70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

Death of John/Jack Moss from pulmonary thrombosis.

John Moss was born in Fulham on August 20, 1885 and became a boy entrant to the Royal Navy in 1895, serving until 1908. In 1912 he went to Hong Kong to join the Police Force, retiring in 1932. He worked later for the Admiralty as a caretaker with special qualifications (police experience). At some point he married Lily Beatrice (born in London on June 26, 1891). Before Stanley he was held at the Nam Ping Hotel.

The Japanese Army finally takes over day to day control of the Camp, which has been officially the Military Internment Camp since January, but was still administered by civilians. For the first time an Army officer, 1st Lieutenant Hara, takes up residence.  There's a new interpreter too, the already feared Japanese-American Niimori Genichiro.

There is much speculation in Camp as to whether the Army's arrival will make things better or worse. First indications are not promising: it's announced that the weighing of rice will not take account of the weight of the sacks, meaning a cut of about 5% in the rice ration.

Probably as a result of this change, Rudolf Zindel, International Committee of the Red Cross Delegate, finds things get tougher. From now on he has to apply to in Tokyo for permission to visit Stanley, and it takes three months to get a reply. And when he does get into the camp he's no longer allowed to talk with Franklin Gimson.

Sources:

Moss: cause of death: Comendador Arthur E. Gomes, Newsletter, 1 February 2004 (this source gives his year of birth as 1886); date of death, hotel:

http://www.hongkongwardiary.com/searchgarrison/nonuniformedcivilians.html#_Toc43367492 Details of life: http://www.curiousfox.com/history/gtlondon_13.html

Army: George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner of the Turnip Heads, 1994, 207

Zindel: Hong Kong Sunday Herald, September 16, 1945, 5