Chinese Temple

Chinese temple used as billets for Australian soldiers, 4th Australian Bulk Petrol Company, but shared by an aged Chinese priest called 'Wong', who vigorously repelled all attempts to move him to other quarters. He insisted on remaining to conduct the ceremonies which his deities desired. It was incongruous to see the unit's washing being boiled in a huge bronze jar, ornamented with lion's heads and dragons and to sit down to a meal of bully beef and dehydrated cabbage among the gold and red pillars, plaques and votive tables, while Wong, quite undisturbed by the intrusion of Western soldiery, went about his rituals as usual, Labuan.