70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries
11 Nov 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Submitted by brian edgar on Thu, 2012-02-23 16:55Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 11 Nov 1942The men who have been sent to sleep in Stanley Prison (see November 6, 1942) hold a service in memory of the dead of both wars. It's conducted by a medical missionary called Dr. Laurie.
The solemn atmosphere built up by the service is soon dispelled; at 8 p.m. a Chinese electrician who'd been mending lights discovered he'd been accidentally locked in, and for the next hour and a half he can be heard screaming and banging on the gates, while the internees jeer at him.
Source:
George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner of the Turnip Heads, 1994, 118
Note:
This seems to contradict Barbara Anslow's and R. E. Jones''s diaries which both state that the men didn't have to sleep in the Prison on November 11. It's possible that Wright-Nooth misdated a ceremony he assumed would have taken place on that date.
11 Nov 1942, Barbara Anslow's diary
Submitted by Barbara Anslow on Mon, 2012-03-05 18:19Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 11 Nov 194211th Nov - but no official silence.
To choir practice. Edith Batley came.
Peggy Sharpe and Robert Minnitt are engaged. ((Robert a Cadet Officer in HK Govt, worked with Mr Gimson in camp)).
Dr Tomlinson's wife suddenly had to have appendix operation. Mabel's bed has been moved again as Mrs. T needed the corner bed.
The Woods twins Aileen and Doris who had been famous singers in their younger days, were visiting a patient in Mabel's ward when they suddenly saw her ((Mabel)) and whooped 'Oh Bette!' and came over to tell her that she looked so like the film star Bette Davis whom they had met in Hollywood during their singing career. ((Ever after they called Mabel "Bette". Aileen and Doris had stopped singing after their mother (their accompanist I think) had died, but I heard they had sung to patients during the Hong Kong battle. Now in their sixties, very tall and dignified.))
Men don't have to go in the gaol again - suddenly stopped.
I went to St Stephens, heard choir, A.T. Lay playing piano.
News is good, even in Japanese newspaper. Americans have landed in North Africa. Fighting in Libya said to be over.
11 Nov 1942, R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2012-10-31 22:21Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 11 Nov 194211 Nov 1942, WW2 Air Raids over Hong Kong & South China
Submitted by ssuni86 on Wed, 2017-07-12 23:36Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 11 Nov 1942OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton and Hong KongTIME OVER TARGET: ~3:30 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-40E1s from 16th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group, China Air Task Force, 10th Air Force)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: 1st Lt. Robert A. O’Neill and 2nd Lt. George V. Pyles
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: Canton obscured by cloud cover. Pilots observe one destroyer and four medium-sized ships in Victoria Harbor.
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: Three aircraft from unknown unit attempt to intercept the P-40s, but are unable to close within firing range
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
SOURCES: Original mission report in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama
Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).
