and managed by the Education Syndicate set up by the British colonial administration. The college was renamed Government College in 1904, and University College in 1920. Rangoon University was founded in 1920, when University College (secular) and Judson College (Baptist-affiliated) were merged. The American Baptist Mission decided to recognise Judson College (formerly Baptist College) as a separate institution within Rangoon University. Rangoon University modelled itself after University of Cambridge and University of Oxford. All subsequent institutions of higher learning founded by the British were placed under Rangoon University's administration: Mandalay College in Mandalay in 1925, Teachers Training College and Medical College in Yangon in 1930, and Agriculture College in Mandalay in 1938.

Although it was attended only by the elites of the day, the university nonetheless was at the centre of anti-colonial movement. All three nationwide strikes against the British colonial government (1920, 1936 and 1938) began at the university. By the 1930s, the university was the hotbed of Burmese nationalism, producing a number of future senior Burmese politicians, including Aung San, U Nu, Ba Maw, Kyaw Nyein, Ba Swe, U Thant and Thein Pe Myint.

1936- The third university boycott occurred. In 1936, the British government granted Burma permission to form a new administration. Most of the legislative members were elected, however, the governor had veto power, and authority to appoint cabinet member. RUSU’s chairman Ko Nu gave an anti-British speech encouraging students to fight not only for student rights but also for independence. One of the articles from the Oway Magazine that was published by RUSU made universities authorities angry. They said the articles criticised the British administration and the authorities of the university at that time. British authorities gave an order to Rangoon University administrator D.J Sloss to take action against the writer. Sloss demanded that Aung San, the chief editor of the magazine, reveal the name of the writer. Aung San refused to comply claiming that it did not agree with his editorial ethics. Ko Nu was expelled from the university. The university students went on strike. After three months a second university boycott occurred on May 8 1936. There was an all Burma students conference held at the Jubilee Hall, Rangoon. Student representatives from thirty-five towns, university boycotters and many observers enthusiastically attended the conference. Ma Khin Mya of the university moved to establish branches in the schools. This motion was seconded by Ma Thoung Shin of Gyobingauk Township (lower Burma) and Ma Thein Kyi of Bassein Township (Delta Area of Burma) and was unanimously passed. According to Ma Khin Mya, unions needed to be organized at the schools since a network of unions would provide the best organizational framework to safeguard the students’ interests and work in the interest of Burma’s progress towards independence. This proposal marked the first time a woman had initiated a major organizational resolution. During the conference, All Burma Students’ Union (ABSU) was established. Ko Raschit was the first chairman and Ko Aung San became the vice chairman. After ABSU was established, student unions were formed in secondary schools (Grade 7 to Grade 10) throughout the country. ABSU members promoted awareness of the adverse impact of colonial rule in Burma, the socio-economic situation and the longing for independence from the British. They effectively organized people and were able to work together with other organizations as well as political organizations struggling for independence. The National University was reopened.

Mr. D. J. Sloss, C.B.E. MA., has been appointed to succeed Sir William Hornell, C.I.E., LL.D., MA., as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong. Mr. Sloss was educated at Oulton School, Liverpool, and at the University of Liverpool. He had a distinguished career in the Indian Educational Service having served as Professor of English Literature first at His Highness the Maharaja’s College at Trivandrum in Travancore and then at the University of Rangoon. He was, for many years, Principal of University College, Rangoon. He took a leading part in the organisation and establishment of the University of Rangoon and was awarded the CBE in recognition of his services.

Prior to his service in India and Burma Mr. Sloss held teaching appointments in the Universities of Liverpool and Leeds. In 1919-1920 he held a William Noble Fellowship (English Literature) in the University of Liverpool. He has also had considerable teaching experience in schools in England.

Mr. Sloss was responsible, in collaboration with Professor J. P. Wallis (now Professor of English in the University of Pretoria), for the publication of a critical edition of "The Prophetic Books" of William Blake (2 volumes, Oxford Press, 1926).

Mr. Sloss is expected to arrive in Hang Kong during the latter part of October.

An Academic Odyssey A Professor on Five Continents - Norman H. Mackenzie

Group portrait of delegates to an Eastern Group Supply Conference held to discuss the supply of munitions and other goods. This conference led to the setting up of the Eastern Group Supply Council, permanently in session at New Delhi, with representatives from the United Kingdom, India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, plus a representative of the Army Council and Imperial General Staff, who, after a Central Provision Office had decided questions such as priority of needs and other military details, brought before the Council the demands of the forces in the eastern Group. The Council then had to decide from which country or countries it would be best to obtain supplies.

Armies & Commanders

Governor Sir Mark Aitchison Young Major General Christopher Maltby 14,000 men

Lieutenant General Takashi Sakai 52,000 men

Battle of Hong Kong - Background:

Final Preparations:

The Battle of Hong Kong Begins:

Retreat to Defeat:

Aftermath of the Battle of Hong Kong:

Subsequently known as "Black Christmas," the surrender of Hong Kong cost the British around 9,500 captured as well as 2,113 killed/missing and 2,300 wounded during the battle. Japanese casualties in the fighting numbered 1,996 killed and around 6,000 wounded. Taking possession of the colony, the Japanese would occupy Hong Kong for the remainder of the war. During this time, the Japanese occupiers terrorised the local population. In the wake of the victory at Hong Kong, Japanese forces embarked on string of victories in Southeast Asia which culminated with the capture of Singapore on February 15, 1942.