70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

Shows diary entries from seventy-one years ago, using today's date in Hong Kong as the starting point. To see pages from earlier dates (they go back to 1 Dec 1941), choose the date below and click the 'Apply' button.

  • 10 - 21 Jul 1942, Rev. Buuck's autobiographical notes

    Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2012-06-20 18:17
    Book / Document: 
    Rev. Buuck's autobiographical notes
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Fri, 10 Jul 1942 to Tue, 21 Jul 1942

    ((Dates approximate))

    We passed through the Sundra Straits ((the Sunda Strait)), a narrow channel between Sumatra and Java and a disastrous area for the retreating Dutch at the beginning of the war. For the next 12 days we sailed across the Indian Ocean below the tip of India and Ceylon.

    During this time we were given the opportunity of signing notes and receiving up to $100 for things which could be purchased on the ship, an arrangement worked out between our government and the Swiss.  Our family was allotted $500 but we only drew $50.

    Joseph Alsop, the correspondent, had plans of leaving the ship and getting back into China where he had some connections with the Flying Tigers and needed extra money for sending cables to Washington, especially to Eleanor Roosevelt. I drew $100 for him; later on in the States his father sent me a check for $110.

    • Log in or register to post comments

  • 10 Jul 1942, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2012-06-26 16:52
    Book / Document: 
    R. E. Jones Wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Fri, 10 Jul 1942

    Mrs Ashby brought in some news & she tells us that US planes were over Kowloon on Wed.

    Started in our own kitchen P.M.

    Rain & wind.

    Several bus loads of Chinese, men women & children arrived & entered gaol today. Food rioters?

    No.5 typhoon signal hoisted.

  • 10 Jul 1942, Ella Buuck's wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2012-07-03 17:02
    Book / Document: 
    Ella Buuck's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Fri, 10 Jul 1942

    They say we are going through some dangerous waters. The ship has slowed down and moves carefully. Everyone talks of the volcano and tries to figure out just where it ought to be. Passing through the Straits is quite an interesting experience. The scenery is grand.

    ((The volcano is probably the famous Krakatoa volcano. Then "the Straits" means the Sunda Strait between the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java. Krakatoa is located in the Sunda Strait.))

  • 10 Jul 1942, Barbara Anslow's diary

    Submitted by Barbara Anslow on Wed, 2016-04-13 15:39
    Book / Document: 
    Barbara Anslow's diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Fri, 10 Jul 1942

    After Oriana's funeral, wrote poem:-

    'I have seen the anxious and fearful eyes
    Of a wife who knows that her husband lies.
    I have heard the hopeless moan of despair
    Of a woman whose man is no longer there.
    I have stood by the open grave of a child
    Whose mother stood by while the earth was piled.

    Faithlessness, death – all the risks that attend 
    Attachments on which we would grow to depend;
    I wonder, would this make me hesitate
    Though all other voices say 'Marry thy mate' ?

  • 10 Jul 1942, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Mon, 2016-06-27 13:42
    Book / Document: 
    Eric MacNider's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Fri, 10 Jul 1942

    Strong gale early A.M.

    No. 5 signal up.


Subscribe: If you'd like to receive future pages by email, just enter your email address below and click the 'subscribe' button:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Subscribe to 70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries