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.

  • 15 Jun 1944, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

    Submitted by brian edgar on Wed, 2013-01-02 18:43
    Book / Document: 
    Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 15 Jun 1944

    At 7.00 a.m. American forces begin to land on Saipan in the Mariana Islands. A bridghead is established by dusk and a night-time Japanese counter-attack is beaten off.

    The Japanese High Command are suprised by the landing, as they'd been  expecting an attack further south. They respond by deciding to assault the US Navy around Saipan: today also sees the order given that will lead to the Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 19-20) which is a disaster for the Japanese. Withiut hope of relief or reinforcement, the defenders are doomed, but are determined to resist to the last. What follows is to be for the Americans the costliest battle of the Pacific War so far. 

    And the internees are watching closely.

    Source:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saipan

    Note:

    See also entry for July 9, 1944

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  • 15 Jun 1944, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2014-05-20 11:17
    Book / Document: 
    R. E. Jones Wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 15 Jun 1944

    Rained all night. Must be a record year for rain so far.

    Roll-call cancelled due to rain.

    Wood for chatties much in demand now that electrical appliances are forbidden.

    Filed up a couple of canvas needles.

    (Chinese Paper. Churchill with all Generals etc. in France 12th. Germans expect Allied landing in Greece, Portugal ceased to send tungsten to Germany. Meeting held in Turkey between Premier & Cabinet re decision to be made re war, position described as tense. Sir S. Hoare in conference with Franco. Petain & Laval had serious meeting (12th). Roosevelt said the invasion of Germany would be made by 3 roads (12th))

    Apparently we can expect news of Turkey & the Balkans soon.

    Very good meal tonight.

    With Steve pm.

    Canteen (63) buyer.

    All lights switched off 9.55pm.

    Planes around & over till 11/15pm. All Clear 11.30pm.

  • 15 Jun 1944, Harry Ching's wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2014-07-02 18:33
    Book / Document: 
    Harry Ching's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 15 Jun 1944

    ((Following text not dated:))

    All tram services suddenly suspended.....Use of electricity to be further restricted, 8 to 11 p.m.
    Last month cost us about Y1,400. At this rate can't carry on. Stocktaking. We use about 40 catties rice monthly. Running out of wood and it costs Y44 a picul. Vegetables in roof garden all spoiled by rain and insects. Pumpkins disappointing, rotting, but hens laying well. Tried eat banana skins. Bitter and not inviting. 

  • 15 Jun 1944, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Mon, 2016-05-30 15:30
    Book / Document: 
    Eric MacNider's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 15 Jun 1944

    Issue of Y12.50

  • 15 Jun 1944, WW2 Air Raids over Hong Kong & South China

    Submitted by ssuni86 on Wed, 2019-05-01 21:11
    Book / Document: 
    WW2 Air Raids over Hong Kong & South China
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 15 Jun 1944

    OBJECTIVE: Bomb military godowns, arms factory, railroad repair facilities, and Shell Oil facility at Canton

    RESULTS: Haze and darkness make accurate bombing difficult.  An estimated sixty percent of bombs fall within target area.  Some errant bombs may have landed on barracks near Tien Ho airbase.

    TIME OVER TARGET: 8:17 to 9:15 p.m.

    AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Twenty-three B-24Js from the 373rd, 374th, 375th, and 425th Bomb Squadrons (308th Heavy Bomb Group)

    AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Unknown

    ORDNANCE EXPENDED: 621 x 100-pound general-purpose bombs; 57 x flares to provide visibility

    JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

    AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

    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: 
    air raids

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