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.
  • 20 Jun 1943, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

    Book / Document: 
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Sun, 20 Jun 1943

    Cloudy & showery.

    Took Bon for swim aftn’n.

    ((G))

    Rain spoilt Intn’tl softball match.

    Japs to search camp?

    Riots in Germany. Italians warned re likelihood of invasion of Sicily.

    Br. to hosp. Varicose veins.

    Full Moon.

  • KWIZ/03, 20 June 1943

    Date(s) of events described: 
    Sun, 20 Jun 1943

    MOST SECRET   Sheet 3.
    SECTION I
    (d)
    HONG KONG.  KWIZ/03 d/20/6/43.
    REPORT NO.3.

    Source: Mrs A. ELVIDGE.
    Date: 15 Jun 43.
    Grade: C.2.

    Informant is the Chinese wife of a ship's Captain employed by S.T.WILLIAMSON. She left HONG KONG with her son aged 15 on 5 May 43, and came out by overland route through WAI CHOW.

    She frequently sent parcels into friends in STANLEY; each person is now only allowed to send two (2) parcels per month; one is allowed to send in 3 lbs of potatoes per person.

    The following are copies of three cards used by internees in acknowledging parcels from friends in HONG KONG. Copies made of the cards are attached.

    One was written on the 17 Feb 43 and not received till 14 Apr 43; another on 1 Feb 43 and received on 12 Feb 43, and the third on the 10 Feb 43 and delivered on the 11 Mar 43.

    (i) "Mrs A.ELDRIDGE (British)
    10 YEE WO STREET
    TOP FLOOR,
    HONG KONG.

    From:-
    G.B.WITCHELL (MRS)
    CIVILIAN INTERNMENT CAMP.
    STANLEY. BLOCK 2. ROOM 5.
    (British)

    On the reverse side of card:-

    "17.2.43.

    "Dear MRS ELVIDGE.
    VERY MANY THANKS FOR YOUR GREATLY APPRECIATED PARCEL AND CARD.
    WE ARE GLAD TO HEAR YOU AND SUNNY ARE WELL AND HOPE YOU HEAR FROM MR ELVIDGE SOON.
    WE THREE ARE KEEPING WELL.
    WITH BEST WISHES AND KINDEST REGARDS
    GEORGE, DOLLY
    & NORAH WITCHELL."

    (ii) "TO
    MRS A ELVIDGE (British)
    9 YEE WOO STREET, TOP FLOOR
    CAUSEWAY BAY
    HONG KONG.

    FROM:
    G.B.AND A.WITCHELL (British)
    CIVILIAN INTERNMENT CAMP
    BLOCK 2.ROOM 5.
    STANLEY "

    On the reverse side of card:-

    "1-2-43.
    "YOUR CARD AND PARCEL RECEIVED GREATLY APPRECIATED. TRUST YOU HAVE HAD NEWS OF YOUR HUSBAND AND THAT YOU ARE WELL.
    KINDEST REGARDS AND BEST WISHES.
    GEORGE AND DOLLY WITCHELL."

    (iii) Written in pencil:-

    "MRS A ELVIDGE (Chinese)
    9 YEE WOO STREET
    TOP FLOOR
    CAUSEWAY BAY
    HONG KONG."

    On the reverse side of card:-

    "R.MURRAY (BRITISH)
    BUNGALOW "A"
    CIVILIAN INTERNMENT CAMP
    STANLEY
    10.2.43.

    "DEAR MRS ELVIDGE,
    VERY MANY THANKS FOR THE PARCEL. IT WAS VERY KIND OF YOU AND I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL.
    I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT I AM KEEPING WELL.
    WITH ALL GOOD WISHES
    YOURS SINCERELY,
    (signed) R.M.MURRAY."

    On the 19 Apr 43, she received a note from S.T.WILLIAMSON from STANLEY to the effect that he and all his late staff were well. This refers to:-

    T.RAMSAY
    R.MURRAY
    MRS.E.MARTIN. ((I'm not sure if this refers to Mrs E G Martin, or Mrs E M Martin))
    G.WITCHELL, wife and daughter.

    Some months ago informant decided to leave HONG KONG in order to go to India to meet her husband. She thought that there might be some difficulty over medical certificates and so she obtained one from Dr P.S.SELWYN-CLARKE, of which the following is a copy:-

    "Dear Mrs Elvidge, in accordance with your request, I have to inform you that the tests which have been carried out including the Sigma reaction on your serum shows that you are free from infectious disease of any kind.

    Yours sincerely,
    P.S.SELWYN-CLARKE.
    19.iv.43."

  • 20 Jun 1943, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

    Date(s) of events described: 
    Sun, 20 Jun 1943

    TRINITY M. Dow / Myhill

  • 20 Jun 1943, W J Carrie's wartime diary

    Book / Document: 
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Sun, 20 Jun 1943

    I had a horrible weekend last week and had to get the doctor on Sunday.  He put me on Dagenin which cured me in two days - I've been absolutely O.K. again since Wednesday but the cure is not approved of by my doctor at the hospital - as Dagenin is not good for blood counts!  No more letters or news - some letters as late as Oct last year came in yesterday but none for me.  Rations are very low and I am losing weight again - down to 126  1/2 now - really slim!  It's a funny sight I can assure you. I think we'll get away but when D.O.K.  Hope on hope ever      AML.  B.
     

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