70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries
14 Sep 1944, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Submitted by brian edgar on Wed, 2014-06-04 23:54Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 14 Sep 1944The Canadian Red Cross parcels - two to each internee - are distributed.
These are excellent parcels, and there are enough of them to give out another one on the 21. ((For the contents see R. E. Jones's entry for today.))
In town in it's the first anniversary of the setting up of Rosary Hill Red Cross Home for uninterned and largely destitute British dependents. Delegate Rudolf Zindel marks the occasion with an off-the-cuff speech at dinner:
Today a year ago, the first batch of "Dependants" came up here. They were taking a chance and the rest of you after them were taking a chance. It has perhaps not been an easy year, neither for you, nor for the Administrative Staff, nor for me, but I do hope that you will agree with me that from the point of view of most of you, we did, everything consided, the right thing in moving up here.
In this connection, you will remember that before you came here, I promised you cramped accommodation and modest food both in quantity and quality; I leave it to you to judge whether I kept my word. If more could not be done for you with the money at my disposal, I would like you to remember that from the very same funds with which the Home is kept going, I have to do what I can for the Prisoners-of-War and Civilian Internees in Stanley. I would fail in my duty, and also you would not expect it from me, should I divert one Yen from the Prisoners-of-War and Internees to this "Home" than is absolutely necessary.
I doubt that Zindel believed that last sentiment for one moment. In any case, he will be criticised for spending too much money on Rosary Hill at the expense of Stanley, a charge he denied.
Source:
Rosary Hill: Ex-Tempore Adress GIven by Mr. R. Zindel...on the occasion of the first Anniversary of the opening of the "Rosary Hill" Red Cross Home...' in Archives of the International Committe of the Red Cross (Geneva) BG 017 07-068
14 Sep 1944, Eric MacNider's wartime diary
Submitted by Old Man on Sat, 2014-07-26 15:29Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 14 Sep 19442 Canadian Red Cross Society parcels distributed (937 parcels - 8 parcels in each)
14 Sep 1944, R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2014-09-05 15:08Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 14 Sep 1944Finished 2am. Too dirty to turn in so lay down on the roof till 6.30am bath time. Turned to again down on the pier & finished off the rice transport job at 2pm. Burnt to the devil & sore as hell where the rice sacks have rubbed my back & arms when carrying.
2 parcels each issued & each one contained:
- 1lb Butter,
- 5oz Chocolate
- Cow & Bell Pwdrd milk
- 1lb. Jam or Marmalade 1lb.
- Corned Beef 12oz.
- Tea 4oz or Coffee 6oz.
- Toilet Soap 2oz.
- Pilot biscuits 1lb.
- Cheese 4oz.
- Luncheon meat 10 ½oz.
- Prunes 7oz.
- Raisins 7oz.
- Sugar 8oz.
- Sardines 3 3/4 oz.
- Salmon 8oz.
- Salt & Pepper 1oz.
& very welcome they were too, everyone much happier.
With Steve pm. He is sore & tired too.
Allies battering away at 2 points on Siegfried Line & have entered 5 mls into Germany 11th.
14 Sep 1944, WW2 Air Raids over Hong Kong & South China
Submitted by ssuni86 on Fri, 2019-05-24 21:37Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 14 Sep 1944OBJECTIVE: Dive-bomb targets in town of Samshui near Canton and run fighter sweep over White Cloud airbase
RESULTS: The American pilots encounter a formation of Japanese fighters, which forces the American pilots to abort the mission and engage in an extended dogfight.
TIME OVER TARGET: Morning
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Eleven P-51s from the 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Wilson; Lt. Newsome; Lt. Anderson; Lt. Baker; Lt. Schaeffer; Lt. Raymond; 2nd Lt. Jerome F. Eisenman; Lt. Watt (76th FS); Major Treacy (23rd FG); Lt. Hall (26th FS); Lt. Tolhurst (93rd FS). Though the pilots are from multiple units, the aircraft all apparently belong to the 76th FS.
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: The American aircraft are loaded with 16 x 250-pound bombs and 8 x 500-pound incendiary bomb clusters. However, the appearance of Japanese fighters forces the American pilots to abort the bombing mission. They jettison all bombs, since P-51s cannot dogfight effectively when loaded up with bombs.
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: An unknown number of Ki-44s, probably from the 85th Sentai
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: American pilots claim to shoot down up to four Ki-44s and to damage two more, though Japanese records indicate no pilots are lost on this date.
SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents 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).
Tags:14 Sep 1944, WW2 Air Raids over Hong Kong & South China
Submitted by ssuni86 on Tue, 2019-05-28 20:36Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 14 Sep 1944OBJECTIVE: Dive-bomb targets in town of Samshui near Canton and run fighter sweep over White Cloud airbase.
RESULTS: The P-40s and P-51s hit Samshui with high-explosive and incendiary bombs, causing numerous fires. After completing their bomb run, the P-51 pilots are ambushed by Japanese fighter pilots and a short dogfight ensues.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~4:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Ten P-51s and four P-40s from the 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Lt. Bees; Lt. Reeves; Lt. Perkins; Lt. Jerome F. Eisenman; Lt. Shull; Lt. E.E. Smith; (76th FS); Major Treacy (23rd FG); Lt. Bannon; Lt. Squires (93rd FS); Lt. Conant (529th FS); Lt. Meadows; Lt. Livergood; Lt. Lehman (25th FS); Lt. Foltz (89th FS). Though the pilots are from multiple units, the aircraft may all belong to the 76th FS.
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 4 x 250-pound bombs; 4 x 500-pound bombs; 16 x M-69 500-pound incendiary clusters
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: An estimated 10-14 Japanese fighter aircraft, probably Ki-44s from the 85th Sentai with perhaps a few Ki-43s as well.
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: One P-51 is shot down, though it is not clear if this resulted from antiaircraft fire or a Japanese fighter. The pilot, Lt. Shull, bails out safely and returns to his unit.
SOURCES: Original mission reports and other documents 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).
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