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.

  • 2 Jul 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

    Submitted by brian edgar on Wed, 2012-04-25 17:32
    Book / Document: 
    Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 2 Jul 1942

    Colonel Lindsay Ride escaped from Shamshuipo on January 9, 1942 and founded the British Army Aid Group, a resistance organisation based in Free China. On July 2, 1942 he sent a message to the former Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong University, Duncan Sloss:

    This is an attempt to set up a regular news service between us. Relatives all over the world are very anxious to hear of you all and I trust this will be the quickest and safest method of getting news in and out. The Priestwood-Thompson party brought the British list but not the American or Dutch; at any rate that list is no doubt out of date and it was not altogether accurate. An up-to-date list...is very badly needed and also a report on the treatment, conditions and casualties in the camp. I am trying to arrange on the quiet the 'escape' or liberation of all children....

    I understand you need money badly. Here is $100 from me as a trial; if it gets through you will know that the route is trustworthy, in which case I suggest those who want money from home should send me written authority to get money from their banks at home and I shall do my best to get it in.

    Duncan Sloss, widowed in 1940 and in poor health, accepts Ride's proposal of regular communication. This is an act of great courage - there were few more dangerous 'jobs' in Camp than link with the resistance.

     

    Father Meyer turns the cooking for the remaining Americans over to the restaurateur Edward Francis ('Pop') Gingle. Father Meyer's meals were popular but the Americans are soon to appreciate the new man's professional touch.

    Sources:

    The full message from Lindsay Ride can be read in Edwin Ride, British Army Aid Group, 1981, 134-135

    Sloss' acceptance: George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner of the Turnip Heads, 1994, 114

    Death of Mrs. Sloss: Hong Kong Daily Press, February 20, 1940, page 5

    Cooking: Maryknoll Diary, July 2/3/4/5/6/8/9

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

    Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2012-06-26 16:06
    Book / Document: 
    R. E. Jones Wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 2 Jul 1942

    Heavy showers all day.

    Went to Hiscock’s 36 birthday party & very good it was too. ((Probably fellow prison officer A. W. Hircock.))

    Alex. in danger?

    Much disorder re impending re-billetting.

    Hore-Belisha talks of our repatriation?

  • 2 Jul 1942, Ella Buuck's wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2012-06-29 13:43
    Book / Document: 
    Ella Buuck's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 2 Jul 1942

    We are really having smooth sailing, grand meals and a nice time.

    My cabin isn’t too hot and now that we’ve discovered the elevator, I'm not too tired from carrying Bobby up and down steps. It's quite something to be able to take an elevator up and down the 5 decks from A to E. The ship is the most elaborate one we’ve seen.

    The Japanese style bathroom here in 3rd is fun, a small pool fashion with another basin in the opposite corner with fresh water. The children love it.


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