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 Jul 1942, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2012-06-26 16:56
    Book / Document: 
    R. E. Jones Wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Wed, 15 Jul 1942

    Benghazi re-capture, Fat Shan re-captured. Japs lost many ships off Hawaii & in Sea of Japan. Germans suffered terrific losses on Russian front?

    Rained all day.

    More parcels arrived.

    Chinese being taken away from the Prison.

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  • 15 Jul 1942, Ella Buuck's wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2012-07-03 17:07
    Book / Document: 
    Ella Buuck's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Wed, 15 Jul 1942

    James Ward was born today. Everybody is happy with them. The baby is fine and we heard the NYK Line would give him a free pass on any ship the rest of his life.

    The news also was spread around that we would be at our destination on the 23rd and due in New York on August 19th. We are certainly looking forward to solid ground once more.

  • 15 Jul 1942, Harry Ching's wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2013-03-13 21:51
    Book / Document: 
    Harry Ching's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Wed, 15 Jul 1942

    Police allegedly confiscating firewood above 50 catties and rice above 30 catties. 

    Population according to registration about 1,100,000, regarded as under-estimate.

    Story of woman at Italian Convent who bought pork. It jumped in the pan and scared her. They say human flesh jumps. 

    To town to bank to get divvy. Collected $2,000. Fred gets big note changed for me at $75. To town for Eurasian flour ration, No sugar or oil. Sugar available at official shops on production of rice cards. Quarter catty per head monthly. Eurasians likely to get no more sugar in view of shop scheme. Oil at depot $2.80 per catty. Flour ration to be six catties per head per month. For several days nothing in market again. Kotewall warned me conditions would worsen. Meat in market all dark coloured and uninviting.

    Sold bottle black label whisky at Y18. Shop prices double that. Also sold small electric fan at Y6.

    Rumour Britons at Stanley circularised re evacuation. Radio says evacuation 1,400 Britons from Far East a month hence to Lourenco Marques. Japan, Thailand, Manchuria, China mentioned but not Hongkong or Singapore. Seems confirm no evacuation for British territories. To Septic to enquire. Little chance for us this being British place. Want people on spot. 

    Demand for yen pushed value up to 3 to 1 in exchange, though shops don't like taking them. Later announcement says yen fixed at 4 to 1. Market prices double. General bewilderment and confusion. Shops more or less suspend business. Retailers ask before selling and if yen tendered price is higher. By end July yen situation quieter. Finance chief says money situation stabilised. 

    Searchlights at night. Rumour Kamtin bombed. Doubtful, but nurses say wounded came in. Rumour also of bombs at Stanley. People in street rubber-necking Japanese plane. Not often seen lately.

  • 15 Jul 1942, Barbara Anslow's diary

    Submitted by Barbara Anslow on Wed, 2016-04-13 15:42
    Book / Document: 
    Barbara Anslow's diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Wed, 15 Jul 1942

    Mabel and I back from paddling round the blocks with no shoes on.  She told me about the shows the VADs gave at the Military Hospital (often known as Bowen Road Hospital); and when she, as the baby of the VADs, was called upon to present a bouquet of flowers to the Matron for some anniversary.  And how upset Nanny (Nancy Grady) was when Mabel came away.

    News still supposed to be improving – Egypt, and Crimea, but local paper still claiming Germans getting into Russia.

    Tony came in evening, we played rummy.  His news is that the Japs are jittery – but his news is always on the optimistic side ((what a good thing, he was a great morale raiser.))

  • 15 Jul 1942, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Mon, 2016-06-27 13:44
    Book / Document: 
    Eric MacNider's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Wed, 15 Jul 1942

    Internees asked to clean own rice for p.m. meal

    Rain all day

  • 15 Jul 1942, W J Carrie's wartime diary

    Submitted by billagee on Wed, 2019-09-04 12:31
    Book / Document: 
    W J Carrie's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Wed, 15 Jul 1942

    Weighed again - I was doubtful about that 14 - I'm down to 134 now and look it but I feel quite fit and well.


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